EN ANNAN VÄRLD

Hands down this is my favourite purchase of 2023 and it just goes to show that sometimes you can judge a book by its cover because I was first attracted to the album art. Once I then checked out the track listing and the genre I knew I wanted to hear this album. I heard it once through on YouTube and immediately decided to buy it. The extended tracks without vocals but with Floydian landscapes and mood altering composition is all pretty much what my soul needs. Of course I have now listened to it incessantly and can say that I still love it but have become realistic about its limitations that will ultimately restrict its popularity in the prog community even if it does sneak into my personal Top 100 of all time.

So what are those limitations that En Annan Varid would need to overcome in order make it even higher in my personal ratings list? Well there are 2 things that could have elevated this album above and beyond. The first of those would be a little more intensity. There is some awesome work coming from Puertas on flute which is really the defining feature of this album, especially the first track but the rest of the band never seem to break out and let rip at any point. Odesjo is clearly a big fan of Gilmour as his style is very much from the same school but they never put quite enough into those solos to make then stand out. Of course the tempo of these tracks does make it hard to feel much intensity unless you have Gilmour's level of talent but there are other ways to achieve that captivating envelopment. Andren is probably the most disappointing because the keyboards are relatively absent throughout the album. Many don't really comprehend that Floyd's success owes as much Wright's soundscapes as it does to Gilmour's talent and Waters lyrics and Agusa have not got there with En Annan Varid.

Sagrobus is an interesting composition that meanders through multiple phases with differing levels of intensity and effectively takes you on a 25 minute journey, taking you through contemplative flute led thoughts to almost jamming into a kind of jazz mix. The main issue is the lack of depth to the music but everything else is entirely awesome. The second track, Uppenbarelser, is far more experimental and moody which makes it less accessible but ultimately the superior piece of music that will provide more entertainment for much longer despite it being the shorter track at 21 minutes! I find this album entertaining and captivating without being quite complex enough. I would say that some more keyboard work to add some texture and perhaps even a couple of short vocal sections could really make this something extra special.

The sound quality is perfect for me and I especially love the less intrusive rhythm balance which allows me to focus on everything without ever needing to tune anything out. For those who need their music to go somewhere through evolution as well as the occasional Frippian leap then this stuff will meet your needs but for those who need full on guitar solos you are going to find En Annan Varid a little tame. I am a self-confessed guitar junkie but I started my prog journey with Floyd and Oldfield so can still appreciate fine progressive music that doesn't degenerate into an egotistical display of musicianship. So this is an album I am going to appreciate for many years to come and I will certainly be investing in more work from Agusa in the near future.

Music is about what you need as an individual and I still need this stuff in my life even if I am more likely to spin Opeth and Tool than Floyd and Agusa as I get older. Let's be straight, Agusa's work isn't quite there at those dizzy heights but it is certainly worth my time and money.

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