Algarnas Tradgard - 2001 - Delayed

Algarnas Tradgard
2001
Delayed
(Recorded 1973-74)

01. Takeoff
02. Interstellar cruise
03. Reflection
04. Almond raga
05. Beetlewater
06. The arrival of autumn
07. My childhood trees

- Andreas Brandt / violin, vocals, percussion, flute
- Mikael Johanson / bass, handdrum, zither, tablas, percussion
- Dennis Lindh / drums, tablas, percussion, zinks, jews harp
- Dan Soderqvist / guitars, percussion
- Jan Ternald / mellotron, piano, moog modualr, organ, electric piano
- Sebastion Oberg / cello, flute, sitar, tablas

After the magnificent album "Framtiden är ett svävande skepp förankrat I forntiden" (The future is a hovering ship anchored in the past) from 1972, ÄLGARNAS TRADGARD (Garden of the Elks) went into the studio again to record their second album. The first album was actually a loosely improvised studio experiment that turned out very well. They were trying to do as much as they could come up with in the studio, with Moog synth, medieval instruments, sound effects, bells and god knows what. "Framtiden är ett svävande skepp förankrat i forntiden" was actually nominated for the Swedish Grammy music price.
The band however split up before the second album was mixed, and it was put on the shelf, until now. It's incredible that we now, 27 years later finally can hear the album. When they were putting the album together, they decided to mix it the way they would've done it back then. I can only say that it's a shame that this album have been kept secret for so long. Even though this "new" album has many similarities to the first, it also has differences. "Delayed" has a clearer structure than the first album and it's also heavier at times. Even though it's hard to find any bands to compare ÄLGARNAS TRADGARD with, there are some reminiscences CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, HAWKIND and KING CRIMSON.
Of course I also have to mention the nice foldout CD-booklet with a beautiful cover artwork by Jan Ternald. Jan also did the well-known cover artwork for Bo HANSSON's "Ur trollkarlens hatt". The band ÄLGARNAS TRADGARD doesn't exist today, but some of the musicians are still active today in rather famous Swedish bands such as FLÄSKKVARTETTEN and TWICE A MAN.