San Michael's "Nattag" 1972 Swedish Heavy Prog
John Dug
2016-07-20
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San Michael's "Nattåg" recorded 1972 first release 2009 second album.
Pre-Kaipa Swedish Psych/Progsters from Uppsala, featuring keyboardist Hans Lundin S:t Michael Sect.They released three singles of covers and original music between 1964-70, before dropping their unusual name for the much simpler San Michael's.Lundin was surrounded at the time by Thomas Eriksson (bass, flute, vocals), Gunnar Westbergh (drums, percussion) and Nane Kvillsäter (bass), releasing their eponymous debut on the California label in 1971.Not much of prog interest, but the recordings of a second album the following year -which was never released- showed shades of a proggier attitude.The tapes were collected by Transubstans Records and released as ''Nattåg'' in 2009.The tracks remain song-based with some poppy influences and a certain Psych Pop flavor, but the overall approach shows a band in progress, the instrumental parts are much more dense, Lundin's Classical training comes often in evidence through the omnipresent organ waves and the guitar work sometimes sounds very quirky.Lots of changing tempos and sweet melodic themes combine with well-worked polyphonic arrangements for a certain Art Rock keystone.The music is as memorable as hell, it only lacks the full transformation into a Prog band.San Michael's history came to an end in 1973, when Westbergh left the band.The three remaining members continued to work together as Ur Kaipa, before dropping it for the legendary Kaipa name, giving birth to one of finest Swedish Prog groups of the 70's...........
Too bad this wasn't released in 1972 when it was recorded, as it might have led to similar efforts from other Swedish bands. They remind me a lot of early Yes, and to a lesser extent Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Except they sing in Swedish.....
Honestly I wasn't too impressed with the sole LP from San Michael's. But this archival recording of their second album from 1972 shows considerable improvement. Here the arrangements are more sophisticated, the instruments (especially the Hammond organ, electric guitar, bass, flute, and horn section) are allowed more latitude, and the album is definitely geared towards the burgeoning progressive rock movement, rather than the bubblegum orientation of their California label album. Of course, it should come as no surprise to us, since San Michael's is the root system for none other than Kaipa - who themselves later spawned The Flower Kings (which begat Kaipa's own reunion, and is still active as I write this in 2012). And while San Michael's clearly hadn't shed its pop orientation, most of these short tracks are still quite complex in their own right.
The reason the album wasn't released in its day was due to the bankruptcy of the California label, and the unwillingness of any other label (major or minor) to sign them. They were about 2 years ahead of their time for Swedish audiences, but no doubt a band as majestic as Trettioariga Kriget would have lent an ear to this group while touring throughout the land........
Pre-Kaipa Swedish Psych/Progsters from Uppsala, featuring keyboardist Hans Lundin S:t Michael Sect.They released three singles of covers and original music between 1964-70, before dropping their unusual name for the much simpler San Michael's.Lundin was surrounded at the time by Thomas Eriksson (bass, flute, vocals), Gunnar Westbergh (drums, percussion) and Nane Kvillsäter (bass), releasing their eponymous debut on the California label in 1971.Not much of prog interest, but the recordings of a second album the following year -which was never released- showed shades of a proggier attitude.The tapes were collected by Transubstans Records and released as ''Nattåg'' in 2009.The tracks remain song-based with some poppy influences and a certain Psych Pop flavor, but the overall approach shows a band in progress, the instrumental parts are much more dense, Lundin's Classical training comes often in evidence through the omnipresent organ waves and the guitar work sometimes sounds very quirky.Lots of changing tempos and sweet melodic themes combine with well-worked polyphonic arrangements for a certain Art Rock keystone.The music is as memorable as hell, it only lacks the full transformation into a Prog band.San Michael's history came to an end in 1973, when Westbergh left the band.The three remaining members continued to work together as Ur Kaipa, before dropping it for the legendary Kaipa name, giving birth to one of finest Swedish Prog groups of the 70's...........
Too bad this wasn't released in 1972 when it was recorded, as it might have led to similar efforts from other Swedish bands. They remind me a lot of early Yes, and to a lesser extent Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Except they sing in Swedish.....
Honestly I wasn't too impressed with the sole LP from San Michael's. But this archival recording of their second album from 1972 shows considerable improvement. Here the arrangements are more sophisticated, the instruments (especially the Hammond organ, electric guitar, bass, flute, and horn section) are allowed more latitude, and the album is definitely geared towards the burgeoning progressive rock movement, rather than the bubblegum orientation of their California label album. Of course, it should come as no surprise to us, since San Michael's is the root system for none other than Kaipa - who themselves later spawned The Flower Kings (which begat Kaipa's own reunion, and is still active as I write this in 2012). And while San Michael's clearly hadn't shed its pop orientation, most of these short tracks are still quite complex in their own right.
The reason the album wasn't released in its day was due to the bankruptcy of the California label, and the unwillingness of any other label (major or minor) to sign them. They were about 2 years ahead of their time for Swedish audiences, but no doubt a band as majestic as Trettioariga Kriget would have lent an ear to this group while touring throughout the land........
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