DETTA HAR HÄNT

Given how long this album has been out, it has received remarkably little attention here, especially considering the glowing reviews that have already been written for it! I add my voice to this group in the hopes that it will cause others to stand up and take notice of this excellent band hailing from Sweden, a country that is, admittedly, better known for it's symphonic/retro prog bands and metal, and less for it's more experimental instrumental music.

With their second album, Detta Har Hant (which translates to "This Has Happened"), Gosta Berlings Saga have created something great, and one of the better albums to come out it's year of release.

The music of this band is built using the typical rock lineup of guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, but the band couldn't sound further from typical rock. What we are treated to hear are greatly textured soundscapes, built with textured layered guitars, lively bass, and marching drumbeats.

Some of the songs take a different turn; for example, Svenska Hjartan is a more chilled out piece that relies more on the keys than the layered guitar attack that much of the rest of the album uses.

The music on this album is incredibly strong, and I'd be hard pressed to name a single track that I didn't like. It does take several listens to penetrate all the details of the album, but once you do, these songs will stick with you and demand that you return to them many times. The songs weave through intricate sound patterns effortlessly, leaving you constantly guessing what will come next, yet never feeling like it is forced.

I must admit that most of my favorite moments on this album are the more upbeat tracks, such as the opener Kontrast (Contrast), Fem Trappor (Five Stairs), etc., but I have a soft spot for the build up in some of their more laid back tracks, such as Nattskift (Night Shift), which builds from a soft keyboard part before the guitar comes in. These tracks also show a different side to the drummer, who tends strays further from the marching-like drumming he does on the more upbeat tracks.

Overall, Detta Har Hant is an excellent release that deserves a lot of attention, especially from those who enjoy adventurous instrumental music.