JOJJE WADENIUS – Puss puss sant sant (Sonet, 1978)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

”Goda' goda'” is one of the GREAT Swedish childrens' records of all time, a fantastic LP chock full of brilliant songs and Jojje Wadenius and his Made In Sweden pals at their very best. The lyrics were written by children's author Barbro Lindgren, and she did the same for ”Puss puss sant sant”, recorded almost ten years after ”Goda' goda'” as a kind of sequel. But times were different and so were the musicians, and the childlike joy that permeated the original album wasn't to be repeated in 1978. The band tracks sound like a regular day at work, very studio musicians-like, and Wadenius himself often sounds as if he just goes through the motions vocally. Some songs are fine though, with the best one being the beautiful and ironically enough instrumental ”Vintervisa” which is close to what John Renbourn Group did on their albums from roughly the same time, complete with tablas. But compared to the album ”Puss puss sant sant” was styled after, this is a real disappointment.

Full album playlist

PIERRE STRÖM – Complete solo albums 1970-1976

Pierre Ström was one of the prime exponents of the wave of Swedish troubadours, or visa singers, in the 60s and 70s that included among others Cornelis Vreeswijk, Fred Åkerström, Thorstein Bergman and Finn Zetterholm. The visa singers rarely went progg full on, but they shared progg's general political sympathies more often than not so there's a loose connection between them.

Ström is already on the blog with ”Joe Hill lever!”, a joint release with Oscar Norrman and Anders Granell. Ström had two more collaborative albums out in the 70s (one with Finn Zetterholm), but this review is for the albums solely credited to him.

I vädurens tecken (Intersound, 1970)
Swedish vocals
nternational relevance: *

After making a sneak debut on a various artists compilation in 1969 and a 7” on MNW subsidiary Green Light, ”I vädurens tecken” was his first full length album. It has it's share of mildly brooding moments but it's generally a more good natured collection than the album cover might lead you to believe. The emphasis on Swedish covers of Tom Paxton, Leonard Cohen and Simon & Garfunkel and the light pop backing sometimes augmented with orchestral arrangements suggest that Ström was more in tune with his times than some of his peers. Pleasant but not hugely exciting.

Pierre Ström sjunger sånger av Leonard Cohen (Intersound, 1971)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

The title says ”Pierre Ström sings songs by Leonard Cohen”, and that's exactly what it is, a full disc of translated Cohen songs. Ström never strays far from the original versions, and that perhaps served a purpose in 1971 before the original artist was a household name in Sweden, but 50 years on the album has severely deteriorated into redundancy. The Leslie treated vocals on ”Lavin” (=”Avalanche”) is a nice touch though.

The album was reissued as "Cohen på svenska" (="Cohen in Swedish") by YTF in 1974. 

Rallarvisor (YTF, 1973)
Swedish vocals, a cappella, instrumental
International relevance: *

Two years on and a switch to the visa movement's own label YTF. Still having problems getting original material together, or a lack of interest in such a venture, Ström looked to the traditional songs of the rail layers of old. He obviously felt at home in this material because he sounds much more confident than on his first two albums. The light pop ambitions are gone in favour of a small ensemble consisting of old-timey dance accordeonist Sone Banger, jazz bassist Red Mitchell and folk fiddler Björn Ståbi, giving ”Rallarvisor” a stronger local flavour. A handful of a cappella tracks (or backed with the metallic clang of hammers against railway sleepers) further helps setting it apart from what came before. The problem with thematic albums such as this though is that they can come across as museal, and that goes for this one as well.

På Palmes tid (YTF, 1976)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Finally an album of Pierre Ström originals, and a return to fuller arrangements. Banger and Ståbi are still on board, but the personnel's expanded with drummer Jan Bandel (Atlantic Ocean, Jason's Fleece, Baltik and many more), Bengan Karlsson (Heta Linjen, Svenska Löd AB!) and Björn J:son Lindh (but no Schaffer!). It's not as rockish as one could have hoped for though. Ström's songs are closer to the political progg of the day than say, a Heta Linjen groove although both ”Motströms” and ”Solens gyllne lampa” adds a bit of funkiness to the mix. Best track by far is ”En kväll rätt sent”, politically charged but with a slight mysterious mood brought on by Bengan Karlsson's watery guitar sound and bated playing. A must-hear it is not, but Pierre Ström's best album nonetheless, housed in an eye-catching jolie laide album cover.

