Qoph - Kalejdoskopiska Aktiviteter

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Record Heaven
Catalog Number: RHCD11
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:06:00

Years ago Frederico de Costa had sent me some demo tapes on which I [found] a unique blend of current sounds and the "feel" of the seventies. I did try to land his band Qoph a deal with Musea, but the label was not convinced. The band battled with the [idea of] either [releasing] their album in Swedish or in English. For some time the band thought of releasing two versions of the album, but in the end Kalejdoskopiska Aktiviteter smiles in all Swedish euphoria.

Most of the songs [were] written a long time ago which is why the freshness of the music is no longer there. Through the band's music I constantly hear sort of a Led Zeppelin shining through without becoming a pure rip off of Plant and Co. It will probably be due to the "hidden" amount of hard blues. In the opening song "Vansinnet" I note the fabulous guitar solo of Filip Norman, whilst the well balanced violin of guest musician Ola de Freitas delivers a nice complimentary asset to the whole. Often the wah-wah pedal is used, the flanger is dusted off, whilst various voices form a nice counterpoint. An element which is constantly apparent in Qoph's music is the psychedelic approach [to] hard blues so that we sort of listen to the Swedish answer to Blue Cheer.

There are plenty of good ideas out there but none of them are used to the fullest. The intro for "Manvarv" makes me think of the Allman Brothers whilst Lynyrd Skynyrd comes to life in "En Mane Som Ler." If you add the Swedish singing you come to the conclusion that this is not an evident recording. At the moment the band should be working on an English album and I'm convinced that this will be THE way to finally score.

Tracklisting:
Vansinnet (7:34) / Ta farv?l (5:56) / ?n Lyser Manen (Nadir I) (6:15) / Manvarv (Nadir I) (4:53) / En Mane Some Ler (Nadir III) (1:36) / Aldrig Tillbaks (6:20) / Herr Qophs Villfarelser (9:37) / F?rf?rande R?dsla (13:55)

Musicians:
Federico de Costa - drums and percussion
Robin Kvist - vocals
Filip Norman - guitar
Patrick Persson - bass
Jimmy Wahlsteen - guitar and mandolin

Discography:
Kalejdoskopiska Aktiviteter (1998)
Pyrola (2004)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin SE

Added: January 1st 2000
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Hits: 5024
Language: english