Magical
Stephen KEEN | Western Australia | 02/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is Bo Hansson's third album recorded in 1975 & released worldwide in 1976, & follows most of the same imagery as his two previous releases - "music inspired by Lord of the Rings" & "Magicians Hat".
I remember when this record was first released some critics said it lacked a theme, but with only a little imagination it can easily be seen as a continuation of the same elf-like fantasy music as the earlier creations. But this album has a more mellow tone compered with Bo's trek through dark lands to destroy an evil ring. This is delightful listening. Just the first track is enough to carry you off well into Hansson's Nordic fairyland.
There are hints of "late at night jazz" - Hansson was influenced by modern jazz in the sixties, especially jazz played on organ, & there is also a clever blending of some of the instruments, so that the listener can be unsure whether he or she is hearing a synthesizer or an electric guitar,or both,or some other instrument. The maestro united with a number of his Swedish musician friends on this release. Besides his signature organ & synthesizer there is piano, & guitars,drums,percussion,bass,& a number of effects, as well as flute. There is also a segment titled "Rabbit Music" which gives us a peek into Bo's fourth album "music inspired by Watership Down".
Somehow parts of "Attic Thoughts" always reminds me of music from an enchanted forest,or something similar, & it was only recently that I learned how Bo spent part of his childhood in a house in Swedish forest. I often find myself listening to this & other Hansson albums when I feel saturated by other kinds of music. It goes well when confined to indoors on a rainy day & that sort of thing.
Once you have fallen under Bo Hansson's spell you may wish to collect all four albums of this man's amazing work.
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