Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: **/*
In retrospect, Mixed Media's biggest
claim to fame is probably having Lena Olin in the line-up before she
became a world famous actress with movies like ”The Unbearable
Lightness of Being”, ”Chocolat” and ”The Ninth Gate” under
her belt. But Mixed Media deserve better than being reduced to a
Hollywood anecdote at best, at least as far as their debut album
goes.
Unlike a couple of other all-female
outfits of the era – most notably Röda Bönor – Mixed Media
never took a confrontational feminist stance although they touched on
themes like prostitution on their 1978 eponymous debut LP. Their
lyrics are usually mildly poetic everyday observations accentuated by
their multi-part West Coast infused harmonies and melodies that at
times are reminiscent of Turid and at times are decidedly folk
inspired, such as the beautiful and melancholy ”Önskan” (a poem by Swedish poet Karin Boye set to music by band member Ingagill Persson) off
their debut album (further enhanced by sensitive flute playing).
Notable contributors to ”Mixed
Media's” delicate sound include multi-instrumentalists Gisen
Malmqvist and omnipresent folk musician Ale Möller. Also featured is
blues and reggae icon Peps Persson, adding harmonica to ”Uppbrott”.
Mixed Media's second and final album
was recorded in concert in Gothenburg 1979 and appropriately entitled
”Levande” (”Alive”). Sorry to say, the delicacy that made
Mixed Media's first effort as pleasing as it is is pretty much lost
on stage. The version of the Billie Holiday chestnut ”Good Morning
Heartache” is pointless, but the biggest problem with ”Levande”
is that the band relies too much on almost showlike numbers with a
'humourous' twist that probably worked better in the original live
setting than the earlier softspoken songs would have done. The
jauntiness is the main reason why ”Levande” is such a
disappointing album.
from Mixed Media
Önskan
Önskan
Levande no links found
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