VILDKAKTUS – Vindarnas vägar (Polydor, 1971) / Natten (Ljudspår, 1973)

Vindarnas vägar (Polydor, 1971)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***

Another very fine effort from Vildkaktus. Not quite as good as ”Tidsmaskinen” but not far from it. ”Vindarnas vägar” is a more 'typical' prog than their debut, whatever that means and besides, nothing about Vildkaktus is exactly typical anyway. ”Vindarnas vägar” reveals influences from late 60's harmony laden American bands with jazzy inclinations. But it's isn't an epigonic work; it's tight, meticulously constructed and imaginative. The songs are excellent and confirm Vildkaktus as one of the most original bands of the era.

The album had a Record Store Day reissue in 2017.

Vildkaktus had a non-album 45 out on Polydor in 1972, "Vila vid denna källa"/"Natur du kämpar", before leaving the label for their third album.

Natten (Ljudspår, 1972)

Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: ***

Vildkaktus' third album is their weakest. It's less intricate than their previous two, on one hand opting for a little heavier sound (case in point: ”Ånglåt”) and on the other for a more straight-ahead West Coast sound, as on ”Substitute Woman”. It sounds as if Vildkaktus had lost a bit of interest in their music, and not surprisingly they disbanded after ”Natten”. Guitarist Olle Nilsson, pianist Gösta Nilsson and bassist Tommy Johnsson reappeared in Ibis a couple of years later.

A 1971 session for the Tonkraft show is included in "Progglådan".

Vindarnas vägar full album playlist

Natten full album

Tonkraft 1971 full album playlist (Vildkaktus starts at track 8)

IBIS – Ibis (Grammofonverket, 1974) / Sabbas Abbas mandlar (Dragon, 1980)

Instrumental

International relevance: ***/**

Ibis evolved out of the excellent Vildkaktus but has very little in common with pianist Gösta Nilsson's and guitarist Olle Nilsson's former band. The music on their debut is jazz fusion, albeit with a much dirtier edge than the genre usually allows. Sometimes during the noisier parts they remind me a wee bit of French band Magma but possibly only because the tenstion they create from time to time.But ”Ibis” do indeed has quite a few more progressive moves than their far more academic Swedish fusion genre fellows. While I prefer the splendour of Vildkaktus, ”Ibis” is an interesting piece worthy of several plays.

Their second album with an untranslatable pun on Samla Mammas Manna for title didn't appear until six years later, and features a vastly different line-up with only Gösta Nilsson left from ”Ibis”. The personnel change obviously prompted a change in style, and ”Sabba Abbas mandlar” is a straight post bop jazz record with only a few contemporary fusion tinges on ”Summer Eyes” penned by new member and jazz legend Bengt Ernryd. An OK album but keep in mind it collects few progg points.

Ibis full album

Sabba Abbas mandlar full album