Listening to Græns album ”Musique Pour L’Esprit En Expansion” is an awakening experience. This record pours new poison over rock music, a genre which the band’s founder Axel (Graveyard, Big Kiss etc) has a lot of experience from and, in his own words “a love/hate relation to”. That objective and sober perspective on the genre may be the main reason for the loosely assembled set of influences, put together by Axel, Lisen Rylander Löve (Midarcondo, Union Carbide Productions, Amason etc) and Rickard “Bobban” Johansson (Den Stora Vilan, Hills etc.), three experienced and wide eared musicians with a fearless approach to their main instruments and music in general.
With song titles like “Björkarnas Sus” (Whiz Of The Birch Trees) and “Commodification Blues”, ”Musique Pour L’Esprit En Expansion” mixes nature romanticism with raw political comments about consumption. The sound moves from stooges LA blues-land to Swedish progg with each instrumentalists shining through in grand style! Axel describes the less song-oriented tracks as “directed improvisation” – it’s loose but not eclectic.
Whatever sense you are using to catch this music, Græns message of cosmic unity and creative freedom will carry through to you!
With song titles like “Björkarnas Sus” (Whiz Of The Birch Trees) and “Commodification Blues”, ”Musique Pour L’Esprit En Expansion” mixes nature romanticism with raw political comments about consumption. The sound moves from stooges LA blues-land to Swedish progg with each instrumentalists shining through in grand style! Axel describes the less song-oriented tracks as “directed improvisation” – it’s loose but not eclectic.
Whatever sense you are using to catch this music, Græns message of cosmic unity and creative freedom will carry through to you!
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: Yet another genre-defining outing from the ever reliable Hoga Nord here with the wonderful Graens encompassing aspects of Prog, Krautrock and even hints of slow folky minimalism. It's an intoxicating and fulfilling listen and one that cements Hoga Nord as one of the most continually exciting labels around.TRACK LISTING
A1. D-Takt I D-Dur (D-Beat In D-Major)
A2. Open Up Your Fears
A3. Commodification Blues
A4. There Is No Origin
A5. Universal Dub
B1. Bjorkarnas Sus
B2. Le Ravail Continue (Melodie Par Et Pour Nordholm)