Never Say Never
It seemed like an impossible dream, but Moon Safari’s highly anticipated follow-up to Himlabacken Vol. 1 is finally out. And what an album it is. Prog catches up with vocalist/guitarist Petter Sandström and bassist Johan Westerlund to find out why it took them so long to create a slice of pure prog heaven.
Words: Nick Shilton
Moon Safari: the circus has come to an end, now they can bask in acclaim.
While the days have largely passed when an artist might release two studio albums in quick succession, a decade has elapsed since Moon Safari issued Himlabacken Vol. 1. And while they have not usurped American businessman cum musician Dean Gitter (who took a mere 57 years to follow up 1957’s Ghost Ballads with Old Folkies Never Die), the Swedes were fast approaching the almost 12 years that elapsed between King Crimson’s Three Of A Perfect Pair and Thrak.
So, after a steady work rate that yielded the band’s first four studio albums in the period from 2005 to 2013, how on earth did it take Moon Safari so long to release the excellent Himlabacken Vol. 2?
“Perhaps we can blame the kids?!” says lead vocalist/acoustic guitarist Petter Sandström from his home in Stockholm.
Sweden’s birth rate this millennium has dropped well below two children per woman, but Moon Safari have clearly been doing their utmost to buck the trend and expand their homeland’s population.
“When we started this recording, there were four kids among the six bandmembers; now there are 16,” expands Umeå-based bassist/vocalist Johan Westerlund.
But beyond the domestic matters and day job commitments that continually slowed the progress of making the album, there were some band issues.
“When we started this recording, there were four kids among the six bandmembers; now there are 16.”