Kaipa is a Swedish prog rock band, formed in the 70's.

Even after more than 35 years, Kaipa still hold a very special position in the world of progressive rock music. Band mastermind and songwriter Hans Lundin’s unusual understanding of melodies, the great qualities of this technically extremely accomplished group, their penchant for diverse stylistic means and timeless influences – all these aspects are focussed on their latest album release, In The Wake Of Evolution. Lundin (keyboards, vocals), guitarist Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry), drummer Morgan Ågren (Zappa), bassist Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, Karmakanic), the vocalists Patrik Lundström (Ritual) and Aleena Gibson, plus guests Elin
Rubinsztein (violin) and Fredrik Lindqvist (Ritual), expertly mix tried and tested styles from the history of rock music with timeless variations.

Lundin himself on his music: “I’d call it progressive folk fusion rock.”
With only one exception, Kaipa have worked with the same constant line-up for many years. “This is the fifth album with the same line up, apart from Per Nilsson who joined us on the previous album, Angling Feelings. After the recording of Mindrevolutions in 2005, Roine Stolt and I decided to go separate ways. I had worked together with Per when we recorded the Hagen album, Corridors Of Time, in the late 1990s and invited him to become a member of Kaipa during the autumn of 2005. It has been very constructive and
pleasant to work with Per. In addition to being an extremely talented musician, he is also very open-minded and not afraid of trying anything unexpected. The current line-up is my dream band in a way, it’s a great pleasure to work with these extremely talented and amicable musicians.”
Lundin’s contentedness and the homogeneity within the band not only pay off on the musical level, but also ensure a high constancy in their stylistic direction. “In The Wake Of Evolution feels like a logical continuation and development of our previous album, Angling Feelings,” Lundin points out, stressing his band’s folkloristic roots: “Folk influences have always been a part of Kaipa’s music, since the very beginning in 1974. At that time, the influences were more like a friend dropping in sporadically to say hello.
Now, more than ever, they are an integral part of the compositions.”

Kaipa have recorded a total of eight colourful songs for In The Wake Of Evolution, and every single track offers pure aural pleasure and an exciting excursion through the universe of timeless prog rock. In their almost 18-minute track, ‘Electric Power Water Notes’, Kaipa present the longest song of the album, combining strictly arranged parts with sections which allow more freedom to the individual musicians. It includes a three-part guitar figure going in and out of the song that brings a special flow and character to the final result. ‘Folkia’s First Decision’, on the other hand, sounds a little unusual. Lundin: “It’s just a two-minute song, a pure folk
music theme, and the guest musicians are the most important element. On the album Notes From The Past, there is a heavy folkinspired number called ‘Folke’s Final Decision’. In my mind, Folkia is Folke’s youngest daughter, a tiny and playful image of her father.” ‘The Seven Oceans Of Our Mind’ remains to be mentioned, an unpredictable song with both acoustic and bombastic electric parts. “My basic idea was to invite a big choir to illustrate the humming of the leaves and the big choir parts. But in the end, we managed to record this with our own voices doing a lot of overdubs.”
Lundin is justified in being highly satisfied with In The Wake Of Evolution, an album which underlines his great skills as a composer and arranger.

“Nothing is easy,” he says, "the biggest challenge is to find new directions without losing your basic identity. To write and record an album that feels fresh, progressive and includes great melodies and new ideas which still carry that unmistakable Kaipa sound.“ There can be no doubt that Kaipa’s mastermind has been thoroughly successful in achieving this feat.

Former members

Roine Stolt – guitarist/vocalist (1974–1979, 2000–2005)
Ingemar Bergman – drummer (1974–1981)
Tomas Eriksson – bassist (1973–1977)
Mats Lindberg – bassist (1977–1980)
Mats Löfgren – vocalist (1977–1980)
Max Åhman – guitarist (1979–1982)
Mats "Microben" Lindberg – bassist (1981–1982)
Per "Pelle" Andersson – drummer (1982)

Current line-up

Hans Lundin – vocalist/keyboardist
Patrik Lundström – vocalist
Aleena Gibson – vocalist
Per Nilsson – guitarist
Jonas Reingold – bassist
Morgan Ågren – drummer

Discography

Kaipa - 1975
Inget Nytt Under Solen - 1976
Solo - 1978
Händer - 1980
Nattdjurstid - 1982
Stockholm Symphonie - 1993
Notes From The Past - 2002
Keyholder - 2003
Mindrevolutions - 2005
Angling Feelings - 2007
In The Wake Of Evolution - 2010

Written by Sian Jennifer Smith