Description
Original Silence records release The embryo of Kebnekaise (the highest mountain in Sweden) was formerly known as Kos Companjeros, later Mecki Mark Men and then in 1971 they settle for the name Kebnekajse. The band might have lacking the lasting fame and the cult status of their contemporaries Trad, Gras & Stenar but Kebnekaise was just as important in creating Swedish folk-rock. In the Swedish progressive movement they stood somewhere in the middle, between the politically and the musically progressive branches, where the first mainly played message-based music and the second had more in common with international progressive rock scene. The band did not take a clear political stand, but being less experimental than Trad, Gras And Stenar and staying further away from fusion than Samla Mammas Manna, they reached a wide audience. Kebnekajses debut album ‘Resa Mot Okant Mal’ (A journey to destination unknown) is a Swedish classic, although it differs a lot from the albums that would follow. The first album had been influenced by blues-rock but the later albums were more into Scandinavian folk-rock. The music is loud guitar based hard rock with reminiscences to Cream, Mountain, Neon Rose and November. The sound was somewhat typical British but the sparse lyrics were in Swedish. Perhaps it's quite unfair to say so, but I have always considered the guitarist Kenny Hakansson to be the most important member in the band. It was he who gave Kebnekajse their unique sound with his original guitar sound and playing. This album contains for instance the wonderful instrumentals "Frestelser i stan", "Orientens Express" and "Resa mot okant mal" together with four other magnificent songs. If you're a fan of early 70's Swedish hard rock in the likes of Neon Rose, November, Solid Ground and Trettioariga Kriget you will definitely love this album too. Highly recommended! Track listing: 1. Tank Pa Livet 2. Frestelser I Stan 3. Orientens Express 4. Resa Mot Okant Mal 5. Jag Alskar Sommaren – Solen Och Varma Vindar 6. Forberedelser Till Fest 7. Kommunisera