Änglagård - Viljans öga (2012)

Änglagård - Viljans öga (2012) Horacio Manrique nos trae una maravilla musical de un año donde los planetas se alinearon y aparecieron discazos en el mundillo del progresivo como hacía años que no se veía. Y éste fue "EL" disco de ese año, un disco esperado desde que estos suecos desaparecieron de escena, una obra llena de magia y oscuro color, una belleza sonora. Luego de 18 añistos desde el "Epilog", estas bestias escandinavas se mandaron otro discazo como solamente ellos podían hacer, con toda su musicalidad, su magia, su tremendo estilo que los ha identificado y ha dejado su huella imborrable no solamente en el mundo del progresivo sino también en el Universo de la Buena Música. Imperdible, invalorable, inmenso y apoteótico, aquí el último disco de estudio de Änglagård para cerrar una semana con lo mejor del prog sueco.Y como dice el Mago Alberto, el que se pierde esto es un pelotudo.

Álbum: Viljans öga
Año: 2012
Género: Rock folk sinfónico
Duración: 57:30
Nacionalidad: Suecia

Antes que nada, dejo el comentario del Mago Alberto que es quien alguna vez presentó el disco en el blog cabeza:

En un noticiero de televisión esta mañana se cuestionaba el uso de la tecnología en el fútbol debido al arbitraje de un partido del domingo, es increíble como los mismos dirigentes de este deporte tienen opiniones cruzadas al respecto, ¿cómo no introducir un adelanto de la tecnología para evitar discusiones estúpidas? encima en un ámbito como el futbol donde hoy se cuestiona "la violencia". La tecnología evitaría estos dos grandes males, tal como sucede con el ojo de halcón en el tenis y eso que estamos hablando de muchísima menos gente y en un ámbito totalmente opuesto al fútbol, si aquí hay discusiones, ¿qué nos espera en un estadio con mas de 30000 personas y con barras bravas endrogadas en Adrogue?. Así como se introdujo el aerosol y se solucionó el adelanto de barreras y posterior fallos polémicos, ¿cómo no poner camaritas y un fucking software para evitar los mismos????. La vida es para adelante y como decía un amigo "siempre para adelante que para atras se sale".
Este comentario sirve como introducción para comentar algo de este material que nos ofrece Anglagard, otra de las grandes bandas suecas que van marcando tendencia en el rubro, movimiento prog. sueco, que muy gentilmente desde hace un tiempo nos viene presentando Moe en el blog.
Este material apereció despues de 16 años de su última producción, (se tomaron un poco de tiempo los vikingos), y en contexto con el comentario anterior, se levantaron críticas encontradas, los unos, cuestionando el desarrollo musical de Anglagard despues de su exitoso Hybris, y los otros, marcando la novedosa evolución de la banda, en particular me quedo con los últimos, por cuanto el artista si no evoluciona en su arte se muere de a poco, como quien se desangra (como decia Santos Vega).
Este hermoso proyecto vino a calmar la sed y aportó otro grano de arena al progresivo sueco, y al mundial también, porque si bien en los 90 las bandas de rock-prog intentaban despegarse del sonido setentoso, muchos se quedaron estancados en la crudeza de los teclados, en los fraseos super rápidos de las guitarras y las batas y le restaron muchísimo al poder del sentimiento y lo mutaron por la frialdad de la técnica.
Anglagard apareció después de muchísimos años con este trabajo y nos propuso obras largas con muchísimos momentos de vuelo, con frases cortas y contundentes, con intrincados pasajes de vientos calmos y relajados a tormentas de guitarras y teclados, en todos los casos vamos descubriendo una banda relajada y con una propuesta clara y contundente, tipo "aca estamos,esto somos".
Este proyecto no defrauda, si bien vino a cubrir una franja de 16 años, el paso del tiempo los transformó en un producto sólo para entendidos, algo así como un coñac añejo. La producción musical es clara y contundente.
Para los que siguen el rock nórdico y aún no escucharon este material, será una bendición a sus oídos. Para los amantes del progresivo esto es caviar.

Mago Alberto

Para rebobinar y recordar la historia del mítico grupo para quienes aún no los conozcan, vamos con la siguiente biografía:

