Last month, Swedish psychedelic/prog alchemists, AGUSA, dropped the hallucinatory bounty of their Agusa 2 (Två ) full-length via Laser’s Edge. Boasting forty ethereal minutes of tranquil, trance-inducing, folk-inspired, occult rock divided into two epic tracks, AGUSA‘s kaleidoscopic output conjures images of nature and the cosmos, their extensive passages meandering into realms of a possibly supernatural or parallel existence.
Raising the eyebrows of fans and critics in the proverbial know, The Obelisk hails the record’s, “progressive complexity, accomplished melodies of guitar, organ and flute, and quick-turning rhythms driven by a classic sense of movement.” “Though there are only two songs on Agusa 2 (Två), each one is epic in length, and allows the band to weave their addicting instrumental skills and take the listener on an exciting ride of proggy goodness,” reads the final verdict from Sea Of Tranquility (which consequently became Roadburn’s ‘Album Of The Day’ review), the longrunning web portal further elaborating, “‘Ganglat Fran Vintergatan’ contains some red hot organ flourishes, sizzling wah-wah guitar solos, and some spacey Pink Floyd-meets-Hawkwind passages, while the lovely flute melodies lead the listener into the majestic ‘Kung Bores Dans,’ a tune that brings to mind Camel, Genesis, as well as Anglagard.” Glacially Musical commends AGUSA‘s manifestation of, “true beauty,” 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,” while Wonderbox Metal champions the band’s, “richly textured,” compositions adding, “This offers some real drugged-out psychedelic bliss for connoisseurs of the style. It’s a reflective response to a time that may have passed but is being kept alive by people who share a passion for an era that musically gave so much to what came after… if you want to kick back and relax to music that’s both mellow and challenging then this is the album for you.”
In celebration of its release, today Revolver offers up the optical companion to opening hymn, “Ganglat Fran Vintergatan.” Captured by Patrik Lager the appropriately tripnotic video features original footage from 1968’s Curious Alice, an educational film for public school children focused on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse in the context of the Alice In Wonderland story.
Space out to the visuals of “Ganglat Fran Vintergatan,” courtesy of Revolver 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.
[photo by Peter Troest]
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