REKYL – Rekyl (Manifest, 1976) / I himlen är det för sent (Manifest, 1979) / Vi blir aldrig som ni vill (Manifest, 1980)

Rekyl was an important part of the Northern Luleå scene. Apart from being a much appreciated band in their own right, their members participated in other projects such as Anton Svedbergs Swängjäng and Vi Var Tolv Man I Laget, and helping Tomas Forssell out on his ”Ingenting står stilla” album, and Ted Ström on his ”Kärva lägen”.

Rekyl (Manifest, 1976)

International relevance: *

Swedish vocals

Rekyl appeared as a fully fledged band already on their maiden work. Blues based rock with an obvious Rolling Stones bent (not only because of their Swedish take on ”Street Fighting Man”, ”Slagskämpens sång”) with political and sometimes very graphic lyrics. I'm sure it helps getting along with Rekyl if you're a Stones fan. Which I'm not, so the best tracks to me are ”Mardröm” (more progg than Stones) and the melancholy album closer ”Grå grönska”. Great cover art though!

I himlen är det för sent (Manifest, 1979)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

The second album follows along the tracks of the first, with more Stones infused rock, only a little tighter production-wise with horns added to ”Låt dom inte få dej” and ballads ”Då behöver jag dej” and ”Vi behöver dina ögon”. Tight playing and often well written lyrics. I can understand how this appeal to a lot of people but the album fails to move me. 

Vi blir aldrig som ni vill (Manifest, 1980)

International relevance: *

Swedish vocals

The horns introduced on ”I himlen är det för sent” come further up on Rekyl's final album for Manifest. Rolf Hedberg's sax has a strong Clarence Clemons vibe, pushing tracks like ”Arbeta hårt” and ”Gasen i botten” closer to Bruce Springsteen than the Stones. I don't consider that as a problem per se, but there's something about ”Vi blir aldrig som ni” that makes it the weakest of the band's Manifest albums. There's still some good lyric work going on here but the bigger production makes the songs unnecessarily fluffy. 

Following ”Vi blir aldrig som ni”, Rekyl signed with the Frituna label and released live album ”Levande i Luleå” plus two 45's on the same label. They're also featured on ”Norrbottenplattan 2", ”Tonkraft 1977-78”. A 1975 radio recording can be found in the ”Progglådan” box set.

Rekyl full album playlist
I himlen är det för sent full album playlist
Vi blir aldrig som ni vill full album playlist

Tonkraft 1975 full album playlist (tracks 1-10)