RADIOMÖBEL – Tramseböx (Chockskivor, 1975) / Gudang Garam (Chockskivor, 1978)

International relevance: ***

Swedish vocals, English vocals, instrumental

Radiomöbel (sometimes known as Musikgruppen Radiomöbel) was formed in Lund in 1973 and their sound was once described as ”they sound as if they discover their instruments while playing them”. Uttered as praise, I still have to concede with it. Their two albums consist of painfully inept playing, nowhere near their level of ambition. You can be experimental breaking rules by knowing exactly what you're doing, and you can be accidentally experimental by having no clue whatsoever what you're up to but with the results more akin to harassment than music.

Their debut album ”Tramseböx” sounds like the first, maybe second, rehearsal by a school band who bribed their music teacher to get access to the instruments locked inside a room to keep them away from people like Radiomöbel. But it was in fact recorded in 'guitarist' Andre Kangro's basement in 1975. Yes: in 1975. That means they had two years to get their shit together after forming. And they failed so bad. Originally pressed in 250 copies, it's now a highly sought-after collectors' item. But I know for a fact there's been people out there collecting dogshit too.

Three years on, and ”Gudang Garam” appeared. Did Radiomöbel spend their time learning how to get anything decent out of their equipment? Nope. Some members left the band prior to the sessions, those who stayed were still as incompetent as ever before. New singer Carin Bohman didn't help much either, nor did their attempts to write more 'complex' and 'progressive' tracks although they were so musically dyslectic they probably couldn't get a proper sound out of a door bell.

Radiomöbel's not good bad in a Shaggs or Legendary Stardust Cowboy kind of way, just bad. These albums suck mammoth genitalia. Not quite as dismal as Malaria or Prefix, but way up high on the shame list.

Tramseböx full album playlist
Gudang Garam full album playlist