Khadavra - 2021 - Hologram
(74:00; Black Widow Records)
Black Widow Records have long been one of my favourite labels, as Mass not only releases new albums but also looks back in time and reissues albums on vinyl which may not have got the love first time around. Here is has not gone too far into the past as this release by Swedish pysch/prog band Khadavra was released in 2021, but then it was only digitally and now it is available on CD and vinyl which is only right given the quality of the music within. Formed in Gothenburg, this is the third (and currently latest) album by Sebastian Eriksson (guitar, vocals, sitar, Mellotron, synthesizer, percussion), Alexander Eriksson (drums, vocals, percussion, glockenspiel) and Jon Klintö (bass, throat singing, whispers, acoustic guitar) who so far have had a different fourth member on each of the three releases to date, this time that role being filled by Marcus Holmström (keyboards, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer). There are also a few guests, the most notable being Liv Fridén who provides flute on four songs. Having had a look at their FB page I see the fourth role is now Felix Ekholm who provides keyboards and flute so there are some Spinal Tap goings on here.
All three albums have been self-released, and I have not come across the others, but if they are anything like this I am quite surprised they have not been picked up before as here we have a band who are combining space and delicacy with over the top bombastic psychedelia in a manner which reminds me of Blue Cheer and certainly has me thinking the album was recorded no later than the mid-Seventies, as there is just no way it can be coming to us from 2021. It is over the top, it is huge, it feels like the band were killing it in the studio and just letting rip with whatever came to mind and to hand. Early Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Monster Magnet, Blue Cheer, there is a lot going on here and it isn’t always melodic with notes being dragged out of instruments and grabbed screaming into the ether. One can hear the sweat and intensity as they pummel through extended workouts like “Possession” which is sixteen minutes in length and contains both beauty and horror as they switch between ballad and gothic mentality with sweet keyboards and crunching guitars. The song is a workout both for listener and musician, and the way they switch between space rock and pop psych is a wonder to behold.
One can only hope we are going to hear more from these guys who are still active, as this is a blast.
Kev Rowland, November 2024
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