HJÄRNSTORM – Hjärnstorm (Slick, 12”, 1980)

  
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

A Stockholm band rooted in punk band Skabb and with ties to Psynkopat, Boojwah Kids and Elegi and others. Hjärnstorm fit well into that lot, with arty progg in their DNA but fully aware of the then burgeoning experimental post punk scene.

This 12” technically features only two songs, but the 'A' side ”En ensam man” (=”a lonely man”) plays like two different ones itself. It begins with an uneasy section of catatonic vocals set to a cold sweat organ drone before bursting into a dance-punk like beat and guitars not entirely dissimilar to Carlos Alomar's on Iggy Pop's ”The Idiot”. Chilly industrial synth effects emphasize the steel-and-concrete paranoia.

The 'B' side is entitled ”Min skugga” (=”my shadow”) and starts with a simple but wonderful almost folksy guitar melody. Halfway through, the song changes to something that reminds me of Dom Smutsiga Hundarna before returning to the original theme's sweet melancholy. ”Min skugga” is oddly haunting, and even better than ”En ensam man”.

It's hard to pinpoint Hjärnstorm's style, because they hint at very different things without ever feeling disjointed. They were quite original, and it's such a shame they didn't stay together long enough for a few more releases. They did back singer/actor Johan Lindell on one 7” track in 1981, but that was a disappointing effort. And when Hjärnstorm emerged into the more typical sounding post punk band Stadion der Jugend, much of their original tension was lost.

Hjärnstorm's 12” was released in four different colours (blue, green, red and black for those who keep track of such things), but none of them seems very rare or sought-after, suggesting this remains something of a lost gem on the brink of genres.

Min skugga

ÅKE "KRÅKAN" NILSSON - Måste man va' poet (CBS, 1979)

  
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

There was quite some buzz around Åke ”Kråkan” Nilsson when he appeared in the spotlight in the late 70s. He earned his nickname Kråkan (=”the crow”) from his rough, gruff voice. Clearly inspired by early Ulf Lundell, Kråkan's lyrics were less romantic and dealt with the darker side of life. Speaking from his personal experience, Kråkan often sang about alcohol abuse and depression in a convincing manner, sometimes making me think of Kenta and Kaj R. Hansson (minus the criminal references). He was clearly a better singer than both of them with a strong powerful voice, somewhere between a smoother Rolf Wikström and a less foghornish Roger Chapman. Kråkan's full throttle approach to singing could surely have used some dynamics here and there, but his vocal urgency works in his favour now and then.

While his love for hard blues and stomping rock is perfectly obvious, he slows it down on a couple of tracks. ”Jag har spelat många roller” is a slow blues that captures the mood of the concrete city's murkier sides really well (a bit like Ulf Lundell's song ”Bente” does but from a different persepctive). ”Jag hoppas det inte är försent” (=”I hope it's not too late”) is another slow one, overflowing with remorse and contrition over what he's done to his friends and family when drowning in alcohol. While the music isn't straight up progg, the lyrics are – for those who can understand them – sincere and gripping on a personal level. Fans of the aforementioned Kenta and Kaj R. Hansson should listen up.

Kråkan made three more albums up to 1983 but they got gradually more commercial sounding, and it's really only this debut album that has enough no-frills proggish production to be of fringe interest to this blog. He's still active on a smaller scale level and is content with making his more recent efforts available on his website. It also has all his albums for streaming and download.

10 år sen sist / Jag vet hur du mår / Blunda och be / Jag har spelat många roller / Whisky och valium / Prestigeladdad kyla / 30-strecket / Jag hoppas det inte är försent / Rädd som fan

PER CUSSION – Per Cussion (MNW, 1981)

 

Instrumental, other languages

International relevance: **

Per Cussion's real name is Per Tjernberg who used to be the percussionist in Archimedes Badkar and several other rhythm happy bands. This was his first solo album, and he brought along several friends from Peps Blodsband, Egba and of course Archimedes, such as Bosse Skoglund, Bengt Berger, Babatunde Tony Ellis, Ulf Adåker, and even Peps himself. It's a kindhearted, friendly album bringing together all Tjernberg's influences from Jamaica, Trinidad, Cuba and various African countries. It's pleasant and joyous, a festive get-together of friends easy on the ear, but it doesn't have the oomph to really grab you.

Full album playlist

HOOGANS MUSIKTEATER – Harry Hoogan behöver dig (Piglet, 1981)

  
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Another album on the puzzling, bewildering, stylistically inconsistent and utterly fascinating Piglet label. Stylistically inconsistent is also the best way to describe ”Harry Hoogan behöver dig”. Here you get funk, rock, reggae, show jazz, balladeering – all in one unkempt mess. The reason is that Hoogans Musikteater, originally named Komadawoloteatern, was a theatre group as much as a musical one, and the songs were taken from a stage play.

The problem with ”Harry Hoogan behöver dig” is the same as with many albums such as this – it doesn't work as an album. It's just a bunch of poor songs that seem out of place without the narrative framework of the play. Not all of Piglet's releases are great, and this is one of the weakest. 

The group also had ties to Låt & Leklaget who released a number of children's albums in the 80s.

