ARBETE OCH FRITID

Arbete & fritid is Arbete och fritid's fourth studio album(ProgArchives has forgotten the record "Slottsbergets hambo å andra valser") and was released in 1973 on MNW(Musiknätet Waxholm), the biggest progressive label in the early seventies' Sweden. I don't count Ostpusten- Västpusten in this review because it's a bonus track. I wasn't very pleased with their lp "Andra lp" but this was better. The album features Bosse Skoglund, Ove Karlsson, Tord Bengtsson, Roland Keijser and Torsten Eckerman. This disc is very comprehensive.

Three tracks are traditional Swedish folk tunes played in a progressive rock way. The best of them is the first song "Gånglåt efter Lejsme Per Larsson i Malung". That is also one of the best progg (Swedish progressive rock in the 70s) songs ever. It is really heavy but very native and mournful. "Halling efter Ulrik Jensestuen Valdres" is also very good with fantastic blow work of Roland Keijser.. "Polska efter Steffen Henningsgård, Brekhena" has live feeling with stomping feets. The more experimental tracks are the slavic inpired "Elâzig-Dans" which is played on flutes, a melody that remains in your head afterwards. "The European Way" has bas vocals (but with an interesting political message) but something happens and a nice musical world opens its garden. A track of experimental jazz. "Dagen lider" gives you a sad but great feeling and the melancholic "Vägen till Nyvla" has perhaps the most beautiful melody. "Petrokemi" is the most psychedelic track, in the way of Träd, gräs och stenar (but much better). That song is perhaps something for those who enjoy Space rock and Krautrock. "Nidälven" is a boring track. I most mention the bonus track "Ostpusten ? Västpusten" also. I don't think about it in the rating but it really makes this record more interesting. It's an almost twenty minutes long track with excellent instrument work. It's not symphonic so perhaps you'll become bored but it's still great music.

I can't give it five stars because it's not my favourite type of prog but it's still amazing music and I know you also will find moments of beauty and joy in Arbete och fritid's music.