Samla Mammas Manna are a difficult band to pigeonhole, somewhat like contemporaries Arbete och Fritid and Archimedes Badkar in that way. They mix rock, folk, humor, jazz, and other unidentifiables into a very satisfying stew of progressive rock goodness. At times they seem ready to rip off a cool jam, but always pull back, never really wanting to associate with traditional rock tropes. It's not surprising to know they were a charter member of Henry Cow's Rock in Opposition troupe. They answer to nobody, and sound like no one. With any kind of music like this, there are some off bits to endure (including some cartoonish vocals), but mostly this one stayed in the rails. Which can't necessarily be said for all of their albums (though most are satisfying). In later years, the avant prog tagged would be appended to bands such as these, but I hear Samla far more organic than the usual cold and sterile albums that proliferate that scene.
Ownership: LP: 1973 Silence. Single sleeve. Online acquisition from 2017. Absolutely love the cover, and it's featured on my wall of albums. This is the first time for me to hear the album on vinyl - I think ever. I wasn't really a huge fan of Samla in the early days, so didn't pursue them back then. Not even my more avant leaning friends had this one back in the day. I bought the CD online in 2000, and that might be the last time I heard this. I had forgotten there were bonus tracks, but it's weird how the label (or the band) did them. The first one 'Minareten II' is a shorter version of a track on the album, and a bit rawer. It's quite good. The last track 'Probably the Probably' is definitely bonus fodder, and not something to make you want to keep it. The middle of these three is the opening track on their debut album, which makes no sense. The CD offers nothing else, so off it goes.
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