Änglagård es una banda sueca de rock progresivo sinfónico, que nació en verano de 1991 con la intención de rememorar el sonido del rock progresivo de los setenta, bebiendo de grupos como Génesis, Pink Floyd, King Crimson... El término anglagard, fue creado por Tord Lindman, el guitarrista de la banda, y viene a significar "Casa o granja de Ángeles".
A principios de los noventa, el rock progresivo como tal no ofrecía excesiva cantidad de bandas, por lo que se consideraba que había acabado su edad de "neoprogresivo de los 80". Pero los noventa volverán a suponer el nacimiento de nuevos sonidos. Anglagard crea su primer álbum de estudio, Hybris en 1992, tras la maqueta The Largen Demo, en 1992. Tracklist: 1. Jordrök (11:10) 2. Vandringar i Vilsenhet (11:53) 3. Ifrån Klarhet Till Klarhet (8:04) 4. Kung Bore (12:57) Bonus track on remastered CD: 5. Gånglåt från Knapptibble (7:19)
Supuso un álbum de gran reconocimiento internacional, que no obstante, es más apreciado hoy, gracias a la difusión de Internet. Está considerado como un álbum fundamental en el rock progresivo, y sirvió de inspiración a numerosas bandas del norte de Europa, Suecia, Escandinavia, Finlandia... Destacó por la complejidad de las percusiones, contundencia del bajo, los pasajes que creaban melotrones y órgano Hammond, la aportación de la flauta travesera, el carácter de fusión de estilos musicales, y el sonido tan oscuro del disco.
En 1994 grabarán su segundo y último disco de estudio: Epilog, más cercano al folk escandinavo y a la música contemporánea e igualmente bien acogido. Tracklist: 1. Prolog (2:00) 2. Höstsejd (15:32) 3. Rösten (0:14) 4. Skogsranden (10:48) 5. Sista Somrar (13:10) 6. Saknadens Fullhet (2:00)
La continuidad sonora en este álbum no está tan conseguida, resulta más heterogéneo en general.
Tras esto la banda dejó su actividad compositiva. Y sólo se han reunido en algunas ocasiones, por peticiones, para tocar juntos en directo. De esos pocos directos se grabó en 1994 un doble cd y un video directo: Progfest, que tuvo lugar en dicho festival. En 1996 grabaron otro directo: Buried Alive. En 1995, una doble compilación: After the Storm.
En 2002, la banda ha vuelto a los ensayos, de una manera nostálgica. En junio de 2003 volvió a los escenarios, y tocaron en Estocolmo. Eventualmente han aparecido en festivales en Francia, Bélgica, Alemania, en el Nearfest de Estados Unidos.
En 2012 retomaron el proyecto, 16 años después del último lanzamiento.
Lanzado el pasado 28 de junio 2012 "Viljans Oga" es el tercer álbum de estudio de Anglagard. tras 18 años el grupo se reúne nuevamente en estudio para este tercer trabajo que resulta una verdadera sorpresa, pero muy grata por cierto. Como no, se trata de la banda sueca de rock progresivo de mayor importancia y trascendencia de las últimas décadas. El disco de hoy es complejo y requiere de múltiples escuchas para ser digerido objetivamente, e iras descubriendo sonidos nuevos con cada una de ellas. Un prog puro hecho actualidad ¡!!. Espero lo disfruten.

OPin
Y es así que llegamos a esta excepcional obra maestra con el mejor espíritu del progresivo que reúne técnica y sentimiento, mucha técnica y mucho sentimiento por partes iguales, extremada cantidad de técnica y sentimiento mejor dicho. Así es este disco, la mezcla exacta de dos mundos, un producto típico de Anglagard.

Ni en mis mejores sueños podía pensar y que tras pasar 18 años desde su ultimo trabajo Epilog, los suecos Änglagård fueran a editar un nuevo trabajo..., pero henos aquí en el 2012 con una de las bandas referente del progresivo de los 90's, aquella que creo un estilo particular llamado prog escandinavo.
Si ya la remasterizacion de "Hybris" y "Epilog" supuso una alegria, no fue para menos la noticia de un nuevo trabajo y tras la expectación, llega la realidad, sale a la luz el tercer trabajo titulado "Viljans Öga" y dejando de lado esas inevitables y a veces odiosas comparaciones, en este caso con sus dos obras anteriores Hybris y Epilog, a mi personalmente no me han defraudado ni un apéndice de lo que se puede esperar de esta banda, incluso me atrevería a decir que "prueba superada con creces".
Si ya elegir entre Hybris y Epilog suponía un problema, ahora se suma a este problema de elección "Viljans Öga", un trabajo compuesto tan solo de 4 temas instrumentales, que va creciendo y creciendo en cada escucha y es que esos múltiples detalles sonoros necesitan tiempo para llegar a descubrirlos en su totalidad.
Su estilo sigue siendo fiel al sello de prog escandinavo, anteriormente comentado, es decir una mezcla de la complejidad de King Crimson y Gentle Giant con lo sinfónico de unos Genesis y alguna pincelada de Folk nórdico, temas plenos de cambios, una auténtica montaña rusa sonora que te lleva desde los ritmos mas enérgicos y caóticos a los mas delicados, composición compleja y enigmática, sentimental, oscura, rabiosa ... con continuas cortinas de teclados, flautas y como no mellotron.
El extraordinario comienzo con "Ur Vilande" con una Anna Holmgren tocando la flauta de forma suave y ensoñadora, esa melodía inicial que se va repitiendo en mil formas diferentes, la rotura del ritmo suave, melancólico, oscura y sentimental hacia el mas rabioso, complejo y demoledor, es la música de Änglagård, sin duda alguna.
"Sorgmantel" comienza de nuevo con la flauta evocativa de Anna, para presentarnos una nueva melodía que desemboca en una rotura de ritmo y de nuevo ataques desbordados en la mayor complejidad heredada de King Crimson. Magnifico el sonido del mellotron a cargo de Thomas y de la melodía del bajo por Johand
Llega el tercer y mas largo tema, "Snårdom", aquí Änglagård entra sin mas preámbulos en un alocado, delirante y caótico progresivo, roto solo por cortos pasajes instrumentales donde la dulce flauta no permite tomar un respiro, el bajo atronador de Johan Brand toma protagonismo, casi al final la música se torna triste y melancólica, la flauta, guitarra acústica y el violonchelo se apoderan de este tramo, para dar paso al final del tema con la melodía inicial.
"Längtans Klocka" comienza con unos efectos de sonido, viento tétrico para dar paso al suave y embaucador sonido de la flauta combinada con el piano... desemboca en una nueva rotura para adentrarnos de nuevo en el sonido caótico y enérgico "made in Änglagård", acaba el tema con un desconcertante ambiente circense con un Jonas Engdegard pletórico con sus punteos y solos de guitarra.
Poca cosa mas que decir, agradable y festiva sorpresa la vuelta de los suecos con un gran trabajo a la altura de lo esperado, ya quisieran mas de uno de los grupos clásicos que han vuelto a la escena progresiva, editar un disco como este, como si el tiempo no hubiera pasado y nos encontráramos un año después de la edición de Epilog en 1994...

