Kultivator
Barndomens Stigar

THE REVIEW

I decided to delve into the deep recesses of lesser-known prog to bring out a work that few—very few—will know, but one that is undeniably of great progressive and musical depth.

The group in question is the Swedish one-shot band named Kultivator.

Historically framing the period, it must be said that in England, the birthplace of a certain progressive rock that sparked the global wave of the '70s, the rock and prog in particular was rolling down into the depths of total mediocrity. Just consider the album Abacab by Genesis to understand the situation. In contrast, in other countries of the world, where, partly due to "delayed start" issues and partly because perhaps there was still belief, there were musically incredible releases. One of these is precisely Barndomens Stigar, an album heavily influenced by Canterbury music and French Zeuhl, not lacking hints of RIO and local folk, all in a strongly convincing blend.

The group was formed a few years before this sole release dated 1981 and was born with various influences, primarily from the ashes of a band called Tunnelbanan which was mainly devoted to covers of Yes and Genesis. A new guitarist arrived, fanatical about Canterbury sounds, and a bassist fanatical about the French band Magma. As often happens, the union of minds with such heterogeneous aspirations determines a new sound, often angular and contorted, but made of symphonic-style keyboard layers, zeuhlian bass hammerings, and twisted guitar arpeggios in the vein of Phil Miller from Hatfield and the North. There are also very rich choral parts, perhaps over Rhodes piano loops with a jazz or Scandinavian folk register.

The CD is available for purchase, re-released by Perpetuam Memoriam with two bonuses, the last of which is precisely a medley derived from the initial compositions with the Tunnelbanan. Thus, 50 minutes of music that impresses with instrumental quality and imagination for an album that I believe will not leave genre fans disappointed.