SPREDT FOR VINDEN

"Spredt for Vinden" ("Scattered in the Wind") is the fourth full-length studio album by Danish psychedelic rock band Alrune Rod (Mandrake Root). The album was recorded in March and April of 1973 and it was subsequently released on the band´s own Mandragora label in May 1973. The last studio album "Alrune Rock" was released in September 1972, and since then keyboard player/violinist Mikael Miller has joined the lineup.

Alrune Rod was along with artists like Young Flowers and Steppeulvene some of the most well known psychedelic Danish rock bands from the late 60s and early 70s (artists like Burnin Red Ivanhoe, Day of Phoenix, and Midnight Sun could be mentioned too, but they were generally a bit more sophisticated). Alrune Rod is in fact one of the most psychadelic tinged artists from Denmark I have encountered, although that description can predominantly be applied to their first two albums.

The music style on "Spredt for Vinden" is rock with a psychedelic touch. Some songs are more psychedelic tinged than others. Songs like "Kom Nu" ("come now") and "Gåseøjne" ("Goose eyes") are good quality psychedelic rock songs but the remaining tracks are also of a good quality, although generally a bit more straight rock songs. The most significant change since the earlier releases is the lack of a dominant organ. Although there are both piano, horn arrangements, and violin on "Spredt For Vinden", Alrune Rod have aimed for a slightly more mainstream vers/chorus structured songwriting approach compared to the early psychedelic days with long tracks and jamming sections. There´s also a folk rock element on some of the tracks. Both the title track and "En Snehvid Fugl" ("A Snow White Bird") for example feature folk rock influences. The music generally features a lot of blues rock influences too.

The musicianship is on a relatively high level. It´s audible that this incarnation of Alrune Rod is a bit more serious and well rehearsed than the more unstructured and laid back hippie version of the band, which was heard in the first couple of releases. Just as the case is on "4-Vejs" (Alrune Rod´s next album) lead vocalist/bassist Leif Roden has much better control of his voice on "Spredt for Vinden" than he had on the early releases when his out-of-tune wailing could sometimes test one´s patience and eardrums.

There´s been an obvious change in the way Alrune Rod has approached the sound production values on this album compared to the more amaturish productions on the previous releases. "Spredt For Vinden" is a very well produced release, featuring a warm, organic, and powerful sound production. Alrune Rod sound sharp and tight playing here. Upon conclusion "Spredt For Vinden" may have lost a bit of their unique sound and definitely some of their more adventurous psychedelic tendencies, but in most other areas they´ve developed a lot towards a more professional sound. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.