Wigwam – Fairyport
At Head Full of Snow we care not where our progressive rock hails from.
So long as it sounds good and, for the most part, is sung in the Queen’s own English (apologies, but we like to know what’s going on) then it’s guaranteed a repeat spin on the HFoS turntable.
Wigwam was a Finnish prog band, featuring among its fold, English ex-pat Jim Pembroke and Pekka Pohjola, who, as well as attaining solo success, also played with Made in Sweden and Mike Oldfield’s band. 1971′s Fairyport was their third album for the Finnish label, Love Records, following on from 1969′s Hard ‘n’ Horny and 1970′s Tombstone Valentine.
Both songwriting and vocals were split between the aforementioned Pembroke and organist Jukka Gustavson, and as such Fairyport demonstrates two very different styles throughout.
Gustavson’s songs are inward-looking and lengthier excursions into the realms of prog, typified by the abstract and heavy ‘Caffkaff, The Country Psychologist’, which is underscored by a piano-led rhythm that branches out into the lesser tamed regions of progressive rock, with organ and the full weight of the instrumentation at their disposal coming into play.
Meanwhile, Pembroke’s input is decidedly lighter in tone; not in a humorous way (though he has his moments), but decidedly more, for want of a better word, “approachable” to the casual listener. ‘Lost Without a Trace’ is a particular highlight, featuring only Pembroke on the piano and another Jukka (Tolonen) on guitar. The liner notes reveal that the version that ended up as track two on the finished album was intended only as a demo, but rated so highly by the rest of the band that it was included without further interference.
Despite the two contrasting styles, Fairyport gels together rather well.
It may not be the tastiest helping of prog rock ever served, nor as complete or as strong as Wigwam’s concept album, and next release, Being, but Fairyport is still a worthwhile listen and example of the progressive sound beyond the green fields of seventies middle England.
Fairyport by Wigwam is reissued by Esoteric Recordings and available from Amazon.co.uk
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