Swedish vocals, spoken word
International relevance: **
A multifaceted album, ranging from Neil
Young inspired rock (check out the guitar solo on ”Kicki!”), to
singer/songwriter ballads, to folk, to reggae (the almost eerie
”Sista valsen”). Claes Ekenstam had his merits as a songwriter,
but his overzealous and histrionic bleating and the
inclusion of several poem readings are distracting. Also, his lyrics
are rather embarrasing from time to time verging on the pathetic
which makes ”Sista tåget till Tasjkent” a frustrating listen.
The album was released on Sista Bussen,
a Gothenburg label with both progg and punk connections. Back-up singer
Håkan Forshult produced Blå Schäfer's 45 ”Sysselsättningen”
for the same label. Per Giöbel played on several records over the
years, including one by Motvind. Several of the players went on to
make Hausswolff's album ”Bark & is” in 1980 –
Carl Michael von Hausswolf himself became a well-known avantgarde artist
and co-founded Radium 226.05, a hugely influential 80's label.
Ekenstam himself appears to have left the music business after his
sole album, but there's a noted psychotherapist by that name active
in Borås not far from Gothenburg. Same guy?
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