Juan Egara
Y la verdad, yo no puedo emitir palabra sobre el disco, ni quiero, habiendo tantos comentarios adecuados y correctos sobre él, les paso algunos... ¿y con quién podemos empezar los comentarios?, con nuestro columnista involuntario de siempre!:
César Inca

Pero seguimos con más comentarios que tenemos muchos, tenemos que aprovechar, no siempre se da esto:
PabloBC

Se me hace difícil imaginar una banda de músicos detrás de esta música increíble. Hay más bien una historia, o mejor, muchas historias, tantas como escuchadores, tantas como escuchas, indefinidas secuencias oníricas de vigilia, evocadas en imágenes mentales por esta sinfonía de otro mundo que a su vez expresa, sin palabras, algún mundo soñado, envuelto en el misterio del sonido, el único código que nos llega.
Cierro los ojos y veo, decodifico, recreo. Imagino:
Acto I. Amanecer. Veo amanecer en un paraje agreste. Aparece un cementerio en ruinas, y pronto atardece ya en este mundo desconocido. Agitación. Guerra entre las fábulas. Las hordas del adversario avanzan a la batalla. Seres fantásticos se defienden, huyen. Enjambres de hadas. Calma tras la batalla.
Acto II. De nuevo amanece. Brillante rocío, gotas caen de las flores, hojas al agua que tiembla, brisa leve agita el mundo y un héroe cabalga hacia el peligro. El peligro avanza hacia el héroe. Fuerzas que se enfrentan en una danza sin final. Nadie gana.
Acto III. Una hechicera, un conjuro mágico, sangre borboteante en un caldero de bronce. Visiones en su reflejo: la historia del héroe y su amada. Ella le aguarda en la torre, sus ojos clavados en el horizonte, esperanza. Él proyecta su mirada más allá de la noche, a su alcoba. Sus miradas, sin reconocerse, sin encontrarse en la distancia, dialogan sin embargo, en silencio. Cielos azules y púrpura llevan sus mensajes, aleteantes, entre las nubes. La dama toca su anillo y recuerda el compromiso. El héroe, solo, imagina que aspira el perfume de sus cabellos rojizos, anhelante. Rescate, huida, consumación, juntos, ¿desenlace o sueño dentro del sueño? La visión se desvanece, sangre agitada en el caldero, la magia se disipa. Ríe la hechicera, ¿por qué?
Acto IV. Oscuro, mira en su interior y experimenta amargura. Sed de poder. Desciende, abajo a las profundidades de la tierra. Gnomos trabajan, ocultan secretos brillantes. Un cristal que brilla con luz propia, lo toma en su caverna y desciende aún más abajo. De pronto, otro mundo irrumpe y lo lleva arriba al espacio exterior, o abajo a un infierno multicolor, a dónde no lo sabemos, a un allá afuera del mundo conocido. Sonrientes demonios juegan con su corazón, alegremente. Perpetua locura en su macabra fiesta circense. De sus ansias de conquista quedan unos pocos huesos que bailan, divertidos en la broma final, en que al fin entiende.
Sobre el disco, como disco, no sé qué decir. Por ejemplo, "una obra de arte del rock progresivo", de una riqueza, una complejidad y una técnica apabullantes. No sé cómo describir esta música objetivamente. Pero me produce asombro, el hecho de que los seres humanos, estas criaturas tan extrañas y aparentemente tan simples, sean capaces de hacer algo tan increíble. Somos realmente extraños y misteriosos.

psicoverde
Y claro, tampoco faltan los comentarios en inglés, pero si quieren les resumo todo este palabrerío y su traducción: el disco está buenísimo y por ninguna razón se lo pueden perder.

Sean Trane

The return of Änglagård sees the band admirably developing their sound. Whilst there's clearly a continuity between the approach of this album and that of Hybris and Epilog, at the same time the band evade the trap of simply catering to the nostalgia crowd by repeating past glories. Instead, they take their sound forward by putting a somewhat stronger emphasis on the acoustic side of their sound; Jonas Engdegård's guitar playing approaches folky territory, whilst Anna Holmgren's flute performances, whilst always a highlight of Änglagård's material, is put in the spotlight like never before.
Compositionally speaking, it's the usual roller-coaster ride between peaceful, tranquil sections and brash outbursts of noise. There's a few sly references to their influences here and there; in particular, on the concluding track Längtans Klocka there's a span of circus music before the apocalyptic finale, which reminds me of the structure of Sleepwalkers - the concluding song of Van der Graaf Generator's Godbluff, itself a four-track reunion album from a prog unit which had been on hiatus for some years. A clever nod indeed - and yet, despite the presence of such references, at the same time the acoustic focus of the album sets the Änglagård sound apart from its inspirations a bit more in this release. In fact, I don't think it would be unfair to suggest that this may be the most original musical statement the band have ever made.

