BEING

Something about this album sounds more like 1860s barefoot hippy psych than anything approaching progressive rock from the time period in which it was released. Yet if asked to identify exactly that feature, I am hard pressed for a reasonable answer. It just sounds so....naiive. This is in spite of some wonderful keyboard work by Jukka Gustavson, and an overall jazzy vibe that should make the music more rather than less relevant today. It might be the vocal styles and the manner in which social commentary is made, obtusely yet too directly at the same time. As a concept album or unified work it really doesn't pass muster anymore, but the clean playing of Gustavson, some lively brass, especially on "Planetist", and the fun loving rhythms make this a worthwhile listen on their own merits, which is pretty commendable. 2.5 stars rounded up.