English vocals, instrumental
International relevance: ***
A forerunner to acclaimed heavy rockers
Asoka and a major rarity in the €400+ region (but more affordable reissues exist). It's also better than
many other big shot collector items. ”Schizophrenia” has a dark
underground magic working, particularly on the side long title track owing a lot to Paul Butterfield Blues Band's "East West"
with its pulsating rhythm beneath
kosmische flute, spaced-out Eastern organs and a fiddle that even
lets traditional Swedish melodies seep into the stoned-yet-coherent and menacing
atmosphere. Some jazzy moves keep the track from entirely floating
away into unknown galaxies. If you want to call it psychedelia,
please do, and if so, it's one of the most brilliant examples
of Swedish psych you could possibly lend yout ears to.
Side two features five shorter tracks,
and even if they're not as 'out there' as ”Schizophrenia” they
retain the basement creepiness launched on side one. The mood is what
keeps the album cohesive, even when they drift into blues with Eric
Burdon & The Animals shadings thanks to American expat Don Washington on vocals. However, the overall emotional
impact isn't similar to wannabe Eric Burdon at all –
”Schizophrenia” moves in areas loosely defined by downer
Austrians Paternoster and ambigous Xian band Fraction. While heavy in
the guitar department, ”Schizophrenia” isn't one of those excuses
for boneheaded soloing. It's a genuine group effort, and a sometimes
scary, often mesmerizing and always brilliant one.
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