Älgarnas Trädgård ~ Sweden

Delayed (1974 / 2001)

It was at the 1995 ProgFest that a good friend from Florida and I were talking with someone - can't remember who now - that informed us that Algarnas Tradgard had a second album in the tank that had never been released. And it would be coming out soon. A few minutes later my friend deadpanned to me: "Did you hear that? A second Algarnas Tradgard? That gives me a whole new reason to live." Which got a belly laugh out of me, and I still use that phrase on occasion. But I could certainly see his point. Well it wasn't imminent, but finally in 2001 that story held true. I bought the CD as fast as I could upon release. Thought it was great, but different than the debut, filed, and...

...20+ years later I'm hearing it for the second (and 3rd) time. I didn't remember anything about my initial encounter. Yet another reminder that I might just have too many albums here. Because records like this need to be more known before I exit this mortal coil. I enjoyed a full +1 listen last night, something that happens rarely anymore but is always a pleasant surprise when it does. And as I mentioned before, there's very little to tie this with the debut, excepting maybe the haunting closer 'My Childhood Trees'. Otherwise it fits the overused - but underutilized - tag of "psych prog". Very few bands in 1974 were still heavily influenced by the psychedelic movement, but Algarnas Tradgard did not let it go, especially notable in the guitar work. At this point the band are very much in the same boat as Group 1850, except far more together and professional. Unfortunately they couldn't keep the band going past this, like so many other groups of its ilk. The mid to late 70s were a completely different beast, one that didn't have a place for Algarnas Tradgard. Too bad they never reformed, as they seemed like the type of band who could have picked up where they left off, as if the last 20 to 40 years never happened.

Ownership: 2001 Silence (CD). Short history. 

1//02 (acquired); 9/23/22 (review)

Live 1971-1972 (2015)

Here's the breakdown of the archival material, which is featured on album #2.

Side 3 ('A Warm Wave of Lunar Mist' and 'The Mirrors of Gabriel') was recorded at The Museum of Art in Gothenburg (1972)
Side 4 ('Rings of Saturn') was recorded at Hagahuset, Gothenburg (1971)
Side 4 ('In the Mode of the Ancient') unknown
Side 4 ('Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom') was recorded at Gardetfest, Stockholm (1971)

The music found on these archival recordings are very much like the legendary album on LP #1. The sound quality is very good, though a bit low volume in the mix overall. It's wild and woolly instrumental psychedelic music - as performed by a band from 1,000 years ago - or a 1,000 years in the future. Who would know?

BTW - these bonus tracks are not the same as any of the CD bonus tracks, nor do they have anything to do with the later Delayed album. These are completely unique to this LP release.

Also, in reading the liner notes, I'm quite fascinated by the political climate of the era. As with Moving Gelatine Plates in France, Algarnas Tradgard were all about the music, not Leftist ideals. And so they were harassed not by the expected Establishment, but rather militant Communist groups insisting on blind loyalty to the cause. Wow. Two of the greatest, most extreme, and creative bands of the era, destroyed by what one would assume to be allies. How I can relate to this... Oh yes I can.

Ownership: 2015 Subliminal Sounds (2xLP). Gatefold with archival photos and a large booklet with historical info penned by band member Dan Soderquist. Includes the original first album (see below).

12/12/15 (acquired / review)

Framtiden Är Ett Svävande Skepp, Förankrat I Forntiden. (1972)

Many times, as die-hard music fans, we boast about our top 10. It becomes somewhat of a joke, as we all know that most people have 50 albums in that space of 10! I think, though, I can honestly say that Älgarnas Trädgård's original opus is truly a top ten album for me.

For me, Älgarnas Trädgård (Algarnas Tradgard if searching) is the reason I collect music. It's so transcendent. It takes me places in my mind that I didn't know existed. I've never been a drug user (just beer and wine for me thanks), but I would imagine the experience must be similar. This album could have been released in 2972. There's absolutely nothing like it in the world. As psychedelic an album as has ever been made. No sonic overload of fuzz like today's bands. But something way more surreal. Another world, another culture. As the album cover indicates. Sometimes I think those Ancient Aliens guys (History Channel) might have a point. Here's the soundtrack that they left behind.

Paul Major's review from 1988 (Sound Effects catalog) is too good to not share. Check this out: "Intense otherwordly acidtrip classic! Where you wanted 'Saucerful of Secrets' to take you... ...Primordial rhythms creep out overlaid with trance dual fuzz guitars, chants, atmospheres, barking dogs, and eerie voices - in one weird cover of old men sitting in another world! ... Holding this in your hand is like touching a lost fragment of some ancient pre-human civilization!

Ownership: 

1972 Silence (LP). With brown inner sleeve.

2015 Subliminal Sounds (2xLP). Gatefold. Includes one LP of entirely unreleased material (see above). 

2011 Belle Antique (CD). Papersleeve with three bonus tracks.

1988 (acquired); 7/29/07; 5/28/09; 3/16/12 (review); 12/11/15

3/16/12 (new entry)