After leaving Lars ”Ferne” Fernebring to a solo career, thereby disbanding duo Risken Finns,
Gunnar Danielsson moved to Gothenburg to form Ensamma Hjärtan.
Although they had a more serious approach than the absurdist Risken
Finns, the new band format provided room enough for Danielsson's
skewed sense of humour to set them apart from plenty of other more
serious-minded Gothenburg acts.
Ensamma Hjärtan (MNW, 1978)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
Ensamma Hjärtan's first outing had an
abundance of their best characteristics. They had socially aware
lyrics without getting overtly political, and the music was loud,
brash and uncompromising rock, with elements from prog (some Zappa on
”Hamburgaren”), glam, blues and hard rock blended into something
very original. ”Ensamma Hjärtan” shines like a piece of gold
hidden in the dung pile of parodical
ram-the-politics-down-the-listener's-throat bands favoured in
Gothenburg at the time. The album still sounds fresh thanks to
producer Mats G. Bengtsson (Blå Tåget) and I dare say that even if
an important aspect is lost if you don't understand the lyrics, it's
powerful enough to impress even non-Swedish listeners.
En massa hjärtan (Nacksving, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance **
Changing labels from MNW to political
commissar Tommy Rander's Nacksving label could have been a disastrous
move, but it remains a good effort. The production isn't quite as
tight and heavy as on the preceding album, and the songs are more
straightforward but they hit hard often enough. Amazingly, they even
managed to sbeak a translated (but admittedly not very good) cover of
The Doors' ”People Are Strange” through the narrow anti US
imperialist filter...
Nam nam (Nacksving, 1981)
Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: *
Two years had gone by since ”En massa
hjärtan”, and when the band returned with their third album it was
a huge disappointment. Most of their quirkiness had been replaced
with a lacklustre new wavish sound. ”Nam nam” is a victim of
changing times and aesthetics.
Brain Training in Oslo – Ensamma
Hjärtan Live (Nacksving, 1981)
Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: *
Ensamma Hjärtan's last album was a
recorded live in Oslo near the end of their career, and it's even
worse than the bland ”Nam nam”. Covers of ”Like a Rolling
Stone”, ”Ring of Fire”, ”Working Class Hero” and ”Jumpin'
Jack Flash” and a translated ”When the Music's Over” are a
waste of time and vinyl. Embarrasing.
A much better representation of Ensamma
Hjärtan live can be found in ”Progglådan” which includes a gig
recorded for Swedish Radio's Tonkraft show in 1977. They're also featured with one 8 minute track on Nacksving's 1977 compilation "Fristil".
from Ensamma Hjärtan
from En massa hjärtan
from Brain Training in Oslo
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