RIKTIGT ÄKTA

This was LANDBERK's first studio album released in 1992 the same year fellow Swedes ANGLAGARD released "Hybris". ANEKDOTEN would release "Vemod" the following year as Prog would see a comeback thanks to these Swedish bands. LANDBERK might not be as powerful as ANEKDOTEN or as complex as ANGLAGARD but they don't take a back seat to either band. These three bands make up what I call the Swedish Holy Trinity of Prog. Yes I love these bands. Back in the early nineties these three bands decided not to follow or build upon the Neo-Prog bands of the eighties(yay !), but instead went back to the source with vintage instruments including mellotron and organ. "Riktigt Akta" was also released in English and called "Lonely Land" and while it's sad that the Swedish version doesn't have "No More White Horses" on it, it does have a bonus track called "Tillbaka" which isn't on "Lonely Land" and that track has Simon Steensland playing drums on it which is pretty cool.

The track order is also different between the two versions and in fact these also "sound" a little different because they are different recordings. Maybe it's just me but singing in their own native language just makes this version sound better. "I Nattens Timma" is a melancholic and fairly slow paced haunting tune that opens with flute and features plenty of mellotron and sad vocals. Fiske is at his intricate best on guitar. "Skogsraet" is where they pickup the pace and become more dynamic in the process. Such a fantastic track including the vocals. I love the instrumental break after 3 minutes as Fiske solos in his own unique style. Nice drum work too. A calm before 4 1/2 minutes then it eventually kicks back in during the last 30 seconds. "Tradet" doesn't kick in until after 2 1/2 minutes. Some accordion in this one. I like the calm half way through the song with mellotron galore. It stays relaxed until there's about a minute left.

"Var Hall" is such a beautiful track with reserved vocals and floating organ as Fiske plays some intricate guitar. Love the mellotron 4 1/2 minutes in. Gorgeous tune. "Visa Fran Kallsedet" is an instrumental that opens with mellow guitar melodies and the song does stay laid back throughout. Check out the picked guitar after 3 minutes, it reminds me of Conny Veit when he played in POPOL VUH. "Undrar Om Ni Sir" is another mellow and melancholic piece with vocals this time. This one starts to build though halfway through as it turns instrumental. It kicks in late to end it. Nice ! The bonus track with Steensland on drums is called "Tillbaka" and it's more of an upbeat tune with plenty of mellotron and chunky bass. Vocals too in this one. Great track but too short. We get a guitar solo halfway through as well that impresses.

I have to give this 5 stars because I do think it's a step up from "Lonely Land" which I gave 4.5 stars.