Solar Plexus, Sweden

Solar Plexus. 1972 Odeon

The self titled album is two LPs of groovy jazz psych. Organ, electric piano (with lots of effects applied), guitar, bass and active drumming. Primarily instrumental, though with a few Swedish vocals that add a joyful disposition to the mix. Even some elements of Bacharachian pop lounge, and when combined with the Swedish vocals, makes for an interesting smorgasbord. Side 3 is a long suite for classical orchestra and jazz rock, and is definitely the weakest portion of the album. The idea is good, but it's poorly executed, with long stretches of noodling/down time. But the other 3 sides are exemplary, and thus a Tier 1 album that is in definite need of a CD reissue.

Solar Plexus 2. 1973 Odeon

I feel that Solar Plexus 2 is a huge drop off in quality from the first. Sounds as if they wanted to be the Swedish equivalent of Blood Sweat and Tears, but without the horn section. Plenty of lounge, gospel and pop tinged tracks with only one interesting instrumental towards the end of the album. Disappointing considering the strength of the debut.

Det Är Inte Båten Som Gungar - Det Är Havet Som Rör Sig. 1974 EMI-Harvest

Solar Plexus' third studio album Det Är Inte Båten Som Gungar - Det Är Havet Som Rör Sig* sees the group back on track, though still not near at the high level of the debut. But most of the overt commercial moves of the disappointing second album have been traded in for a more jazzy approach, which helps. The first 3 tracks are unconvincing, but 'Fåglarna i Nam Dinh' and 'This is the Place' are not to be missed. Final 17 minute tracks sums up perfectly the inconsistency the album represents.

*Google Translate tells us: It's Not The Boat That Swings - It's The Sea That Moves. I wonder if it's an idiom like our own college (crass) saying "It's not the size of the ship, but the motion of the ocean"?

Hellre Gycklare Än Hycklare (Sweden) 1975 EMI-Harvest. I haven't heard this 4th album, but have been advised that it's not their standard sound rather filled with ballads.

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Still no reissues for any of these beyond a compilation from 1998.

Priority: 2 (for the first album)

7/31/09 (new entry); 6/5/24