Two years ago I was very pleased with Gösta Berlings Saga's second album Detta Har Hänt, amongst others because of the strong influences of King Crimson, Magma, Anekdoten and Änglagård and the superfluous use of Mellotrons. I don't know what has happened with the band since then, but many of the aforementioned influences have disappeared to be replaced by a strong feeling of Mogwai, but then of a Mogwai which is thoroughly confused. The result Glue Works is an album full of music that chafes and rasps, but is never really smooth. It's no wonder the band information doesn't mention the famous names anymore, but now lists bands as Ventures, Shadows, Laika & The Cosmonauts as main influences. People who know these bands may rise and raise their hands! This doesn't necessarily mean that Glue Works is a bad record, but you have to listen to it quite a lot more than to Detta Har Hänt before the deeper meaning of the songs becomes clear and you take them to your heart. The latter will happen mainly to the listener who likes long, hypnotizing tracks such as Island and Sorterargatan 1, which both last almost thirteen minutes. **+André de Waal (edited by Peter Willemsen) Where to buy? |