I vädurens tid full album playlist
Sjunger sånger av Leonard Cohen full album playlist
Rallarvisor full album playlist
På Palmes tid full album playlist

VARIOUS ARTISTS – En kärlekshistoria (CBS, 1970)

Swedish vocals, English vocals, instrumental
International relevance: ***

This is the soundtrack to Roy Andersson's first feature film ("A Love Story") which resulted in his immediate domestic breakthrough as a director (although he's best known internationally for his award winning 2000 movie ”Songs From The Second Floor”).

Björn Isfält of Xtra was hired to score the film and he's written or co-written all pieces here except ”Would You Like To” which is by Jan Bandel and Greg FitzPatrick, with vocals by Staffan Stenström. Stenström sings on four of the songs, all them also also released as singles. If his name sounds familiar, it's probably because he was also in Atlantic Ocean (and their forerunners Quints) and, as numerous others, later involved in the Tillsammans project. A more surprising name in this context is Anita Lindblom who was a commercial pop singer in the 60s and 70s, whose ”Sånt är livet” was a massive hit in 1961 and has since become a Swedish evergreen. But she had a role in the movie and was probably expected to sing as well.

As always the case with soundtrack albums, this isn't meant to be a consistent whole, and it isn't. The Lindblom tracks stick out as two sore thumbs, and while Isfält's instrumentals are pleasant, they're really not something that motivates too many listens. Which leaves Staffan Stenström's contributions which are very good. I really like his husky voice which adds a beautifully brooding atmosphere to the four songs he's on. As the singles are rather hard to come by (and the same can be said of original copies of the soundtrack LP), the CD reissue from 2003 is probably the easiest way to obtain them. I think it's worth it, actually mandatory to Atlantic Ocean fans as these four tracks make for a very nice addition to their otherwise small output.

Full album playlist

ROCKVINDAR – Första gången (MNW, 1980)

 Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Really bad album most notable for featuring Thorsten Flinck on vocals (and his twin brother Richard on bass). Thorsten Flinck later became widely famous and infamous as a talented actor and a madman in equal parts.

”Första gången” appeared one year after Rockvindar's self-released debut single ”På lörda e're fest hos Catrin” with a cover of Nationalteatern's ”Barn av vår tid” on the flipside. While the band came from Stockholm, they sound a bit like an updated version of Northeners Rekyl. The release date means there are elements of punk and ska with best (or least bad) song ”Flum-rock” being the closest to progg.

They had another 45 out in 1982, this time on Metronome, before disbanding some time later. Thorsten Flinck has also released a couple of solo albums.

Full album playlist

A SEVEN INCH SPECIAL, VOL. 3: Hard & heavy

 UPPÅT VÄGGARNA – Jag hatar politik / Jag färdas (Efel, 1971)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***

One of the best Swedish heavy rock singles ever! No wonder originals are dead expensive. ”Jag hatar politik” was also on the third volume of ”Who Will Buy These Wonderful Evils” as well as ”The Essence Of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979”, the 4CD box set released in conjunction with Tobias Peterson's progg encyclopedia. But the B side is almost as good with an inescapable riff and great soloing. Thankfully, the single was reissued in 2022 by Regain Records as a 12”. Not only that, Regain also unearthed two previously unreleased tracks, doubling Uppåt Väggarna's frustratingly slim discography. The two ”new” tracks, one sung in English, are from a radio session, and while the second of those aren't up to snuff, it's great seeing them out. Let's hope someone will find more archival material soon – Subliminal Sounds?

AFTER LIFE – Help Me / Into The Fire (Playback, 1971)
English vocals
International relevance: ***

Another classic single and another ”Who Will Buy These Wonderful Evils, Vol III” selection, namely ”Help Me”. It's a decent track, not on the same level as Uppåt Väggarna, but it's better than the unnecessary and pretty tame Deep Purple cover ”Into The Fire” on the flip.

ZANE – Step Aside / Damage (MM, 1976)
English vocals
International relevance: ***

If After Life found their inspiration in Deep Purple, then Malmö's Zane are closer to Black Sabbath. With their seedy underground vibe, both tracks were comped on different volumes in the often great ”Brown Acid” series successfully exhuming obscure raw and rare hard rock singles from near and far. Both tracks are good, especially ”Step Aside”. A third track was recorded in 1980 and released on ”Vykort från Malmö”, an Amalthea V/A compilation of wildly disparate bands. The song, ”Malmö City”, shows a Zane then a wee bit closer to punk. Still OK though. 

