This CD compiles tracks from the second and third albums by Swedish experimental band Archimedes Badkar, and shows just how far ahead of their time they were, considering those LPs appeared in 1975 and '77, respectively. Fusing together elements of the extreme end of prog rock and free-form jazz (think Henry Cow joining with King Crimson) along with a strong awareness of trance music, the Dead at their most improvisational, all with Eastern overtones, and you're beginning to get an idea of their sound. It's heady stuff, indeed, and certainly not for the faint of heart -- there's enough meat here to last the most exacting listener through several hearty meals. Add to that the fact that this was a group of remarkable scope, changing mood and texture from track to track and never descending into a muddy, glutinous, formless mass, and you have the kind of eclectic disc that's treasured by adventurous music lovers the world over.
© Chris Nickson /TiVo