MAKAJODAMA

What caught my attention with this band was the picture of them with ANEKDOTEN's Nicklas Barker. Turns out he mixed this album for his fellow Swedes. GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA's former lead guitarist is part of this band along with the drummer from THE CARPET KNIGHTS. Like GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA this is all instrumental music but that's really the only connection other than the guitarist. This music is very cello / violin dominated while GOSTA BERLING SAGA's music is more guitar / keyboard led.

"Reodor Felgen Blues" has this steady beat as intricate guitar, deep bass and violin standout.A change 1 1/2 minutes in to a more powerful sound. I like it. Another change before 5 minutes to a mellow soundscape. It kicks back in heavily after 7 minutes.Violin before 9 minutes. "Buddha And The Camel" opens with acoustic guitar, bass then violin as drums beat away. A change as electric guitar comes in. Flute follows then guitar takes the lead as mellotron joins in. Violin is back before 8 minutes. "Wolof" is a short tune with birds singing throughout as guitar, violin and a beat comes in. "The Train Of Thought" is violin led then keys and drums take over. Violin is back before 3 1/2 minutes, mellotron too.

"The Ayurvedic Soap" is led by violin and bass as drums join in. It settles before 2 minutes. The violin is crying out with the bass pounding along. Cello also joins. A change after 7 minutes to the end. "Vallingby Revisited" has a catchy beat with bass and drums as guitar and violin come and go. Sax before 1 1/2 minutes. "The Girls At The Marches" is laid back as violin with some sort of screeching in the background comes in. A change before 4 minutes as we get a good chunky beat, great sound here. It settles 6 minutes in. "Autumn Suite" opens with violin. Drums a minute in. It settles a minute later to chamber-like music. It picks up 3 1/2 minutes then settles again. Sitar 7 1/2 minutes in.

I put this on a par with GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA's debut even though they are very different from one another. Flashes of brilliance here but way more passages of violin led music that just doesn't do a lot for me.