So, at last it's here - the album that took two weeks to record but more than a year and a half to get pressed. How come? The dedicated Texas fan releasing the album has himself glued and hand-numbered all 600 sleeves. The love spreading psych-brothers in the Spacious Mind are back...

"You sound like a university lab for chemical experiments!" says sound engineer PELLE HENRIKSSON, without realising how spot on he is... The Spacious Mind are in the studio at Towteknik, Umea, and Pelle is helping out polishing the sound on the CD to be released later this year. For the moment though, the forthcoming album isn't what's interesting, since the LP the band recorded in summer '96 - 'Garden Of A Well Fed Head' has just arrived. Keyboard player JENS UNOSSON carefully lifts the beautiful vinyl album out of a torn bag...

The guy who runs the label was familiar with our first two releases, and wanted to put out something with us, "'Sure' we said, and at long last here it is" says Jens, proudly showing the work of art. Because a work of art is what it is! The label boss has himself glued the sleeves and then numbered them with a silver pen. The artwork is done by his wife - a flower power-ish painting that took a long long time to complete. The run of the album is merely 600 copies, and will only be available from specialist dealers, so great sales aren't expected. No, the forthcoming CD 'The Mind Of A Brother' to be released by London based Delerium Records has bigger chances to sell...

All we strive for is to make good music adds Jens, and bass player Marten Lundmark nods in approval. Nowadays the market for psychedelic isn't exactly giant, a fact confirmed when the Spacious Mind wasn't invited to play at Popstad '97.* "We wanted to arrange Psykstad '79 as a counteraction, a whole festival with nothing but Psychedelic groups. Instead of Latin Kings we were planning to invite Hawkwind" Marten says jokingly. The idea came to nothing, but this Summer the guys in the Spacious Mind will meet their predecessors in the legendary HAWKWIND anyway."We'll probably play the Space & Rock festival in Jonkoping, where parts of Hawkwind will perform."

Imagewise, the Spacious Mind have been known for their long beards and the generally fuzzy attitude. Today only Jens is still sporting the characteristic Spacious Beard, and he's also the one going furthest in the analysis of the band's message. "The power of love is in space. We can all be part of this mind of love by simply opening up to it. Our music helps people to be receivers of this love force", he explains.

It's hard to tell if he's joking or if it's part of the image. The only certain thing is that the Spacious Mind are back to spread their love message, this time with two albums and a sound smelling of chemical experiments...

Olav Baudin