DET ÄR INTE BÅTEN SOM GUNGAR - DET ÄR HAVET SOM RÖR SIG

Since I heard a record by Solar Plexus at a listening session with some guys, I have wanted to listen to them, but I haven't until now. In addition, on of the best Swedish singers, Tommy Körberg sings with Solar Plexus. My favourite records with him is his renderings of Birger Sjöberg and Jacques Brel's works. His appearence on this jazz record is very different.

"Det är inte båten som gungar, det är havet som rör sig" from 1974 is Solar Plexus' third studio album(of four). The cover isn't as psychedelic as their two earlier releases even if the name of the record is abit surrealistic. The musicians were Tommy Körberg (vocals, guitar, percussion), Bosse Häggström(bass, vocals), Tommy Borgudd(drums, percussion, vocals), Carl-Axel Dominique(keyboards, flute, saxophone, vocals) and Monica Dominique(keyboards, vocals).

The band invites us on a musical journey of a very different sort. This jazz rock isn't as heavy and crazy as many such band and not either some form of soft jazz rock with quite conventional rock songs. "Solar Plexus" seemed to be making an artistical landscape here which mixtures traditional jazz with rock, big band and sung poetry slam. The result is a very pleasant experience where every song gives you something new. The title track "Det är inte båten som gungar, det är havet som rör sig"(7/10) releases a nice swing to us but "The girl of the dawn"(8/10) is much better; here shows Tommy Körberg his great vocal abilities and it is one of the record's gems. "Man ska tala idag"(8/10) is also one of the best, an experimental jazz pop song i like a lot. "Fåglarna i Nam Dinh" is a calmer more traditional jazz piece with fine flutes but I think it's the records least interesting song(6/10). "This is the place" (7/10) is another nice track and of the two English sung tracks. The best and most interesting composition though is "Jorden är ett underbart ställe"(8/10) which is along lasting song. Here we face a composition with a poetical and political text which merge together in a musically gorgeous piece.

Solar Plexus' third album has an average high standard with splendid playing from the five band members even if I don't think there are masterpieces here. The music is complex but easy listened so I can really recommend it! My rating: 3.67 which becomes four stars. Best songs: "Jorden är ett underbart ställe", "The Girl of the Dawn" and "Man skall tala idag"