Swedish vocals
International relevance ***
Midsummer is one of the most cherished
holidays in Sweden and many people celebrate the midsummer night out
in the country. We eat traditional food and drink ”brännvin”, a
special kind of alcoholic beverage, often enhanced with spices and
flowers. Celebration often starts in the afternoon and continues
until early the next morning.
Midsummer is ”midsommar” in
Swedish, and the name seems highly appropriate for the band who chose
it as their name. Their lyrics often deal from with topics closely
connected with ”the old Sweden”, sometimes in relation to the so
called progress of modern times. Nature, traditions and life in the
old days are common subjects. The lyrics are political in a broader
sense in pointing out the flaws of modern society, but they're kept
in a general mode so just anybody suspicious of greed, commercialism
and environmental issues can agree with them.
Midsommar is
best known for their hard rocking debut ”Belsebub är lös”, one
of the earliest examples of rock music with Swedish lyrics. Their
second one, the eponymously titled ”Midsommar” veers towards a
softer sound, sometimes akin to folk rockers Contact. ”Midsommar”
still has some heaviness to it, but the song types are mellower in
general. This isn't bad at all, because Midsommar were good
songwriters, at least in terms of music. Lyricwise, they are
somewhat naive even if the subject matters are important (which hardly will bother any foreign listener). Having said
that, ”Midsommar” is more uneven than ”Belsebub är lös”,
and a few of the songs here are actually downright bad. That goes for
”Killen och bostadsbristen” which comes across like a heavier
version of some Swedish dance band of the 70's, and ”Reklamdjungeln”
(although I'm genuinely sympathetic to the anti-commercialism message
of the lyrics).
The opening
track ”Illusionen av en färdigutbildad akademiker” is probably
the best known track on the album since it was included on the 4 CD
box set ”Pregnant Rainbows for Colourblind Dreamers” which was
released in conjunction with Tobias Pettersons excellent
”Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979”. The choice
of this Santana inspired uptempo track might give the wrong notion of
”Midsommar”. Songs like the decidedly Contact sounding ”Sedan
urminnes tider”, the semi folksy ”Balladen om Belfast”, the
heavy organ led ballad ”Naturen kämpar” and the rural ”James
Lindberg Hughes” is far more typical to the album in general. To my
ears, songs like these outshine most of the material on ”Belsebub
är lös”, but given the unevenness of the album as a whole,
”Belsebub” probably gets the thumbs up over this one in the end.
Also, it's worth pointing out that the vocals on ”Midsommar”
sometimes have a bit of a crooning nature that isn't as obvious on
the debut album. I have no problem with that myself, but some
listeners might have so it's worth mentioning.
Over the years
there has been a debate over the actual release dates of both
Midsommar albums, and many people were uncertain if this one or
”Belsebub” was the first album. No year of release is printed on
any of the albums. The arguments seem settled now though, and
”Belsebub är lös” is considered to have been released in 1970
and the follow-up in 1971. As far as I know, none of the Midsommar albums have been reissued, but "Midsommar" is easier to find than "Belsebub".
There is also an
album by a band called Jukebox who released on album on Marilla in
1975 with three of the Midsommar members present. Organist Dan Pihl
later produced Swedish comic character Ronny Jönsson (by actor Claes
Malmberg) as well as single by disco queen Tina Charles! Saxophone
player Reg Ward later joined for instance Dimmornas Bro, Mörbyligan
and Magnus Uggla for session work. He also teamed up with Ulf Lundell
on his Nature backed live album ”Natten hade varit mild och öm”
recorded in 1976.
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