KG 22 BAND – KG 22 Band (Sjöbo Påpp, 1980)

 
Swedish vocals, English vocals, instrumental
International relevance: -

Fundamentally a pop/rock band with some funk and disco moves, but mentioned here briefly because of a couple of jazz fusion tracks plus some mainstream progg touches. None of it is good though, and the fusion like stuff is incredibly stale. The track ”It Ain't Easy” was culled from the album for a single with an exclusive track on the flip, ”Twelve Bars From Mars”. That was later combined with a couple of unreleased tracks for a three-track streaming EP which, believe it or not, is even worse than their ghastly album.

Full album playlist   
Full single playlist

GRUS I DOJJAN – Friska grustag (Sonet, 1976) / Efter kaffet (Amalthea, 1981)

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

Grus I Dojjan were a band of surprising longevity. Formed in 1970, their album debut came the following year which kicked off a ten year long career on record. They existed much longer than that but didn't release another album until 2002. Also, they backed Thomas Wiehe on his 1980 album ”Fågeln i mej” under the moniker Hullimullan Band.

I've reviewed Grus I Dojjan's other albums before, and these two LPs are the last remaining to appear on Swedish Progg Blog (unless they release a 10 CD box set of previously unreleased private tapes...). There's nothing I can say about them I haven't already said before. It's goodtime music, a cheerful mix of old Swedish dance tunes, various country music styles including bluegrass, and Irish folk. All their albums are basically interchangeable; they remained true to their style over the years, and if you like it you like it, but I don't.

I can just add that ”Friska grustag” (with a nice looking sleeve) was recorded live which was the perfect setting possible for the band, and that ”Efter kaffet” was their last album from the original era. ”Efter kaffet” actually has the best track I've ever heard from them, ”Rakkniven”. It's a genuinely great track; dark, doomlaiden and paranoid – completely unexpected coming from Grus I Dojjan! Too bad it took them ten years to come up with something on that level.

No links found 

HÄXFEBER – Häxfeber (MNW, 1980)

 
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

This is one of those albums I thought would entirely different than I suspected it would be. Long before I heard it I thought this would be a jazz album somewhere between Tintomara and Salamander. But Häxfeber proved to be a rock progg band but was probably the all female line-up that fooled me because it was still more common with women jazz groups than rock ditto in Sweden in those days (although punk changed some of that).

Häxfeber weren't the best of instrumentalists. Especially drummer Karin Fält should have practised her drum fills a bit more before putting them on permanent record. ”Avenyn” is one of the most evocative tracks on their eponymous album, but the drum stumbles somewhat spoil the mood that the vaguely reggae influenced beat and the heavily reverbed guitar create. Another snag is the vocals, as if the singers felt they had to proclaim the feminist themed lyrics with too much urge to get heard (which might have been perfectly true). Then again, we mustn't forget that 1980 was a landmark year for Swedish punk, and Häxfeber were clearly aware of what was going on around them.

I do like guitarist Birgitta Larsson though. She isn't flashy (that doesn't automatically equals good anyway), but her licks and leads are quite tasteful, and she's also good at finding suitable sounds. The albums doesn't hold up all through, but there are several good, effective songs that would have been even better with a generally more proficient execution.

”Häxfeber” is a decent album with both flaws and strengths, a bit of an unfulfilled promise. Häxfeber had some talent but not the time to develop it – they disbanded after this album, and only Birgitta Larsson appeared shortly in another band, the obscure Scandal Beauties who had two songs on V/A compilation ”Vilda vanor” in 1985.

Med blåprickig slips  
Syntesen

ENERGIOPERANS KÖR & ORKESTER – Den femte naturkraften (Lilla Räven, 1980)

 
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

This is the most unusual anti-nuclear album I've heard. A real one-off thing on a private, one-off label. The music were made for a street theatre performance in 1980 called "Energioperan" and involved 23 musicians and 46 singers, collectively known as ”The Energy Opera's Choir & Orchestra” in translation. The best known names are probably Anita Livstrand (Vargavinter, Bitter Funeral Beer Band, solo), Margareta Söderberg (Arbete & Fritid) and Catarina Abelli (Hot Boys, and Torbjörn Abelli's half sister -- she also did the cover art for this album).

