[photo by Martina Andersson]
Agusa 2 (Två ) is the newest full-length from Swedish psychedelic/prog conjurors, AGUSA. Unleashed this past Friday via prog powerhouse, Laser’s Edge, the record delivers over forty otherworldy minutes of seamlessly-executed, tranquil, trance-inducing, folk-inspired, occult rock.
Glacially Musical applauds AGUSA‘s manifestation of, “true beauty,” through sound, further issuing of the band’s multi-dimensional sonic alchemy, “These songs conjure up images of Middle Earth and Narnia… The armies rallying to battle… The kings clapping the warriors on the shoulders… Drawing as much from Pink Floyd as Rory Gallagher, AGUSA has created an album that’s so much more than labels, genres, or preconceived notions.” The Obelisk commends an offering, “rife with progressive complexity, accomplished melodies of guitar, organ and flute, and quick-turning rhythms driven by classic sense of movement…” adding, “As one might expect, both cuts offer plenty of sprawl, but the band operate from a sense of purpose as well, and it’s not merely exploration for its own sake, but an expression of a naturalist instrumental ideal, and one gorgeously conjured and languid in its flow but not at all sonically lazy… Agusa 2 offers both proggy substance and a psychedelic aesthetic that makes their work eminently listenable.”
Indeed, AGUSA‘s output invokes visions of nature and the cosmos, their ethereal passages meandering into realms of a possibly supernatural or parallel existence. While not an entirely instrumental recording, backing vocal mantras only seep in through purposeful cracks in the construction of these immense hymns, adding an even more expansive sentiment to the proceedings.
Sample Agusa 2 (Två ) in its kaleidoscopic entirety at the Laser’s Edge BandCamp page at THIS LOCATION.
AGUSA was spawned in 2013, when Tobias Petterson and Mikael Ödesjö, former members of Kama Loka, recruited Dag Strömqvist and Jonas Berge for their early ’70s progressive rock project. The outfit eventually ventured out to the countryside where Strömqvist lived, to a place called Agusa -a loose gathering of homes deep in the forest. Within these secluded surroundings, and during a amazingly sunny, Summer day, the new collective had an extensive, extremely inspired jam session that helped solidify the direction of their sound. In the Autumn of 2014, the band recorded their debut, Högtid, which was released on vinyl and digital media in early 2014. Following a number of performances that Winter, Strömqvist fled AGUSA to travel India, and Tim Wallander, also a member of blues trio Magic Jove, joined the band. In the beginning of 2015, armed with a refreshed lineup, AGUSA entered Studio Möllan to record their sophomore full-length, this time having asked a close friend of theirs, Jenny Puertas, to play flute on the recording. The match was so perfect that the band instantly invited her into the band full-time, expanding their lineup once again.
Agusa 2 (Två ) is out now on CD and digital platforms with the vinyl being handled by AGUSA via their own Kommun2 label. To purchase the record on CD visit the Lasers Edge store at THIS LOCATION or digitally HERE. For vinyl orders, go HERE.