BARON BULT – 75 ton stål / Gamla hjältar (PETCLA, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

Baron Bult came from Stockkholm but sounds more like a Gothenburg band. ”75 ton stål” has some heavy aspirations but is essentially just dull rock typical to the turn of the decade. The B side is too close to youth center disco. It's not particularly expensive but I wouldn't pay even a small sum for it. They had another single out on RCA Victor in 1980 before fading into well-deserved obscurity. Prior to Baron Bult, main man Peter Wartin made an album with Claes Nordenskiöld in 1978, also on private label PETCLA.

E.F. BAND – Night Angel / Another Day Gone (Aerco, 1979)
English vocals
International relevance: **

E.F. Band, where E stands for bassist Pär Ericsson and F stands for guitarist/singer Bengt Fisher, became a rather successful band with some longevity, releasing three albums and as many singles during their lifetime. They were part of the FWOSHM, i.e. The First Wave Of Swedish Heavy Metal, the domestic equivalent to NWOBHM, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Only their debut 45 ”Night Angel” is remotely relevant to this blog, simply because it's a pretty effective track with an unexepected almost-Hawkwind drive to it. B side ”Another Day Gone” isn't too exciting though.

THE WAGABOND – This Is Life! / Wagabond (Grisbäck, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Released on Ulf Bejerstrand's Grisbäck label, a fact that should put you off immediately. ”This Is Life!” is a clumsy attempt at hard rock with faint punk elements. B side ”Wagabond” seems to aim for a more progressive style with tempo changes that they handle with the same elegance as if they were a poo snake in their hands. Terrible.

TIDEN LIDER / IMPULS – Norrland Export / Andetag (Manifest, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

A split single on the Northern Manifest label. ”Norrland Export” by Tiden Lider is a rather ambitious track perfectly ruined by Helena Tewolde Berhan's painfully piercing vocals. She sounds like Savage Rose's Anisette on 78 rpm. ”Andetag” by Impuls may or may not have a Pink Floyd influence, depending on what you're references are. Non-descript vocals are a relief after Tewolde Berhan's ear assault, but the entire track is uninteresting with an overlong guitar solo that leads nowhere.

TONVIKT – Samma batonger / Morgontankar (HRM, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

Somewhat expensive 45, possibly because of the guitar playing which probably is the best thing about it. The A side is an anti-police brutality statement with clichés well-known from a plethora of punk songs of the same era. ”Morgontankar” is a kind of a ballad which is better than ”Samma batonger” but still not very good. An album's worth of 1978-80 material, some of it better than the 45, has been added to the single on guitarist Hans Hogedahl's Youtube channel. The band came from Kungälv outside Gothenburg.

FROZEN FIRE – Den mogna kvinnan / Eller hur (Pang, 1982)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

Released on the shady Pang Records. ”Den mogna kvinnan” is little less than a revamp of ”Ballroom Blitz” and the B side is a bit too much boogie rock. Most surprising feature is an organ rarely associated with this kind of music. Pang had a few hard rock releases out, some more sought after than others. 

VAMPA – Plugget E.P. (BMP Produktion, 1982)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

An extremely rare three-track EP with an adolescent take on punk inclined hard rock/heavy metal but not without progressive touches. Title track ”Plugget” is a hate song to school and the weakest song on the seven-inch. ”Tåget” is pretty effective with a couple of tempo changes which is a far cry from anything Yes plus an endearingly bad guitar solo. Best track is the 6/8 instrumental ”Blackout”. Not for everyone but I find it all pretty charming. Reissued with new cover art in 2021 by Swedish reissue label On The Dole Records. 

CHRISTER NAHRENDORF 
 Sju minuter kvar (Återblick på år 2003.2) / En existensiell blues (Musiklaget, 1978)
Då e're alright / Hard Rock (Metronome, 1982)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **/*

Solen Skiner frontman Christer Nahrendorf made three solo singles between 1978 and 1986. None of these two here is that interesting but ”Sju minuter kvar” and ”En existensiell blues” both have a a slight symphonic vibe to them that might attract some listeners. At least if you can stand Nahrendorf reciting the dystopic lyrics of ”Sju minuter kvar”.

His second single has back-up band Hårt Regn (=”hard rain”) and is entirely ignorable. ”Då e're alright” sounds like a blatant attempt to get airplay. The B side's ”Hard Rock” in turn sounds like a parody ot exactly that.

