Record Reviews

WIGWAM ~ NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB ESOTERIC 2174 (Barcode: 5013929727427) ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1975 Released: 2010 6th album by Finnish Prog band WigwamFind albums by this artist, the most famous Prog act from that country, which marks a new phase in the group´s history. Following the departure of two founding members bassist Pekka PohjolaFind albums by this artist and organist Jukka GustavsonFind albums by this artist, who gave Wigwam its distinctive sound and musical direction, the band had to reorganize and recruit new members, which of course also influenced their musical direction. The remaining founding members: vocalist Jim PembrokeFind albums by this artist and drummer Ronnie OsterbergFind albums by this artist recruited guitarist Pekka RechardtFind albums by this artist and bassist Mans GroundstroemFind albums by this artist to join the band and invited brilliant Jazz / Fusion keyboardist Esa KotilainenFind albums by this artist to take part in the recording of their next album. The result proved to be their most commercially successful release in their career and a flagship for Finnish Prog worldwide. Although less complex and sophisticated that the recordings by Wigwam Mk I, the album includes plenty of superb melodies and excellent musicianship, which are effective and memorable, accounting for its popularity and legendary status among Prog fans. This album was one of the very few Finnish albums to be released also in UK (on the VirginFind albums on this label label), shortly after it was released in his home country on the legendary LoveFind albums on this label label. A must for Prog fans!

Updated: 07/08/2020Posted:

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

	WIGWAM ~ NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB LOVE 129 ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock 6th album from 1975. This one was made without Pohjola, who left the band to pursue a brilliant solo career. Slightly `lighter` then the earlier albums, but still excellent. Remastered.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

WIGWAM ~ NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB (50TH ANNIVERSARY EXTENDED EDITION) SVART 159 (Barcode: 6430065585190) ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the sixth album by the iconic Finnish Prog band WigwamFind albums by this artist, which featured a new lineup of the group and marked a new period in the band´s career, often referred to as Wigwam Mk. II. Following the departure of keyboardist Jukka GustavsonFind albums by this artist and bassist Pekka PohjolaFind albums by this artist, the two remaining members: vocalist / pianist Jim PembrokeFind albums by this artist and drummer Ronnie OsterbergFind albums by this artist were joined by guitarist Pekka RechardtFind albums by this artist and bassist Mans GroundstroemFind albums by this artist. Keyboardist Esa KotilainenFind albums by this artist, also not a formal member of the group, added his invaluable input during the recording of the album. The original album presented eight original songs, five composed by Rechardt and three by Pembroke, and all featuring lyrics written by Pembroke, who was a British expatriate and could naturally handle the lyrics in English flawlessly. This remastered and expanded edition adds a second CD, which includes an entire concert recorded for Swedish radio in November of 1974, before the band entered the studio to record the "Nuclear NightclubFind albums with this title" album. It presents seven songs, five of which will be recorded later for the album, and two which originated from Pembroke´s second solo album "PigwormFind albums with this title" recorded earlier in 1974. Kotilainen did not participate on this recording. The music, although undoubtedly somewhat less strictly Prog oriented, is by all means absolutely brilliant, wonderfully combining the excellent songwriting with perfect performances, full of great instrumental parts. Wigwam were, as it often happened with the capricious Prog fanatics, accused for taking a more commercial path, but the band, which suffered from a dichotomy in its ranks since its inception, was now completely united behind their musical output and quite honestly read well the changing Prog landscape, which pulled many of the classic Prog bands towards a more song oriented direction. The collected talents of Wigwam´s members still made it one of the best Prog band in Europe and even worldwide, and if not for the fact that they originated from Finland, they would have probably reached to top of the Prog peak. This album was released in the UK and a few other countries, bringing the band some success, but Prog at the time was approaching its global collapse, when the initial creativity of the genre simply dried out. Wigwam released two more excellent albums before calling it quits and future efforts to resurrect the band proved to be as futile as those of other Prog band around the globe. The magic was simply gone. This excellently sounding and expanded edition is a must have for Finnish Prog / Wigwam fans all over the globe and SvartFind albums on this label Records, as usual, made a perfect job preparing this reissue. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 11/08/2020Posted: 07/08/2020

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend