International relevance: ***
Instrumental, Swedish vocals
Ranked #13 on the blog's Top 25
Nya Ljudbolaget's name means ”The New
Sound Company” in English and implies there was an old Sound
Company too and there was. Before the late and sorely missed cellist
Ove Karlsson joined Arbete & Fritid, that was his band. With
Arbete & Fritid's last album ”Håll andan” being released in
1979, Karlsson was free to resurrect his old outfit, now with Samla Mammas Manna drummer/percussionist Hans Bruniusson, Samla relative Kalle Eriksson
on trumpet, saxophonist Ulf Wallander (Ramlösa Kvällar, Samla
Mammas Manna, Renhjärta et al), and on one track, Marie Selander on
vocals.
”Nya Ljudbolaget” is like an
extension of late era Arbete & Fritid, with a drone foundation
supporting the sometimes Eastern, sometimes Swedish sounding
melodies. But the album has more on offer than just that; "Chal Chal Chal" and the
three-part suite ”Cellohalling/Putenska marschen/Ramlösa mammas
fritid” have a strong air of Samla Mammas Manna and other RIO bands;
”Continuum Prometheus” is Terry Riley styled minimalism, while
”Minnesvisa” sounds like an old mournful Swedish folk song (but
isn't). The entire album is wrapped in a dark kind of shimmer,
wonderfully evocative, and should be considered mandatory by Arbete &
Fritid fans, particularly those with an admiration for their later
post-Roland Keijser period.
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