It ought to be a well established fact that I have serious problems with political albums where a thousand singers insist on singing their slogans all at once, and true that ”Den femte naturkraften” (=”the fifth force”) has its share of appalling tracks. But a fair bit of it is actually rather captivating. The choir provides an ethereal feel to some of the numbers, and a few selections are really toned down with Oriental and Balkan folk shadings. Especially the bewitching ”Siarens sång”, sung and co-written by Anita Livstrand with a snaky melody framed by flute, tablas and 'acid folk' acoustic guitars. (I don't like that term, but it's highly applicable here.)

So if you navigate past the odd rock track and one or two dreadful political shouties, there's quite a few moments well worth investigating here. And with an Anita Livstrand runaway track like ”Siarens sång”, it's definitely worth spending some loose change on it. 

No links found

VARIOUS ARTISTS – MUSIKFESTIVALEN 1978 (no label, MC, 1978)

 
Featured artists: Magnum Brus / Trycket / Harline Blue / Handkraft / Staffan Pettersson / Kylans Rockorkester / Horny Band / Inferno
Swedish vocals, instrumental
International relevance: *

An incredibly rare cassette, home copied on standard TDK tapes and privately released locally in the northern town of Örnsköldsvik in 1978. The compilation was recorded live during a benefit festival for Örnsköldsvik youth club that needed renovating. Several local acts performed at the festival, the best known being Kylans Rockorkester along with several bands that never made it beyond the city limits. Apart from Kylans Rockorkester, only Hairline Blue got as far as to have a 45 out under their own name, although a couple of the performers also appeared on ”Musikfest 80 Örnsköldsvik”. There's heavy rock, bebop, jazz fusion, and funk, and the level of playing varies almost as much as the musical styles. Some bands are pretty skilled while others are not. The sound quality isn't great but OK for a 70s audience recording. Neither is the music. The best selection is ”Spränga hela skiten”, the first-ever released Kylans track, atypically dark in mood coming from them and not as bluesy as their better known stuff.

”Musikfestivalen 1978” is definitely of interest to collectors of local releases, but the average listener need not bother.

Full album playlist 

THE CORBIES – The Corbies (Four Leaf Clover, 1977) / Fire Raisers (Four Leaf Clover, 1979) / Härtappat (Four Leaf Clover, 1981)

 
English vocals, instrumental
International relevance: *

If you didn't know it, you could swear The Corbies were an authentic Scottish band. But they were only a bunch of Swedes that nail the Scottish folk moves right down to the accent (at least a lot of the time). They pick trad's greatest hits, go through both vocal and instrumental tracks like ”Cam Ye O'er Frae France”, ”Mason's Apron”, ”Johnnie I Hardly Knew Ye”, ”Loch Lomond”, ”The Blantyre Explosion”, ”High Germany” and, sigh, ”Whiskey In The Jar”. The instrumentation is traditional, i.e. mainly acoustic, and the arrangements are meticulously faithful to Scottish folk bands from the 60s and 70s. And that's the crux of the matter: They're so true to their role models it's ridiculous. I'm sure The Corbies were a hit with the beer soaked pub crowds of the day, but give me one good reason why I should listen to their albums when there are probably hundreds of genuine Scottish albums out there, ranging from the mediocre (and less) to the excellent, from the dead cheap to the absurdly expensive.

The Corbies are a skillful charade, but a charade just the same. They put on an act, and no matter how well they do it, it's an annoying fake.

They also released one 45 in 1982, and another one in 1983. In 1997 they reunited for another album, plus one further three-track EP in 2020. Which only makes them even more annoying -- did they really had to tell the same joke over and over again when it wasn't funny the first time around?

The cover art of the debut album is great though.

The Corbies full album playlist (Spotify) 
Fire Raisers full album playlist (Spotify)  
Härtappat full album playlist (Spotify)

A SEVEN INCH SPECIAL, VOL. 12: Various

DEN TRETTIONDE FEBRUARI – Den trettionde februari / Harley Davidson (Ljudspår, 1976)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***

I wanted to hear this one-off 45 for a very long time, but it proved elusive. I had no idea what to expect from it but I still had the feeling it might be good.

