SOLEN SKINER – Solen Skiner (MNW, 1976) / Strålande tider (Musiklaget, 1977)

Solen Skiner changed their name from Hamlet just in time for their appearance at the first Gärdet festival in 1970. After losing a couple of members and recruiting for instance Christer Nahrendorf, they released their first album ”Solen Skiner” in 1976. They gigged extensively between 1974 and 1978 when they disbanded. performing at youth clubs, music forums, and in prisons. They made several TV and radio appearences – a 1975 Tonkraft recording is available in ”Progglådan”.

Solen Skiner (MNW, 1976)
Swedish vocals 

International relevance: ***

 

Definitely one of the better blues based heavy rock efforts of the era, this easily puts albums in the three-four figure range to shame. ”Solen Skiner” has a certain inherent coolness to it and features some jammy parts with good guitar playing and Lennart Holmgren's blues harmonica. The lyrics are politically inclined but never so overbearing they detract from the music. Tore Berger's production could have been better though. The sound's a bit lusterless and doesn't really capture the heaviness of the songs the way it could have.

Strålande tider (Musiklaget, 1977)
Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

 

Solen Skiner left MNW and hooked up with smaller label Musiklaget with releases from The Underground Failure, Ragnar Borgedahl and Bättre Lyss under their belts. ”Strålande tider” has a unglamourous sound that fits the music better than the somewhat uninspired production of their maiden work. The songs are not quite on the level of their debut but the aural grittiness matches Solen Skiner's intrinsic qualities much more to the point, so in a way, ”Strålande tider” is a better representation of the band.

After the band's demise, several of their members continued working in the music business, and the band has reunited several times for the occasional gig. In 2013, Solen Skiner drummer Håkan Agnsäter released a book with progg posters from his vast collection, ”Affischerna 1967-1979 från den svenska musikrörelsen”. A beautiful volume essential to anyone interested in how progg sounded but also looked like.

Solen Skiner full album playlist
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