Swedish band QOPH have been around in one shape or another for just about 20 years at this stage, with four full length albums to their name as well as a couple of EPs. “Glancing Madly Backwards” is their most recent one, and was released in 2014 through Swedish label Transubstans Records.
For a band with such a small catalog, relatively speaking, it is a curious move for them to release an album that apparently consists of odds, ends and various tidbits, and that they date back quite a few years as well is another curious aspect of this production. Then again, I don’t really know how large this band is in terms of fan interest, so there may well have been a demand for a production of this kind, generally speaking. Then again, when listening through this production it also becomes crystal clear that the material here is more than good enough to warrant an official release, and the sheer variety at hand makes it difficult to envision this album released in a different manner. The ten compositions does cover a fair bit of different stylistic ground, as well as a few different approaches. As such, releasing this one as a new studio album would have been a bewildering experience.
I mention this early on as albums of this kind tends to be regarded as fan service constellations by many in the buying audience. When taking a look at the cover art and seeing the description that this is a collection of material that dates back to the period 1994 to 2004, quite a few would, sadly, disregard this one as an album they can safely be without. Which would be to their loss.
We’re basically treated to three different kinds of song here. On one hand we have the shorter, pacier and energetic tracks, with a foundation somewhere in between blues based hard rock and stoner rock, with driving bass and dark guitar riffs as core elements, with a distinct blues-oriented sound. All of them to a lesser or greater degree given additional flavoring by way of psychedelic touches from the guitar, some jazz-tinged details appears here and there, and in the case of the brilliant Anticipations some more or less subtle avant touches and Frippian touches are brought to the table as well.
The second aspect of this production is pretty much summarized by the concluding tracks Ögonblick and Förförande Rädsla, epic length creations that hone in on progressive rock to a much greater extent by way of stylistic changes and alterations, multiple and recurring themes, and with some touches from folk music added to a stylistic palette that still incorporate details from jazz, psychedelic rock, blues, vintage hard rock and with a touch of vintage stoner rock here and there as topping. Progressive rock by way of variation and structural complexity if you like, with a distinct 70’s sound to it.
The last aspect of this album are best exemplified by the relatively short Herr Qophs Villfarelser and the massive, 18 minute long Kalejdoskopiska Aktiviteter. Both of them are comparable to the more complex progressive rock type of creations mentioned in the previous paragraph, but an added detail to both of these creations is a stronger feeling of improvisation. If they actually are improvised or merely performed to come across as such I don’t know, but both of these compositions comes across as looser and less defined throughout, in a manner that at least for me indicates a stronger improvisational spirit applied in the creation of these pieces.
The most important aspect of this album is that it’s an entertaining one however. All of the songs comes across as accomplished, well developed and well performed creations, maintaining tension and interest quite easily indeed. An album that should have a fairly broad appeal to my mind, and especially amongst those with a strong affection for early 70’s classic, blues based rock alongside an interest an interest in progressive rock of the same era. In addition, I’d say that those fond of early 70’s hard, psychedelic rock should also take note of this album.
My rating: 82/100