W. Arthur
John Davie

A multiple progressive disorder of beautiful mayhem!
Anglagard has always had a special place in my prog collection after their glorious triumph 'Hybris' in 1992. This album alone deservedly catapulted them to prog legends, especially for releasing the no holds barred prog in a year when prog was struggling to grab a foothold after a decade of regression. I admired Anglagard for holding on to all the things that made prog great; thus keeping the dream alive with complex lengthy song structures, incredible virtuoso musicianship and above all innovative time signatures and creative layered symphonic arrangements.
I was certainly not alone in believing that the band had come to an unceremonious end, but Anglagard have forced reviewers and music connoisseurs to rewrite the history books with "Viljans Oga". Two years after 'Hybris' the band released 'Epilog' and then in 1996 a live album surfaced with 'Buried Alive' and they were never heard from again. However, 2012 is fast becoming a year of prog resurgence with many older bands producing some of the best material heard in years such as Rush, The Flower Kings, and now Anglagard, 18 years later.
The vintage sound is prevalent throughout the glorious 'Ur Vilande', with trademark flute played brilliantly by Anna Homlgren from the original lineup. Mattias Olsson is a master on percussion as always, Johan Brand plays Bass and Taurus, Thomas Johnson is back on Pianos, Mellotrons and synths, Jonas Engdeg'rd returns on Guitars, but there is no Tord Lindman on this new lineup. The instrumental is lengthy but never dreary, featuring some incredible guitar and percussion augmentations. It is a wonderful start to the album and a promise of a masterpiece is looming from the outset. Anglagard are definitely back!
'Sorgmantel' begins with gorgeous flute over musical box chimes, and then woodwind and reflective piano enters the landscape. The sound generated is mystical and comes from a faraway kingdom that fires the imagination. As Brand's bass begins to pulse, swathes of keyboards dominate and then a new time sig with flute and guitar embellishments. The band are tight knowing precisely when to stop and start, and when they move into full flight with all musicians breaking out on their instruments, it is a delight to the ears. The music breaks to allow musicians to showcase their craft, Anna's flute solo chimes over Johnson's swells of keyboard, Brand's bass jumps in and out of Olsson's percussion meters, and then polyrhythmic time sigs are unleashed. Olsson's drums are a celebration of mayhem, and they drive the music along with a passion unheard since Magma's Christian Vander. Engdeg'rd's lead guitar turns aggressive on this, the keyboard runs are frantic, and the flute warbling is intense. This is Anglagard at their heaviest, and they lift to a crescendo of sound and fury.
'Snardom' is a delirious flute driven instrumental with a pounding percussion and layers of keyboards. The beautiful flute is mesmirising as always by Anna, but I love the way it interrelates with the noisier guitars and drums. There are tons of intricate time signatures to revel in, and an incessant heavy blast of staccato musical explosions. It has a King Crimson style rhythm and some undeniably effective sax blasts, creating beautiful mayhem. The bassline is awesome and the way the beat changes almost at will as guitar and flute compete for the spotlight is a stroke of genius. It settles into a dreamscape of flute, piano and acoustic vibrations, that lull me into a state of bliss, almost to the point of tears. It builds back into a haunting melody and it ascends to the stratosphere with high pitched fret work and sustained string bends; it does not get any better than this. I am in awe of this song; really it is a masterpiece of prog, and a throwback to the glorious 70s in every respect.
'Langtans Klocka' begins quietly with piano and an ominous drone. The flute comes in like an angel on wings of gossamer. My heart melts with the exquisiteness of Anna's flute playing. The atmosphere builds with an upbeat bright guitar phrase over jumpy flute and chimes. Eventually Engdeg'rd's heavier guitar crashes in and the time sig is wonderfully irregular. The bass is amazing and it plays off the percussion leading to a passage of xylophone and saxophone, with very odd intricate metrical patterns. The complexity of the music is astonishing, and it soon leads to a segment of melodic guitar playing along with the flute, until a slower pace locks in allowing the flute to pour over the music like honey. Violined guitar and mellotron soaks up the atmosphere and then an outbreak of loud music punches a hole through the fabric. It ends with a grand guignol circus theme similar to the themes on 'Hybris'. There are even some vocal intonations to accentuate the angular circus style. This is weird but deliriously off kilter enough to end the album on an innovative note, with xylophone and glockenspiel thrown in; it is impossible to predict Anglagard's music and that is one of its drawcards.
I cannot believe 'Viljans Oga' is as good as 'Hybris' and yet Anglagard have done it again, and it is one of the greatest albums I have heard in years. The dynamic music is mesmirising and without the vocals of Lindman, it is not marred in any way, perhaps even improved as we can just sit back and have our ears caressed by mindbending musicianship. I actually didn't think this would measure up to Anglagard's masterful 1992 opus, as that is a tall order. I was wrong in every respect. This is a bonafide masterpiece and one of the definitive prog albums of 2012.

Scott Tuffnell

I always considered Anglagard one of the best (if not the very best) examples of what a progband sounds like. This is not strange if you realize mellotron and flute are two very prominent prog instruments and are very significant in Anglagards music. On top of that the complexity and sometimes inaccessibility is right there as well and are of course features of progressive music. Anglagard has always intrigued me because of all this and maybe it's even more interesting this Swedish band is a contemporary band and is maybe the best example of a progressive band playing retroprog in an own style and sound. Also their obscurity with the general public is a proof we're dealing with true 100% prog and not by accident one of the most popular bands amongst the prog devotees.
This latest album has a lot in common with both predecessor Epilog as with the bands famous debut Hybris. Obviously Anglagard prefers songs between 10 and 15 minutes and somehow they fit the band like a glove. At least they are excellent in composing them; these songs are all great and are Anglagards trademark ultimately. And so they are on their latest Viljans 'ga. It surely amazed me checking out the tracks and finding out they are all winners once again. Like I said, the compositions are complex and somewhat inaccessible. They are also darkish but the real reason I like this album is that the songs are also pleasant for the ears. Not easy to digest but not too weird or experimental to like (or even love) either for a harmonic music lover like me.
It went through my mind that this album should actually be protected from the usual bashers. People that want to be different from the rest and simply therefore give this album one or two stars. Or give these ratings out of some sort of sick jealousy because this album rises higher than their own favorites. I think we all know what I'm talking about. And I'm saying this because this masterpiece deserves no bashing from anyone. It deserves the same respect as Close to the Edge or Thick as a Brick, albums that are also pinnacles of our genre. Of course I realize life isn't like that and neither it isn't on our site. But I would really love to see this album gets the respect from everyone that it deserves. And that it will keep the high rating it has right now (some 4,65) so that it will end up in our top 10 or 20 where it belongs. And in the end I hope the band will keep up the great job they are doing for two decades now. A deep bow for Viljans 'ga. And 5 stars of course.

