BLÅKULLA

Blakula is a one album band that was born in mid seventies, the glory days of rock music. I consider this group is a lost band as there was no follow-up after this album. The music of Blakula is a combination of rough classic rock music like Leslie West's Mountains, Canadian Moxy, Cream, Free combined with folk music and symphonic style - that has made it prog, I think. It's an interesting album despite the mixing and production quality issue. The guitar solo is too rough for my ears and mixed with relatively high volume.

When you spin the CD with an opening track Frigivningen you may immediately say that it's a folk-based music because the acoustic guitar work is a bit aggressive in accompanying the vocal. The combination of classic rock, symphonic prog can be heard clearly at track 2: Sirenernas Sang. The third track Idealet demonstrates the lead singer powerful vocal combined with organ and guitar work. De´fa´la Sta Öppe´tess Vidare starts the song with a powerful bass guitar play combined with guitar rhythm and melody. The bass player must be one of the best player in the seventies as his style in this song is magnificent.

Maskinsang (track 5) demonstrates a rocking style that combines organ, vocal in guitar in relatively fast tempo music. The bass lines are reasonably solid. The organ solo interlude in the middle of the track is superb - reminiscent of Keith Emerson style. It is followed with guitar solo. I Solnedgangen opening with lead guitar work reminds me to Focus early albums. There are some riffs introduced in this track, combined with long sustain organ sounds. Drottningholmsmusiken reminds me to the music of Rick Wakeman; combining guitar and solo in relatively fast tempo music with influence from classical music. Världens Gang brings the album back to an acoustic guitar based music featuring good voice line. It's not a completely unplugged song as after middle of the track all instruments contribute.

Erinran is probably the band's epic with a relatively long duration (approx 10 minutes). It starts with a long instrumental part led by guitar with excellent bass lines and guitar work. It's an excellent composition with powerful vocal line. The music has tempo changes and multi forms as it gives an opportunity for acoustic guitar, electric guitar and organ quite a balanced exposures.

When the production quality issue is removed, I think this album deserves a four stars rating. I enjoy the bass lines and organ part - but the guitar sounds are too rough actually for my ears. Keep on progging

Progressively yours,

GW