Kultivator ~ Barndomens Stigar (2008 Remaster)

Reissue of the year so far. Kultivator only recorded one album which was released back in 1981. They soon disbanded after, the musical climate not just in Sweden but everywhere else had changed dramatically and bands like Kultivator, producing technically complex music were out of fashion. Shame, as this album is brimming with energy and fantastic music. Many have cited their mixture of Zeuhl and Canterbury style, which is true but this kind of music somehow could only have been made in Sweden, like Trettioåriga Kriget or Kaipa.

The CD of their album has been unavailable for many years now. Thankfully the excellent Mellotronen label has made it available again and what a stunning job they have done. The original album has been beautifully remastered, with 3 very worthy bonus tracks. There is also a 2nd CD, an ep of newly recorded material. Like Trettioåriga Kriget the new material shows they are even better now than first time round. Kultivator should do a full albums worth of new stuff.

The discs are presented in a lavish, glossy digipack together with a 20 page booklet featuring an informative essay, full credits, archival photographs and lyrics to the new material. I cannot fault this re-issue in anyway. Fantastic!