Henk van der Hoff
Paul Fowler

When a band enters into a long sabbatical after two excellent albums, their early releases become some sort of legend that nobody believes can be re-created, but when that same band announces a reunion after almost two decades, the fans expect more of the same...Well as I said before, Viljans Öga is not Hybris, doesn't sound similar or will take the audience by surprise as the unexpected debut did, but the quality and the beauty that made of ÄNGLAGÅRD the icon of the 90's is still there, surely less naive and daring (the musicians have matured) but the most important thing to take in consideration is that the magic is still there.
It's obvious for me that the lack of vocals affected my initial appreciation, despite the critics, the voice of Tord Lindman brought something especial and unique...but hey, we can't have everything they are back after 18 years, and also that mystic blend of dissonances, complex melodies and display of virtuosity makes of Viljans Öga the perfect complement for their already fantastic discography.
In the 90's ÄNGLAGÅRD was a daring band, they took all the existing risks, they jumped in the pool before checking if there was water in it because they were in their teen years or early twenties, today they are in their mid-thirties and seem to think more what their next move will be, but the style is the same, the KING CRIMSON inspired dissonances still surprised me and their melodies still reminded me of the dark and cold afternoons in Scandinavia, they are the same band but they have grown, and that is good.
What haven't changed at all is their rejection for mainstream, the shortest track has 12:06 minutes and the complexity is everywhere, ÄNGLAGÅRD sounds as well as any 70's iconic band, but with the advantage that they don't depend on the limits of the vinyl format, so they were able to release a 57 minutes album with the material they had originally created, no need to add fillers in order to reach the 90 minutes of a double Long Play or delete good sections to fit in a 45 minutes limit, so every second of Viljans Öga expresses the full talent of the band.
The band members have developed and their skills are more evident, but the greatest surprise for me was Anna Holmgren, who left that sweet innocent and melodic flute in the 90's to take more risks, surprisingly she doesn't provide the soft folksy relax anymore, she's part of the delightful aggression to the senses that the band wants to transmit us, now ÄNGLAGÅRD doesn't let us rest, they attack us from start to end with radical changes and elaborate passages that any Progressive Rock fan loves.
I won't talk about the tracks individually, it would be futile, because Viljans Öga has to be heard as a complete work, but if you ask me for my favorite one I would dare to mention the epic Snårdom and the closer Langtans Klocka, both are simply amazing and left me speechless.
As usual when reviewing an ÄNGLAGÅRD album, I have no problem with the ratings, as somebody said before Viljans Öga is full of "sudden stops, non-fluid transitions and chaotic feel", and that's why I love it, so in my opinion deserves no less than 5 solid stars. I only hope they don't make us wait another 18 years for a new album.
Along with Felicité Thosz by MAGMA and Genesis Revisited II by STEVE HACKETT, the best release of this fertile 2012.

Iván Melgar
Nick
H.T. Riekels
Thomas Szirmay
Neo-Romantic
Dark Nazgul
Keishiro Maki

I am definitely not the only one, but I cannot believe a new album from Änglagård is out! Back in 1994, they broke up following the release of Epilog and their performance at Progfest '94 (that performance was made available on CD two years later as Buried Alive). They talked like they'll never reunite. Then in 2002 they reunited, but without Tord Lindman. By 2003 it was clear they weren't sticking around, and sure again we thought we'd never hear from them again. Now there's a second reunion, without Tord again, and this time they managed a new album, Viljans Öga. How does it stack up to their first two? Very well, in fact this is just as essential. They take on an even more complex and grandiose approach than before, there are the occasions the passages veer close to RIO. But there are still plenty of that somber and pastoral passages. They still take that same approach as before, playing one thing, move on to the next thing, maybe revisiting a theme. It's plain they can hold their own with just one guitarist (Jonas Engdegård). How about the keyboards? Thomas Johnson still uses tons of Mellotron and Hammond organ, plus a little electric piano. This, just like their first two, is a totally quintessential Mellotron album. This is not an easy listen, that's for sure. You'll keep discovering new things every time you listen. On the opening cut, "Ur Vilande", there's one passage that almost sounds like a didgeridoo. No didg used, it just sounds a bit like one. Mattias Olsson was also credited to effects, so that didgeridoo-like effect was probably from him. Anna Holmgren not only plays flute, but even a little tenor saxophone, but they also included some guests for cello and other wind instruments. Since I received this, I just kept listening to it over and over. I am just totally amazed that after an 18 year silence that they come out with a masterpiece every bit as good as their first two. This is bound to be yet another classic, and likely easily the best of 2012.
The CD comes with a triple foldout, done in that Änglagård style, with forests, plus a booklet with poems to each song and artwork similar to that of Epilog. When I received my CD, I noticed the cover is actually darker and less chromatic that what's been posted online, which I actually like it better darker. The typefont is gold (like that of Epilog), rather than white.
I am ever so delighted about this new release. You collection isn't complete without it!

Ben Miler

This is the only Änglagård record I have heard som can not compare with the earlier versions of this band. This "Garden of Angels" makes incredible living music from the 21th century. It has so many spectras of progressive music in it. I saw Änglagård perhaps two months ago but then thay had already switched members since this record. I also bought the album on vinyl and have listen to it some times thereafter but primarily before the concert.
The album contains four long tracks and I can't pick a favourite of these tracks. Every has their own beauty and gives the listener some time of thinking and musically journey. The pieces are: "Längtans klocka", "Sorgmantel", "Snårdom" and "Ur vilande" all of them fantastic music. What so amazing in this music is the melodical flute wandering and it is also very melodical, strong and melancholic. It throws us back to the seventies without being nostalgic. In the guitar you can hear King Crimson but the feeling is more of Camel but more advanced arrangements. It is very strong music without a fixed place in time and space. I am convinced people will listen to Änglagård in the far future. The audio quality is perfect and you can relisten to this many times without getting bored. The lp version has one song on every side (a double lp) but you have to play them with single speed. Very dynamic music.
It's not a disc I would recommend to someone unused to prog rock but for us prog nerds this is sweat as candy. This music is very melodical and very pretentious, exactly what it shuld be to please me.

Adrian Drömmaren

Another masterpiece from this Swedish band. Beautifull album more calm but very beautifull in music composition. More calm that Hybris and don't have many mellotron parts but have lots of duets in guitar bass, guitar keiboards and duets with second voice. We can listen a carefull and complex music composition, not in Space Rock vein, but with a fusion of Rock In Oposition and Sinphonic Rock. Lots of flute parts that made a old vein in music but in context it's really a great contemporary album. Complex music, not comercial, that to untherstand this work we must listen lot of times, and we find some new in wich audiction. If people like Hybris, this is a special modern continuation of music conception of this band. Beautifull to, and another great surprise of great Progressive Music. I'm follin in love with this album but really after 3 or 4 audictions. A masterpiece without any doubt. Mandatory.

João Paulo
Keith Shapland

These guys truly transcend time. With almost two decades separating this and Epilog it's hard to imagine they could employ the same writing prowess that made their first two albums so great. The album employs the same sound and writing as the previous. Beautiful passages mixed with intricate parts is what Anglagard does best, and the album doesn't disappoint in this regard.
There are only four songs and they are all fantastic. They do seem to go all over the place, but that just adds to the fun and chaos of the album. The songs are very similar to those on Hybris, so much so that if you switched the albums it may be hard to recognize when it was written (except for the up-to-date production, of course).
Overall, Viljans Öga is a very solid album. It is better than Epilog, but not quite as good as the masterpiece Hybris. For this reason, I give the album a well deserved 9/10.

Steve

I want to make this clear: This is by no means a perfect album; I do not consider this to be one of the guiding lights by which progressive rock music should be compared or to which artists should aspire. It lacks the commitment and courage of using lyrics and vocals. It is, however, an incredible gathering of talented artists who have made a complete effort to create intricate compositions fully displaying their top-notch instrumental wizardry as well as And, for once, Anglagard has mastered tying into its complicated compositions both melody and emotion. I believe it is through their maturity that they have been able to discipline such an amazing collaboration. And, yes, I agree, that the stronger prominence of both acoustic guitars and woodwinds have helped bring this album to this level of not only masterful performance and presentation but to universal accessibility and acceptance.
While I appreciated the technical and instrumental mastery that it took to create Hybris, I found it repellingly cold and cerebral. While I found Epilog more engaging and melodic, not so pretentious, I still felt no long-term love for it. After intense and frequent revisits (even now) I still find little to no attraction to either of those albums. Viljans Ã?ga, however, has entered my heart. I play it often. It has the pastoral, spacious, melodic sections--and lots of them!--that my soul seems to require in order for me to want to come back to music--my favorite music. Whether it will make my All-time Top 100 is doubtful. Whether music listeners will want to rank this up there in the PA all-time Top 10 is not for me to say, but then, I do not consider Thick as a Brick, Godbluff, or Wish You Were Here, among the ten most seminal, influencial standard bearers of progressive rock music. Good luck, everybody! We're all counting on you!

W. A. Fisher
Real T. Reel

Oh God.. This music can't be described in words. I'll try best i can. I'm a progressive fan for so many years, i've heard so many different music, complex structures, insane virtuosity, but this.. Viljans Oga is another dimension.
This album sounds most likely classical music. Even after 4-5 listenings, i didn't understand what was going on my ears?!?
First song "Ur Vilande starts" with an amazing melody that you can't remember for a few listenings even how hard you try. After this very few listenings, you're going to remember it, but still with some notes missing. And imagine this album is full of melodies like this. Oh Whatever, this slow entering passage ends with a great time structured, powerful drums and the song starts to sing like an engine which is powered by musicians from outerspace.
You can't guess how many minutes has passed, it ends and the second song "Sorgmantel" makes its slow entrance as the first song. After this entrance it progresses with different instruments in and out. But at 8:27, a melody comes out of nowhere and gives shivers down my spines. This part is an absolute beauty for every progressive fan i think.
The third song "Snardom" starts with agressive drums, bass and flutes. Time signatures are odd but played perfectly by this great musicians. Every part of this song is top notch. Best song in the album imho. At the end a great melody comes again from out of this world like the way how the second song ended.
Fourth song "Langtans Klocka" is a little different from other songs. Its mood changes so frequently, like 2 or 3 songs merged. But anyway its a great song to my ears. It ends with a weird, circus like music.
And at the end of my review, i wanna say: "This is classic, a real classic with pure genius, outstanding instrumental songs" Easy 5 stars for me!

