Swedish trio MAGNOLIA was formed back in 1994, although more than a decade went by before they released their debut album back in 2006. From their base in Åmål (the famous location for the internationally acclaimed movie Fucking Åmål) they have since released a further three studio albums. “Tänk Själv” is the most recent of these, and was released through Swedish label Transubstans Records in the early summer of 2013.
Magnolia cites various blues based hard rock bands from the early 70’s as their main sources of inspiration, and those who love music of that kind will find plenty to enjoy on “Tänk Själv”. Especially those with a fairly eclectic taste for bands of that kind presumably, as this isn’t an album that hones in on one particular sound. Variety is the name of the game here, with a certain smooth elegance as a particular and defining trait throughout. Those fond of more dramatic items and a sound not too far removed from the likes of early Black Sabbath does get their occasional fill, albeit not in a manner as forceful as Iommi and his compatriots built their career upon.
Those fond of their blues based hard rock explored in a more melodic manner will have plenty to enjoy. Title track Tänk Själv a clear highlight for this crowd, an elegant and sophisticated construction with bass and drums superbly supplementing the toned down guitars and lead vocals on this occasion. Elsewhere we’re treated to quite a few compositions closing in fast on the psychedelic oriented variety of the blue based hard rock, from the careful acoustic based Andrum as a beautiful display of just that to the longer and somewhat sophisticated Svara Mig with a more intense and dramatic staccato instrument burst foundation with psychedelic oriented guitar solo applied in a more textured manner in the chorus and instrumental sections, with subtle keyboards and cosmic effects carefully flavoring the proceedings if I’m not much mistaken. Expanding the scope of this album further you have Oväntat Finbesök and Rötterna Går Djupt, two brief instrumentals that should intrigue those with a taste for music closer to jazz and jazzrock.
Magnolia operates within a musical landscape I’m not at all well versed in, so I keep coming up short in terms of specific references. But it’s crystal clear that we’re going back some 40 years in time on this album, and that those with a taste for some of the more elegant artists from back then operating within the blues based hard rock and psychedelic hard rock vein is the key audience for this album. Especially those amongst them with a taste for Swedish being the language of choice in such music.
My rating: 82/100
