”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
Thursday, July 3, 2025
JOJJE WADENIUS – Puss puss sant sant (Sonet, 1978)
PIERRE STRÖM – Complete solo albums 1970-1976
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.
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.
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.
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
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
VARIOUS ARTISTS – En kärlekshistoria (CBS, 1970)
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)
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
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
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?
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.
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
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, 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.
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.
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.
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
Monday, June 30, 2025
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)
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.)
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)
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)