(Peder af Ugglas – Elec. guitars & slide, acoustic guitar & slide, balalaika, keyboards, piano, B-3 organ, Fender Rhodes, pump organ, electric bass, percussion; Björn Hamrin, harmonica; Matts Alsberg, doublebass; Mats Persson & Hendrik Wartel, drums & percussion; Stina Lundmark, choir)
This is versatile Swedish guitarist/keyboardist/composer Peder af Ugglas second SACD for the Opus 3 label, and we are treated to a dozen more of his mostly nostalgic-sounding roots-music-influenced small group forays. Even with the presence of some electric instruments and the occasional B-3, there is still an acoustic music sound to the pieces. Tracks 4 thru 7 of the album were inspired by films titled The Emigrants and The Last Letter Home – about which I haven’t further information.
In a few case af Ugglas works himself up to rock-type guitar solos of some import, but generally the feeling is a laid-back sort of country/roots sound. The crystalline sonics in surround provided by Opus 3’s engineering aids in imaging the players around you, and the most subtle touches on strings, keyboards and percussion instruments comes thru with greatest clarity. It sounds like there may be some over-dubbing involved here. If not, this guy really IS versatile! It doesn’t degrade sonic quality a bit if it was done. Of course, as is the label’s practice, this was recorded in a fine hall or church – not an artificial studio environment with added reverb and EQ.
TrackList: Beyond, Exit, Nightwaltz, Decisions, Exile, Impressions, Keep in Mind, Jag, Tide, Mist, Captain’s Call, Fine.
– John Henry