eyimen
Vinícius Oliveira Rocha

Änglagård was born in 1991 out of the Swedish Prog Rock movement when Tord Lindman (guitars and vocals) and Johan Högberg (bass) put out ads looking for musicians with an interest for the progressive and innovative music of the early seventies. These ads were answered by keyboardist Thomas Johnson and guitarist Jonas Engdegård, who met with Tord and Johan, and these 4 became friends very fast. Drummer Olsson and flautist Anna Holmgren soon joined this group and by the spring of 1992 their first album, Hybris, was released. They disbanded in 1994, the same year of their second album entitled Epilog, after their final performance at Progfest in Los Angeles. Short lived as this was, Änglagård earned quite a bit of what would be considered critical acclaim for Prog Rock circles. Now here they are, reappearing again after almost a decade to present their new release, Viljans Öga. The promotion by the band for this album has been barely audible, and yet it has picked up quite a bit of speed in Prog circles through not much more than word of mouth.
The album consists of only 4 tracks, with the shortest track clocking in at 12 minutes long. Being instrumental, the music is a little difficult to describe, but I will attempt to give it the best description I can by saying it is like a musical journey through Alice's Wonderland. It is filled with beautiful and subtle complexities, sometimes startling mood changes, striking pace changes between peaceful and wild, at times odd harmonies and pitches, and some very interesting orchestration: guitars, bass, percussion, and keys being mixed in with wind instruments. As I listened to this album I was like a man under a spell ? completely captivated and never knowing what to expect next. If you have heard the old albums, Hybris and Epilog, trust me that the band have returned in rare form, and some crystal clear production gives them a new sparkle. And if you are unfamiliar with Änglagård, but have some interest in Prog at all, trust me this is a release you do not want to miss!

Geoff

It's been a lot of years since I was such amazed about a new disk. When Anglagard released Hybris we discovered a band that was on the same league as the old classics. Vocals were good but couldn't compete with the instrumental parts. In Epilog they took a turn to a even more personal style, more mature and eclectic. It was really sad they disbanded before doing a third record in the 90's. I could see them on stage for their short reunion years later. They were presenting a couple of new pieces so we could know how they were evolving. Because of this and also because they have such a personal composing and playing style it was not too difficult to imagine how their new music would be like. I was more doubtful about the degree of compromise the different members of the band could have with the project. Last time they met they only did a few concerts a wrote a couple of unfinished songs. But after so many years we are lucky that they did a great job in every sense. The four tracks are an small universe each of them. They require several listenings for increasing levels of understanding of the music behind, and each new listening they deliver more and more. That's what prog is about. Isn't it? There's just one problem with this album: It's the unbearable posibility of having to wait another 18 years for follow up Anglagard's music. Anglagard, what you do is unique and wonderful. Please enjoy writting and recording new music for the upcoming years!

Ziggy

Sticking it safe with their similar style of progging, this here truly feels like a continuation of the epic series.
Superior to even Epilog, as that album had a darker feel for it all around. This here is the whole package; each mood of Ãnglagard you've known to love is brought up in this. A classic, soft to drastically intense and instrumental-tight. The flute is far more present this time around. A welcome change, as it's one of my favorite aspects of Ãnglagard. Though that's my opinion.
Luckily in Viljans Oga, we have 4 ginormous epics that equal out to a total of 57 minutes. Obviously this shows they took their time before throwing out another album, making it picture-perfect. But what's so unique is that each song feels like a separate album. Perhaps the length of these songs, but the moods seem varied enough to have a different 'flavor', as it is. Ur Vilande has the essence of classical, Sorgmantel almost feels jazzy, Snardom hints towards a Crimson-styled Ãnglagard, while Langtans Klocka seems a bit Avant-prog. Though these are a brief synapses of these complex songs.
Quality is top-notch (as you'd expect nothing less from Ãnglagard) the instruments all seem to be in sync in a way no other band can. This is not lazily put together, these are world-class professional musicians.
All in all, everything is creative and original, an album for all prog-lovers. Symphonic, Crossover, Eclectic, Jazz, Avant Prog, unite!!

Brandon
Uri Breitman

I'm surprised at how low key the promotion for the initial release of this latest offering from Sweden's Anglagard has been. The CD deserves much more exposure than it's received so far. I'm writing this from the perspective of a music lover who spent his teenage years in the 1970's, savoring the original releases within the prog genre. After a decade of musical disappointment in the 80's when I'd pretty much given up on the possibility of there being any interesting music produced again - a friend introduced me to a band he described as: 'An awesome new prog band from Sweden. Imagine someone singing the words to an Ikea catalog on top of odd time signatures with mellotron.' Well, he wasn't far off in his fanciful description but I'd also add the adjectives, brilliant, emotional and melodic to preface his words. So here we are, 20 years since I was exposed to the music of Anglagard and listening to the gift of new music from the band. First of all, Viljans Oga sounds like Anglagard. If I had been played any track from it in a 'blind' listening test I'd know it was them instantly. The unique analog keys, flute and guitar arrangements have that Anglagard feel to them that ties the music to the albums before. But the music on VO is more mature and the movement changes more fluid. The awkwardness that can be found in some of their earlier work is absent here. There are also some beautiful, melodic hooks that stay with me long after I've left turned off my player. I've found myself quietly humming the flute/ guitar theme that flows through 'track 3, Snardom' on more than one occasion. I'm also compelled to mention the beauty of the cover artwork and photography and how appropriate it is in reflecting the mood of the music within. Truly a thoughtful expression that seems to be lacking in contemporary music presentation. So, I've given Viljans Oga, a well deserved 5 stars, as I know his disc will be in heavy rotation in my player for a long time.