The lyrics were written by later on awarded radio journalist Olle Hägg while an unidentified Hungarian keyboardist using the pseudonym David Oliver was responsible for the music. The two songs were recorded in Acke & Gurra's studio providing a not too flashy but adequate, slightly spacious underground-ish sound. That comes in particularly handy on the track sharing its name with the band itself. ”Den trettionde februari” is a faintly funky track with a very effective, flanged and nervy guitar. The flanger adds an electric sitar quality to the solos, and a persistent moog adds to the semi-psychedelic quality. It's a really enjoyable piece that somehow seems a bit overlooked. ”Harley Davidson” is more of a singer/songwriter styled half-ballad that fails to make the same impression as the main track, but it's well worth seeking out for the A side!

DOM SMUTSIGA HUNDARNA – För din nakenhets skull / Visa i Molom (MNW, 1977)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

Released to generate interest for the then forthcoming debut ”Vårdsjuk blågul fanblues” by this Gothenburg band, but only the A side ”För din nakenhets skull” is on the album. The B side is exclusive to this single, a cover of visa singer Alf Hambe's best known song, the folksy and mystical ”Visa i Molom”. It's vastly different in the hands of Dom Smutsiga Hundarna. Gone is the fragility of the original. It's definitely rock, with a peculiarly pulsating rhythm underlined by a watery organ, an odd drum section and a wailing fuzz guitar taking the lead. ”Visa i Molom” would have been out of place on the album, but as a quirky B side it's really quite great. If you're a fan of ”Vårdsjuk blågul fanblues”, this is an excellent addition to your collection.

RONNY ÅSTRÖM – Maskin nr. 1 / PEPS PERSSON – Maskin nr. 2 (Sonet, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

The two friends Ronny Åström and Peps Persson on a split single, with the B side being Peps's wellknown track from the ”Spår” album. The sentiment is the same on both tracks, with lyrics addressing the mindless mass production of superfluous things, two statements against the consumerist society. Åström's side is unique to this 45, and it's one of his very best tracks. Set to the monotonous rhythm of a book packing machine, a monophonic synthesizer fill in with a naive, plastic melody behind Åström's gruff voice singing an almost circular melody that could go on forever, just like the sameness of the boring work in a soul-destroying factory. The minimal synth framework makes the point perfectly – beneath the alluring surface of childlike charm, there's a heartfelt critique against the modern, commercialized Western world. 

RIGHT BAND – Keep On Wailing / Natural Vibes (Liphone, 1978)
English vocals
International relevance: **

A not very sought-after single on the long running and increasingly unpredictable West Coast based Liphone label. The band had Per Giöbel on vocals and guitar, and he also wrote ”Keep On Wailing” for the A side. Giöbel is known from Hausswolff and Claes Ekenstam & Sista Bandet, as well as ”Snacka går ju”, one of Motvind's later albums. Pretty far removed from Right Band's 7” which is more in a funk rock style. ”Keep On Wailing” is the better song, revealing some inspiration from Little Feat and late 70s Zappa. Very competent for a local band that only released one single but still not very interesting
.

STETSON CODY GROUP – Eyes / Det var du (SCG, 1979)
Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: **

Best known for having guitarist Kjell Lövbom in their line-up years before he became Kee Marcello in multi-million selling hair metal band Europe. Which says nothing about Stetson Cody Group, as everyone who's heard the various artists album ”Jazz & Rock” will know. That particular album featured four Stetson Cody tracks, but this self-financed single was the only outpouring under their own name. The style is similar, a test tube blend of funk rock, jazz fusion and a bit of prog rock. It's competent and tight but not fun to listen to. At all. 

ULF PETTERSSON – Summershores / This Kinda Shit (no label, 1979)
Instrumental
International relevance: **

With a dude looking like the entire Blue Öyster Cult on a bad hair day, one could easily think this would be a hard rock one man band, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is a very rare predominantly electronic DIY effort with hints at sequencer krautrock, Giorgio Moroder and French cosmic disco. ”Summershores” is a relaxed, laidback piece that comes with Pettersson's listening instructions ”Sit down in your favourite armchair and light your pipe”. And as he promises you that ”This Kinda Shit” can help you ”fly away to an alien planet”, you know this is really some guy. The kitsch level is high.

