SAGAN OM RINGEN [AKA: MUSIC INSPIRED BY LORD OF THE RINGS]

At the time of this writing, I'm revisiting some old friends in Middle Earth, and I figured it would be an appropriate time to review an album inspired by Frodo, Sam, Gandalf and company. To be honest, I don't- in my mind at least- hear this music as very related to Tolkien's masterpiece trilogy, but the end result isn't spoiled from that disappointment. At times I'm even reminded of some Krautrock acts like Amon Düül II. Imagine The Snow Goose as a weaker, darker psychedelic album, and that is an adequate summary of the late Bo Hansson's best-known work.

"Leaving Shire" Brooding and forlorn, psychedelic music would see the Hobbits off. I hear a lot of early Pink Floyd in this.

"The Old Forest / Tom Bombadil" Tranquil tones appear and vanish again before turning into something upbeat and yet still quite spacey. Light symphonic elements gel the music as it fades out.

"Fog on the Barrow-Downs" Wispy synthesizer and an easygoing pace tend to drag even more than what came before.

"The Black Riders / Flight to the Ford" Things slow down even more as a lonely bass watches a flutter synthesizer lead. Then the music finally picks up- with amazing percussion, Hansson reinvents the first bit of this piece, yet the thin electric guitar is just not good.

"At the House of Elrond / The Ring Goes South" Quiet guitar and other dim tones produce another work that sleepily treads along.

"A Journey in the Dark" Low, warbling synthesizer and an ominous drum create more ominously minimalistic music.

"Lothlórien" This is one of the most memorable pieces, partly because of shimmering main theme as well as the intertwining of guitar and keyboards.

"Shadowfax" This brief and urgent piece, led by a clean guitar melody, has an Eastern vibe.

"The Horns of Rohan / The Battle of the Pelenmor Fields" Suddenly another guitar melody (this one distorted) takes command, ushering in a dark quiet passage, before the piece becomes regal and stately.

"Dreams in the Houses of Healing" Layered electric guitars over a simple bass and percussion weave a lovely but haunting texture before a ghostly organ enters and retreats multiple times.

"Homeward Bound / The Scouring of the Shire" Hand percussion brings in a harmonic theme. Much of this is slightly Oriental in flavor, reminding me a bit of Steve Hackett's early works.

"The Grey Havens" A delicate organ alternates between single long notes and whimsical runs over soft percussion and weepy electric guitar bends. The final piece drags on even more so than many of the other pieces by virtue of the fact that it's essentially an organ solo over a repetitive two-chord background.