TronFlutes

How rare is it for a band to reform after nearly twenty years and record an album that actually surpasses their earlier, legendary albums? I can't think of another example. But Anglagard have somehow managed it.
This is a truly wonderful album by a very inventive group of musicians. The quality of the composing is particularly impressive. Structurally, the music is closer to classical music than it is to standard progressive rock. It is certainly far removed from the standard formulas of neo-prog. Yet despite its complexities, it is accessible and full of feeling. It delights both the head and the heart.
The pieces might sound sprawling and chaotic on the first few listens, but after a while you can begin to discern the skill with which this music has been put together. Each piece is a long, twisting journey with interlocking themes coming and going, often repeated in different arrangements by different instruments in later sections. Each theme is usually pre-introduced in little snippets hidden within previous passages, before eventually brought to the forefront in all their glory and then put through some variations, only to disappear again into little snippets again. There is also a strong harmonic consistency throughout each of the four pieces. Because of all this, each piece flows smoothly despite the wild variations from one passage to the next. It is clear that the band has a strong grasp of compositional technique.
The tone and colors of the intruments are also beautifully captured and have a pristine feel, which adds enormously to the beauty of the music. This is an album which really comes alive with a good sound system or quality headphones. The flute and the bass in particular sound wonderful, but everyone in the band admirably plays their part.
This is a really special album that combines the musical language of 70's prog with Swedish folk and experimental avant tendencies to create a riveting musical journey. How could any prog fan not like this album? Perhaps those who like a lot of pop in their prog will find it hard going, but for me it is a stellar album that is destined to be ranked up with there with the greatest classics of the prog genre. Five stars, no question.

oddentity

This is totally unreal. A new release from Anglagard. Who could have imagined? Hearing about this left me in total disbelief, as I'm sure many of you. I mean, I imagined the band would have broken up again before even recording an album, just like what happened in 2003 but instead hung around and did just that, a new album. With their appearance at Profest '93, they really shook the prog rock down to its foundations. The prog rock scene had been in serious trouble since the late '70s. Many people were fed up with substandard product Yes and ELP were coughing up in the early '90s (Union, Black Moon), and a few didn't think the neo-prog scene saved prog in the 1980s (I am convinced the big reason neo-prog received such a bad rep in some prog circles, other than often accused of being Genesis wannabes, Marillion included, is it frequently had that nasty '80s production and synths that didn't go down too well to those used to the '70s approach and production). And this group played prog like it's supposed to be, harkening back to the glory days, avoiding digital gear and sticking to the Hammond organ and Mellotron, and yet sounding fresh, and after all these years, still holding up. They managed a second album, Epilog, but broke up after completion (but still performed at Progfest '94 to stick with commitments). After 18 years since the last release, I would never have imagined! In 2002 I heard wind of their reunion without Tord Lindman, but it didn't last, and by 2003 they split again. Years later a new reunion, and this time one that allowed time for a new album to be recorded and released, and it's here! If you love their other albums, you need Viljans Oga, plain and simple as that. They take on an even more grand scale, with a few new tricks up their sleeves, as well as that unmistakable sound. Thomas Johnson still sticks to his trustworthy Hammond organ and Mellotron, but he also includes some Wurlitzer electric piano. Without Tord Lindman, it proves this band can still hold their own with just one guitarist. I have noticed the occasional Chamberlin female voices on this album, which is actually just the Chamberlin female voice tape installed in the the Mellotron M400 (I saw a video of Mattias Olsson playing the Chamberlin female voice on the Mellotron at his Roth Handle Studios) or perhaps the Memotron or M4000D (virtual Mellotrons that looks like the top half of a real Mellotron, which includes various tron and Chamberlin samples, sorta glorified M-Tron), as I saw Thomas Johnson use one of those on top of a real M400. I even notices some didgeridoo-like sound effects, but I don't believe they used a real didg. Anna Holgren's flute playing is even more dominant than before, and there's a brief passage where she pulls an Ian Anderson on us, given her preference of flute playing is in that gentle, Andy Latimer or Ray Thomas style. This album is not an easy listen. But then neither were their first two albums either. There is no doubt that this CD will be revisiting my CD player for years to come. This band continues that same approach of doing one thing and quickly move on to the next, but many times the more pastoral moments and somber moments are even more so, but they still can rock out as loud as ever. The band might now be middle-aged but they certainly never lost that edge. Too many artists (prog and non-prog alike) that enter middle age sound that way: Pink Floyd, the Moody Blues, Crosby, Stills & Nash, surviving Beatles members, Bob Dylan, ELP, you name it, and many of them released substandard product (like CSNY's American Dream, Dylan's Under the Red Sky, ELP's In the Hot Seat, the Moody Blues' Keys of the Kingdom, etc.). It's great to know that Anglagard didn't fall in that "out of touch middle age sound" trap and instead sound just as great as ever, and really, if the current prog scene needs a boost, just as back in 1992, it would be Anglagard! This is the way reunions are supposed to be. Trust me on this, you won't be disappointed!
I can now easily say, that after a month of this CD rarely leaving my player that this is bound to be easily the best prog release of 2012, not only that, but just as great as the greatest prog albums made in the 1970s.

progfan97402
Listo, no voy a decir nada más, si vos visitás este blog seguido y no tenés este disco, no sos un cabezón como la gente! Absolutamente imperdible, magia hecha sonidos, sin palabras. Magestuoso e imperdible....

Lista de Temas:
1. Ur vilande
2. Sorgmantel
3. Snårdom
4. Längtans klocka
Alineación:
- Mattias Olsson / drums, percussion, noises
- Johan Brand / bass, taurus
- Thomas Johnson / pianos, mellotrons, synthesizers
- Jonas Engdegård / guitars
- Anna Holmgren / flute, saxophone