Both tracks were recorded in Mora Träsk's studio in Gävle, and most of the 500 copies were sold at Pettersson's dad's work, a local shipping company! The last remaining copies went in 2024 when there was a sudden outburst of interest in it among DJ's and collectors. Subliminal Sounds reissued it digitally in 2026.

INJECTION – Mountain Side / Mozarts 40:e (Liphone, 1979)

English vocals

International relevance: **

A symphonic band of only one single, released on the aleatoric Liphone label. They try hard but can't live up to their ambitions. The singer sounds strained and flat on ”Mountain Side”, the time changes are underrehearsed and the synth licks have a tremulous glissando that's very irritating. The B side is an adaption of Mozart's Symphony No. 40. With a perky country & western beat and ending with ”I Wanna Be Like You” from ”The Jungle Book”, it's just corny. It might be funny if you think that a drunk Emerson, Lake & Palmer twisting their legs in a serious need of pee is funny. What the hell were Injection thinking?!

MOBILE – Swedish Magazines / Truck (MOB, 1980)
English vocals
International relevance: ***

A rather unusual sounding band (from Kivik in the south) that makes me think of a basement version of British art rockers Cardiacs. Very tight performances which can possibly be explained by the fact that three of the four members were brothers with a tight connection. Dan, Sven and Jörgen Bornemark were sons of Gullan Bornemark who wrote a large number of extremely annoying children's songs in the 60s. I wouldn't say it's a very good single but it's nevertheless interesting as so few Swedish bands actually sounded like this. Worth hearing but perhaps not buying. On the other hand, it's not a very expensive item – it seems to be rather unknown.

LUFTGROUP – Pornografi / Det kostar på... (Musikkällan, 1981)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

This Värnamo seven-piece had hopes for the future. The short liner notes on the back of the cover read: ”This single is an exclusive amateur release documenting that 1980 musically moved at all air bearings, also on basement level. With the next disc, we'll move into the light.” That never happened – this was the only thing they ever released. Most of the members seem to have disappeared without any further musical traces at all which seems a bit odd as Luftgroup sounded rather good. Especially for being a local underground band. Anti-porn A side ”Pornografi” is rather catchy, a bit like Fiendens Musik although not as hard-edged. ”Det kostar på...” reminds be a bit of ”Knockin' On Heaven's Door” with a rich Hammond organ fleshing out the sound and a fat fuzz guitar in the short solos. It's not a 'lost masterpiece' but I kind of like this 7”. It has some urgency to it, and I'd be interested hearing more of Luftgroup. I suspect they ought to have been a pretty good live band. 

NORRSKENET – Sången om Norrskensflamman / Norrbottenssången (Flame, 1981)
Swedish vocals, spoken word
International relevance: -

This is abysmal even for a political record. Northern communist news magazine Norrskensflamman (today known as Flamman) released this in 1981 celebrating themselves with A side ”Sången om Norrskensflamman”, an incredibly cringy track with a long spoken intro so deadly serious that it turns into full-blown parody. It's so embarrassing that it makes Fria Proteatern sound like a really nifty rock'n'roll combo. And when the choir enters with their local patriotism I just want to sink through the floor never to rise again to the realm of the living. The only good thing I have to say about the equally ”Norrbottenssången” on the second side is that it at least lacks the recital. The singing is debile and the backing music is so twee a teddy bear could be mistaken for Charles Manson in comparison. Bloody amazing really how appalling music can actually be!

ROCKVINDAR – Lys upp mitt mörker / Ann-Louie (Metronome, 1982)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Last release from actor Thorsten Flinck's band following two years after their only album. The album wasn't too impressive, and the same goes for the two sides here. Energetic performances but still plain standard rock with mild new wave aspirations and Clarence Clemons styled sax on both tracks. No need to bother.

Ulf Pettersson full single playlist (Bandcamp) 
Injection full single playlist (Spotify)
Gog full single
Rockvindar full single
Ronny Åström / Peps Persson
Maskin nr. 1 (poor sound) / Maskin nr. 2
Dom Smutsiga Hundarna
För din nakenhets skull
Luftgroup 
Det kostar på...  
Norrskenet
Sången om Norrskensflamman / Norrbottenssången

Den Trettionde Februari / Right Band / Stetson Cody Group / Mobile no links found