No links found

ANDERS KARLÉN – Way Out (Mistlur, 1981)

 
Instrumental
International relevance: **

Jazz guitarist Anders Karlén had previously been in Birka with saxophonist Nisse Sandström; Birka were awarded with the 1978 installment in Caprice Records' ”Jazz i Sverige” series. He also appeared as a session musician on albums by a number of rock acts, but managed to release only two albums under his own name, ”Way Out” in 1981 and ”Nuance Stances” in 1985.

”Way Out” is not an enjoyable experience. I'm not a fan of jazz guitar in general (jazz guitarists can get so bloody smug and self-important), but if you also add synth and fretless bass to it, you can be sure you'll get a particularly antiseptic fusion jazz album. And trying to drown in it that much reverb is a very bad idea. . While there are the occasional moment here when it sounds as if there are, in fact, traces of life somewhere deep inside, the reverb makes it diffuse it's very hard to enjoy. Producer (and Mistlur label co-founder) Stefan Glaumann was experienced enough when he made this album, and I've never thought of his work as especially ill-advised (actually, I've never thought of it at all which is about the greatest compliment you can give to a producer), so who knows what was slipped into his drink when he did this.

If there in fact is a good album deep inside ”Way Out”, I can't tell. Probably not, but if somebody found it, let me know.

No links found

FIENDENS MUSIK – Complete singles 1978-1981

Fiendens Musik were one of the finest groups to bridge progg and punk in a time when genres blurred. Centered around singer Mats Zetterberg, they released two albums but also several singles with non-album tracks/takes.

 

En spark rätt i skallen / Du går aldrig säker (för Fiendens Musik) (Bellatrix, 1978)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: ***

”En spark rätt i skallen” appeared as one of the key tracks on the ”Fiendens Musik” LP in 1979, but this is an earlier, rawer take. It's more desperate than the album version which suits the song's lyrics against senseless street violence perfectly. A great song in its best version! The B side is a Swedish version of Iggy Pop's ”The Passenger”, not as great as the A side but amusing and charmingly semi-chaotic.

 

Pappa har alltid haft rätt... / Tredje tåget (Bellatrix, 1979)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Recorded late 1978 and released early 1979. ”Pappa har alltid haft rätt” is co-written by Zetterberg and Lars ”Ferne” Fernebring (Risken Finns), and an early example of Zetterberg's knack for engaged storytelling (this time about the generation gap) with suitably pissed-off vocals and a great use of Mats Bäcker's sax -- always crucial to Fiendens Musik's trademark sound. ”Tredje tåget” is a straightforward rock track in a Stonesy pub rock vein with rough edges. The title was later recycled for Mats Zetterberg's record label Tredje Tåget.

 

A Boot Right In The Face / Goalgetter (Slyngel, 2014; rec. 1979)

English vocals

International relevance: **

English language versions of two tracks otherwise found on the debut album. ”A Boot Right In The Face” doesn't work quite as good as ”En spark rätt i skallen”, while ”Goalgetter” is actually better than the Swedish equivalent ”Kulan i luften”. Originally intended for a British release, the single got stuck in the archives until 2014 when finally released on Slyngel Rekords, a Swedish label specializing in 45s with unreleased material by domestic punk bands.

 

Moderata brudar / Slutna sällskap / Arabisk bonus (Bellatrix, 1979)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

A slightly more polished outing from Fiendens Musik compared to their earlier singles, with two pretty catchy tracks ”Moderata brudar” and ”Slutna sällskap” as the main attraction. The most interesting track though is the third one, the semi-instrumental ”Arabisk bonus”, an oddly jouncing number with loads of echoed sax. An atypical Fiendens track but an odd favourite of mine.
 

 

Musik mot gryningen / Stadsbo (Tredje Tåget, 1981)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***

”Musik mot gryningen” is probably the most sophisticated track by Fiendens Musik with a slightly snaky melody and an unsettling mood underscored by Bäcker's nervy sax. A great one and a pity it was their swansong (not counting reunions). B side ”Stadsbo” is a humorous upbeat track, more of a throwaway compared to the brilliant A side.

En spark rätt i skallen full single playlist 
Pappa har alltid haft rätt full single playlist 
A Boot Right In The Fave full single
Moderata brudar full single
Musik mot gryningen full single  

LOOPING – Sänd mej en ängel (Musiklaget, 1980)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: -

This is pretty much a ”progg by association” album, more than an actual progg album. It features Christer Nahrendorff of Solen Skiner as singer and main songwriter, keyboardist Pierre Swärd of Soffgruppen, fusion band Life, and Mikael Ramel's Harru Lust to name a few, and session guitarist Thommie Fransson. It was also released by Musiklaget, home to Bättre Lyss, The Underground Failure, Bröderna Lönn and several other progg albums from the early 70s and on. Unfortunately the album itself is typical early 80s pop rock with some funky touches. Plus a whole lot of glitzy treble and a fair bit of synth polish. In short, it sounds just like the album cover looks.

The best track is also the longest, the more than eight minute album closer ”Sanning” which might sound like progg if you squint hard with your ears.

There's also a 1979 Looping 7”, ”Den underjordiska rymden”, with two non-album tracks.

No links found