Instrumental, Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***
After the tour for Samla Mammas Manna's
Greg FitzPatrick composed ”Snorungarnas symfoni” released in
1976, the band took a break which led to guitarist Coste Apetrea
leaving the band. As influential as he was to Samla's style, it was
inevitable that their sound would change with him out of the group.
Eino Haapala filled the void, and as the band took on a more
improvisational approach, they also changed the spelling of their
name to Zamla Mammaz Manna. The first album released as such was the
confused double set ”Schlagerns mystik/För äldre nybegynnare”,
and it wasn't until 1980's ”Familjesprickor” that the new line-up
had matured. By then, drummer Hans Bruniusson had left as well – he
appears only briefly on ”Familjesprickor”, with Vilgot Hansson
now mainly handling the drum sticks.
Zamla Mammaz Manna soon became a vital
part of the Henry Cow initiated Rock in Opposition movement, and
”Familjesprickor” shares some features with for example Belgian
RIO outfit Univers Zéro. While their music still had some of the
energetic playfulness that made the earlier Samla Mammas Manna
favourites among some, the album revealed new and darker
undercurrents. The music sounds threatening even in its most cheerful
moments, as if it leans towards the listener slightly from above,
mouth half open as about to tell you something unsettling or simply
chew you up.
If you ignore the fact that
”Familjesprickor” pretty much is a different band and count
Samla, Zamla and later Von Zamla as one, the album comes in as second best after their brilliant eponymous 1971 debut album.
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