Splash ~ Sweden

Splash 2 (1978)

On Splash 2 (oddly named given it's their 3rd full length album), the Swedish band have moved from standard pop rock structures to an improvisational jazz rock unit. I hesitate to use the word "fusion" here, as they clearly weren't emulating the usual suspects like Return to Forever or Weather Report. And at times they have that college level stage band type tightness. There's also a little bit of silliness calling out their Zappa influence (not to mention some fine guitar soloing). And even a little dancing around the barn music to open the album. An intriguing album, but a step down from their second album.

The two bonus tracks on the CD total about 12 minutes and are excellent.

Ownership: Part of the box set as described below.

11/28/19 (review)

Ut på Vischan! / Back to Nature (1972)

Splash started their career quite a bit differently than how they finished. On their debut, Ut På Vischan, one will hear a typical horn rock album very much modeled after Chicago or Blood, Sweat and Tears. Except it's sung in Swedish (always a favorite language here). Like most horn rock albums, there are some great instrumental charts offset by some more standard songcraft. Not one of the best horn rock albums you'll ever hear, but a very good entry all the same, and it sports a great cover as well.

Ah... but as we learn from the CD reissue box set, Ut på Vischan! was originally to be an English language album. And that would be Back to Nature. The music is very similar, not an exact copy, but this time sung in the language of the common music industry. Not sure why the change of heart at the end, perhaps Polydor knew the album wouldn't stretch beyond the local shores. Whatever the case, a great archival discovery for fans of the band.

Ownership: Part of the box set as described below.

11/3/19 (review)

Samtliga Inspelningar (1970-1979 / 2018)

2019 has proven to be quite the year for CD collectors. Not so much in quantity, but rather quality. It's ironic in that everyone it seems has moved back to the LP. Yet arguably the greatest CD package of them all was released this year - at least for my tastes - and that was the Tangerine Dream In Search of Hades box. At some point I'll get some words down about it here, but I'm sure most of you had already heard about it. We've also had the incredibly great box set from Group 1850 - Purple Sky (something they should have done years ago, but OK, they did it now and I love it). And some real obscuros came out this year like Firyuza, Atila - Reviure, some of the Lloyd McNeill's, the Tom Nehls, Grodeck Whipperjenny, the list goes on. Yea, it's not 2005, but are we seeing the roots of the CD renaissance that I'm certain will happen at some point? As you all know, I love collecting original LPs through the 1980s - that won't change, but I never did jump on the LP-only bandwagon. For modern releases and reissues - I want CDs! And I know many others out there who agree with me.

All of that prelude leads me to this most magnificent box set - released completely under the radar. I received a tip from an Italian friend on RYM, and now that I have it in my possession, I can only say WOW! The fact this was put together by one of the members of the band, is really quite extraordinary. Because it seems like something a major label would put out. I had a chance to hear the second album last night, mainly because it's the album I'm most familiar with (see below review). The sound is absolutely fantastic, and I cannot wait to hear the rest!

So what's in the box?

Disc 1 has their first album Ut På Vischan.  Ah, but it turns out the original LP was supposed to be issued in English and the recording still exists! So Disc 1 actually opens up with Back to Nature, a complete first album in English. Judging by track times, it appears the two will be pretty similar (not exact), but with different languages. I'm personally glad they went forward with the Swedish version initially (which is also here of course), but it's great to have the original intended English version now too. (Update: Ut På Vischan! is taken from vinyl with light background noise. Guessing the masters were lost, and this is the best copy they could find. The English version is taken from a master tape the band had).

Disc 2 features their entire second album plus one single that was originally released in 1974 (quite good I might add).

Disc 3 features their 3rd and final album Splash 2 (still not sure about why this is the title, more on that below). There's also two bonus tracks, of which I'm not quite sure of their origin. One indicates possibly a 2015 recording and the other 1974.

Disc 4 and beyond is all bonus material. For the 4th disc you get their 1973 released single, 4 unreleased tracks from 1973 and 1974. AND a full radio show from 1975.

Disc 5 has two back to back live shows from 1975.

I have yet to hear these, so cannot comment on the sound quality. Though I'm guessing they are pretty good, because then comes...

Disc 6 which is for your computer. Here is where they placed their first 1972 single (probably from vinyl then?) along with two more full live concerts (1973 and 1976 respectively).

Holy moly, that's a lot of Splash! The "clamshell" box is awesome and they were wise to use the excellent second album painting. The booklet is superb with extensive liner notes and vintage photos. Plenty of detailed track information. Now most of the booklet is in Swedish, but there is an annotated English section as well. It would be really great to get the Swedish notes translated, as I suspect some of my questions are answered there. If anyone wants to do that, I will publish them here for perpetuity.

If you are interested in obtaining this box set, I can put you in touch with Thomas. I'd rather not drop his e-mail here. Just follow the Purple Peak Records tag below to the contact e-mail page, to get in touch with me. Or drop me a note on RYM via my Ashratom page. 

Ownership: 2018 private (5xCD). Details above. Acquired in 2019.

Splash (1974)

Splash's self-titled second album from 1974 takes the band from their American horn rock styled debut, and stretches out into three lengthy tracks. It gives us the listener a what-if scenario as to what Chicago Transit Authority might have sounded like were they part of the European jazz underground rather than held hostage to commercial aspirations and AM / FM radio demands. Of the three aforementioned pieces, the highlight for me is the near 14 minute closer 'Sambahmadu', with its intriguing mix of Latin styled jazz rock and Asiatic themes.

Ownership: 

1974 PLA (LP). Acquired in 2018.

2019 private (CD). Part of the Splash 1970-1979 (Samtliga Inspelningar) box set (see above).

2008 (review); 4/10/18; 10/8/19 (update)

Also would like to review all the bonus material as described above.

4/10/18 (new entry)