Lotus - 1974 - Lotus

Lotus 

1974 

Lotus

01. Eelass-Ooles (3:11)
02. Bonnalåt (2:16)
03. At El-Yago 9-3 (2:50)
04. Zero (3:47)
05. Mac (2:12)
06. Musen (1:41)
07. Ungersk Dans (2:29)
08. Gatta Gatta (3:05)
09. Marschvals (4:43)
10. Chicos Shuffle (2:59)
11. Sketan (Live) (5:29)
12. Tappen (Live) (3:00)
13. Gatsby (Live) (1:50)
14. Baldakinens Skräck (Live) (10:39)
15. Chicos Shuffle (Live) (2:05)

- Anders Lindvall / guitar, vocals
- Robert Larsson / guitar
- Claes Ericsson / keyboards
- Stefan Berggrensson / bass
- Henning Öfverbeck / drums

LOTUS were a Jazz / Fusion band from Sweden who put out two albums in the mid- seventies. This is their debut from 1974. Tom Hayes describes them this way : "There's a unique charm contained within the melodies that are distinctly Swedish and recall bands such as TRETTIOARIGA KRIGET, KEBNEKAISE, AUTUMN BREEZE and KULTIVATOR". Two lead guitarists, bass, drums, piano and organ round out the sound of this five piece band. I really like the picture of the band on the album cover because it reminds me of my friends and I when we were younger just hanging out having a good time. 9 of the 10 tracks were composed by the two guitarists, while the keyboardist created one song.

"Eelas-Ooles" has an aggressive intro with the guitar and drums really standing out for me. Organ takes the lead after 1 1/2 minutes. "Bonnalat" features relentless drumming and check out the guitar 1 1/2 minutes in. "At El-Yago 9-3" is the one I like the least although I do like the organ to end it. "Zero" is much better with some great guitar. Organ takes over the lead role for a minute. "Mac" is a guitar led tune with some nice bass. "Musen" is really the only laid back song on here.

"Ungersk Dans" is the song the keyboardist composed and he leads the way with his organ before keys and bass come in sounding really good. "Gatta Gatta" has a good raw sound to open as the guitar and drums lead the way as the organ floats in the background. Great song. "Marschvals" sounds amazing, especially the guitar solo that goes on and on to end it. "Chico's Shuffle" reminds me of the DIXIE DREGS early before the piano arrives a minute in as the bass throbs. The guitar then comes in lighting it up. Chico by the way is Anders (the main guitarist) nickname. I like the story in the liner notes of him playing as a guest at this pub and blowing everyone away with his loud and ripping blues styled playing. He was 16 years old.

First excellent album from Swedish band LOTUS. The band plays a type of jazz-fusion prog of easy listening with well elaborate instrumental passages. Probably this 'easy listening' effect be due to the fact that although is a jazz fusion band, their sonority is plenty of energy, and besides this they demonstrate some latin music hints in the style of CARLOS SANTANA , a bit of FRANK ZAPPA moods and in certain moments I feel sharply a proximity to hard rock in the WISHBONE ASH ( this last trace due the presence of 2 guitars which plays sometimes in unison sometimes in counterpoint ... a good example as in track 5 "Mac") another possible influence is the rhythm blues in the molds of THE ALMAN BROTHERS BAND ( listen track 2 "Bonnalåt"). The track 7 "Ungersk Dans" brings some "hints' of R.I.O something very common in Swedish bands like Kultivator and (of course) SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA.