Gosta Berlings Saga (whose name is taken from a famous Swedish novel) are a fantastic instrumental rock band from Sweden. To date they have released three albums, and although I've yet to hear their latest, the first two are both excellent.
The music of this band is built using the typical rock lineup of guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, but the band couldn't sound further from typical rock. What we are treated to hear are greatly textured soundscapes, built with textured layered guitars, lively bass, and excellent drumbeats.
In both of their albums, the magic is in the details. The various instruments interact with each other in such a way to create beautifully textured pieces of music, masterfully layering the sounds to build gorgeous soundscapes that are atmospheric more than melodic. The sum is definitely more than the parts, with the interactions between the instruments creating the subtle tapestry that defines the bands sound. Multiple listens are definitely recommended, for there are plenty of little details that are easier to notice once one is familiar with the music.
Listening to their debut, Tid ar Ljud reveals a band with a lot more chops and confidence than one would expect, and with a surprisingly solid ability to craft complex, yet listenable instrumental music.
Between their first and second album, the band changed guitarists, so Tid ar Ljud is the only album they released with Matthias Danielson on guitars. Compared to Einar Baldursson, who would replace him on the next album, Matthias puts a bit more rock and
heaviness into his playing, making this album a bit meatier than its follow-up. This works quite
well, and the closing track, Svarta Hal Och Elljusspår (which roughly translates to Black holes and Floodlit Track) is
perhaps the best example of this. It is also possibly the best track I have heard from this very
talented group thus far.
Their second album, Detta Har Hant (which translates to "This Has Happened"), as I mentioned already, features new guitarist Einar Baldursson. I don't know how much of it is because of Einar's involvement, but the sound on this album is a lot more precise, and the soundscapes have a bit more depth. Einar has a more mature and restrained sound than Matthias, although as a result Detta Har Hant does not rock as hard as the debut. Instead it has a bit more of a spacey sound that was not quite as present in the first. This change shows that the band is prepared to continue to grow and evolve their sound, yet despite that the two albums both retain distinct similarities.
The music on Detta Har Hant is incredibly strong, and I'd be hard pressed to name a single track that I didn't like.
I must admit that most of my favorite moments on this album are the more upbeat tracks, such as the opener Kontrast (Contrast), Fem Trappor (Five Stairs), but I also have a soft spot for the build up in some of their more laid back tracks, such as Nattskift (Night Shift), which builds from a soft keyboard part before the guitar comes in.
Overall, Detta Har Hant is an excellent release that deserves a lot of attention, especially from those who enjoy adventurous instrumental music.
Definitely a recommended band. Now to get my hands on their latest, "Glue Works"...
Buy their music!
Tid ar Ljud - Wayside Music | Lasers Edge
Detta Har Hant - Amazon.ca | Wayside Music | Lasers Edge
Both available at Synphonic
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