BIB SET – It Wasn't Meant to Happen... (Toniton, 1969)

English vocals, instrumental

International relevance: ***

 

Ranked #23 on the blog's Top 25 list

An unbelievably rare album from the time of psychedelia's transition into progg. A Toniton original in VG (listed as VG++ but the grading didn't match the description) changed hands for over €460 several years ago, and if a copy in better condition would turn up, who knows what it would go for. Thankfully, reissues exist.

It's also one of the best progg LP's from the turn of the decade, with a psychedelic atmosphere almost as dark as the album cover. The jazzy drums and swirling reverb drenched organs will probably remind you of Hansson & Karlsson, but piano, bass and good sincere vocals add an original flavour not quite prevalent on any other album (at least not from Sweden). The mix is almost three-dimensional with sounds moving above your head and in front of your eyes (the sound your eyes can follow), and timbres disappear in the murky distance before re-entering close to your ears. To get the most out of ”It Wasn't Meant to Happen...”, you ought to play it from start to finish, in the dark with headphones on. Only then it will reveal its subjugating tenebrosity in all its thrillsome splendour.

Full album

TEQUILA – Power (Toniton, 1974)

English vocals

International relevance: **

The Toniton label are mostly known for gas station releases and Top of the Pops styled budget compilations, with Bib Set's ludicrously rare ”It Wasn't Meant to Happen” collecting the highest progg points. Tequila aren't included in ”The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music” but would at least pass for 'fringe progg', my term for albums that are not quite progg but not quite not progg either. Mainly a salsa/Latin album thankfully avoiding over-the-top Santana moves, ”Power” has enough of jazzy 70's touches and funkiness (note the wah-wah work on ”Someone to Love”) to warrant an inclusion here. ”Power” is quite good if you're into this kind of thing, well performed with a credible enough groove. The major exception is the boneheaded ”Cozumel”, a cringeworthy mock reggae track.

Most progg collectors pass on albums like this, which might explain why you still can find it relatively cheap, usually in the €20-40 range.

Guitarist Jörgen Höglund went further down the jazz funk track with his 1980 album ”Leaving It Up to You”. Percussionist Rafael Sida is still active and has appeared in various settings over the years, including Hot Salsa, a very popular 80's latin band. In the mid 00's he teamed up with Swedish world music legend Ale Möller, and has a trio going with fiddler Ellika Frisell and kora player Solo Cissokho. They have released three CD's to date, including ”Now” in 2013 on Bengt Berger's excellent Country & Eastern imprint.

Someone to Love