Friday, July 20, 2018

RISKEN FINNS – Risken Finns (MNW, 1973) / 2.a LP:n - Hästgryta (MNW, 1975)

Swedish vocals, spoken word
International relevance: **/**

Lund based duo Risken Finns comprised the talents of Lars ”Ferne” Fernebring who went solo after the duo's breakup, and Gunnar Danielsson who went on to form Ensamma Hjärtan after leaving Risken Finns. In a time when the political movement gained momentum and the clearly phrased message impossible to misunderstand was the order of the day, Risken Finns went for satire and absurdist humour. They made several appearances on high profile TV shows (even as early as in 1972, before they had made an album) and were often heard on the radio. Some people didn't get what the duo was all about, and Swedish Radio received several outraged complaints for allowing them air time. At one point, there was even a bomb scare at one of their shows!

Roger Wallis at MNW was so enamoured by an early Risken Finns's TV perfomance that he asked them to record their first, eponymous album for the label, engaging several noted musicians for the sessions, including Greg FitzPatrick, blues guitarist Rolf Wikström and Mats G. Bengtsson of Gunder Hägg/BlåTåget. ”Risken Finns” includes the classic, ramshackle ”Du känner väl mig...” that soon became one of the best known progg songs, a 'hit' of sorts from a sphere where hits were considered philistine. 

”Risken Finns” is a diverse work, making use of a variety of styles depending on what the lyrics needed. It's however unfair to assume that the album is a joke. While their lyrics are important to fully appreciate Risken Finns, most of the songs are really good with several unexpected twists and turns, often within an acoustic framework, but sometimes roaring loud with electricity. Refreshingly free from dated one-dimensional slogans, ”Risken Finns” still stands up well and remains a true progg classic.

Second album ”Hästgryta” opens with the first part of the triptych ”Självkritik” (”self-criticism”), a hard groin kick to proselytizers and glazed-eyed 'radicals' sitting on their asses acheiving nothing but talk and more talk about changing the world through pot or revolution. Risken Finns were the truthtelling fools at the political table, poking fun at every stupidity they could identify no matter where they found it. Since bigotry is still alive and well today and probably will remain so forever, their albums will never become outdated.

”Hästgryta” was recorded at home in Gunnar Danielsson's apartment, thus losing the forceful sonics characteristic to some of the tracks off their debut. But if the setting is sparser, the impact of the content isn't lessened at all. It's such a shame that listeners not familiar with the Swedish language won't be able to fully appreciate Risken Finns, but for those who are, ”Hästgryta” is every bit as essential as their mandatory maiden work.

Risken Finns also appears on 1972 V/A comp ”Låtar från Knuff” with songs from one of the TV shows they appeared on, and on ”Alternativ Festival” recorded in 1975 during the protest live show against the Eurovision Song Contest. "Progglådan" features three track recorded live in Stockholm.

Tonkraft
"Glada Åsnans teater"
"Risken bloos"
"1945 minus roten ur ett år tomma mängden"

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