Thursday, July 12, 2018

ENSAMMA HJÄRTAN – Ensamma Hjärtan (MNW, 1978) / En massa hjärtan (Nacksving, 1979) / Nam nam (Nacksving, 1981) / Brain Training in Oslo – Live (Nacksving, 1981)

After leaving Lars ”Ferne” Fernebring to a solo career, thereby disbanding duo Risken Finns, Gunnar Danielsson moved to Gothenburg to form Ensamma Hjärtan. Although they had a more serious approach than the absurdist Risken Finns, the new band format provided room enough for Danielsson's skewed sense of humour to set them apart from plenty of other more serious-minded Gothenburg acts.

Ensamma Hjärtan (MNW, 1978)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

Ensamma Hjärtan's first outing had an abundance of their best characteristics. They had socially aware lyrics without getting overtly political, and the music was loud, brash and uncompromising rock, with elements from prog (some Zappa on ”Hamburgaren”), glam, blues and hard rock blended into something very original. ”Ensamma Hjärtan” shines like a piece of gold hidden in the dung pile of parodical ram-the-politics-down-the-listener's-throat bands favoured in Gothenburg at the time. The album still sounds fresh thanks to producer Mats G. Bengtsson (Blå Tåget) and I dare say that even if an important aspect is lost if you don't understand the lyrics, it's powerful enough to impress even non-Swedish listeners.

En massa hjärtan (Nacksving, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance **

Changing labels from MNW to political commissar Tommy Rander's Nacksving label could have been a disastrous move, but it remains a good effort. The production isn't quite as tight and heavy as on the preceding album, and the songs are more straightforward but they hit hard often enough. Amazingly, they even managed to sbeak a translated (but admittedly not very good) cover of The Doors' ”People Are Strange” through the narrow anti US imperialist filter... 

Nam nam (Nacksving, 1981)
Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: *

Two years had gone by since ”En massa hjärtan”, and when the band returned with their third album it was a huge disappointment. Most of their quirkiness had been replaced with a lacklustre new wavish sound. ”Nam nam” is a victim of changing times and aesthetics.
 
Brain Training in Oslo – Ensamma Hjärtan Live (Nacksving, 1981)
Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: *

Ensamma Hjärtan's last album was a recorded live in Oslo near the end of their career, and it's even worse than the bland ”Nam nam”. Covers of ”Like a Rolling Stone”, ”Ring of Fire”, ”Working Class Hero” and ”Jumpin' Jack Flash” and a translated ”When the Music's Over” are a waste of time and vinyl. Embarrasing.

A much better representation of Ensamma Hjärtan live can be found in ”Progglådan” which includes a gig recorded for Swedish Radio's Tonkraft show in 1977. They're also featured with one 8 minute track on Nacksving's 1977 compilation "Fristil".

from Ensamma Hjärtan

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