Baron Bult full single
E.F. Band full single playlist
The Wagabond full single
Tiden Lider - Norrland Export full single
Impuls - Andetag full single
Tonvikt full single playlist + bonus
Frozen Fire full single playlist
Uppåt Väggarna full single playlist + bonus tracks (Bandcamp)
Vampa full single playlist (Bandcamp)
After Life:
Help Me
Into The Fire
Zane:
Step Aside
Damage
Christer Nahrendorf:
Sju minuter kvar / En existensiell blues full single playlist
Då e're alright / Hard Rock full single playlist

PHILEMON ARTHUR AND THE DUNG – Skisser över 1914 års badmössor (Silence, MC 1987; rec. 1967-72) / Får jag spy i ditt paraply? (Silence, 2002; rec. 1967-72)

 

Skisser över 1914 års bandmössor (Silence, MC, 1987; rec. 1967-72)

Får jag spy i ditt paraply?: The Pest Of Philemon Arthur And The Dung (Silence, 2002; rec. 1967-72)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Philemon Arthur And The Dung's 1972 album is a stone cold classic of absurdist, nonsensical, anti-fi craziness that killed the Swedish Grammy Awards for 15 years. Ironically but probably perfectly planned, once they revived the Awards in 1987, the first new Philemon Arthur release appeared as a riposte. ”Skisser över 1914 års badmössor” (= ”sketches of 1914 swimming caps” -- don't ask!) was a cassette-only release that came in a sardine can. To play the tape, you had to open it. A great fuck you to mint condition collectors! (Although some probably bought two, one to play and to keep for posterity. Or they bought one and never played it. You know how collectors are.)

The tape contained 24 previously unreleased nuggets from the secret archives of the equally secret group, recorded around the same time as their LP. (Yes, the true identities of the Philemon Arthur And The Dung members is still unknown to all but a handful people.) It simply was more of the same meaning two brothers (or were they friends?) strumming a guitar sometimes tuned, banging away on pots and pans, and hollering out lyrics about flyswatters, braces, dromedaries and soup bowls. Nothing strange about that.

Thing is, you can never get too much of the same. This world always needs more Philemon Arthur And The Dung. Which is why “Får jag spy i ditt paraply” (=”may I puke in your umbrella?”), subtitled “The Pest Of Philemon Arthur And The Dung” was just as welcome as the archival collection before it. But here the discography a wee bit complicated.

“Får jag spy i ditt paraply?” was actually a complementary CD release to “Musikens historia del 1 & 2” (=”the history of music, parts 1 & 2) released ten years earlier, in 1992. “Musikens historia” in turn was a re-release of the original album with selections from the cassette added as bonus tracks. Due to popular demand, “Får jag spy i ditt paraply?” gathered the remaining tracks from the tape plus 19 more previously unreleased tracks from the original golden days. To uncomplicate things a bit: if you get “Musikens historia del 1 & 2” and “Får jag spy i ditt paraply?” you'll have a complete collection of all Philemon Arthur's released material in two convenient CDs. And believe me, you need it. At least if you're anything like me. It helps understanding the strange lyrics, but the unhinged zaniness of Philemon Arthur's music comes through loud and clear (or unclear) no matter what.

Actually, there is one more Philemon Arthur track out there, found a bonus 12" that came with the 2023 vinyl reissue of the original album. The single has Swedish art punk band Bob Hund doing a Philemon song on one side and Philemon Arthur doing a Bob Hund song on the other. But that is an afterthought, a curious modern day postscript that doesn't count.

Instead of messing about with the tracklists trying to re-create the running order of the original cassette, the links below are the two CD's as they come.

Musikens historia del 1 & 2 full album playlist
Får jag spy i ditt paraply full album playlist

COMMUNICATION – Communication (Grammofonverket, 1974)

 Instrumental, English vocals, wordless vocals
International relevance: *

Featured in the also-rans list in Tobias Peterson's Swedish progg encyclopedia, but really too un-progg to conveniently fit here. Bassist Red Mitchell is at the helm of this constellation, and he rarely went for very adventurous sounds. Communication briefly touches on soul jazz in ”Cirrus” and give a nod to Coltrane in ”Pamukkale”, but apart from that, this is mainly standard jazz. Well executed but not very interesting.

The album was reissued on CD in 2015 as a Red Mitchell album with a new cover art.

Full album playlist (Spotify)