SPJÄRNSVALLET – Spjärnsvallet (MNW, 1976)

Instrumental

International relevance: ***

Ranked #19 on the blog's Top 25

Why this isn't considered a stone cold classic is beyond me, a power meeting with saxophonist Christer Bothén, drummer Bengt Berger, bassist Nikke Ström and everythingist Kjell Westling. Breeding eruptive free jazz with reflective and ethnically coloured music, ”Spjärnsvallet” sounds like a blend of Archimedes Badkar, early Arbete & Fritid and Berger & Westling's ”Spelar”. The playing is intuitive but structured and tight like a sailor's knot, the music is forceful yet lyrical, violent yet serene. Whoever keeps this album from being properly reissued will have a rough time on judgement day.

Thankfully, there's another album to satisfy at least some of the desperate need for a reiusse. ”Again & Again” (Country & Eastern, 2014) is a mix of outtakes from the original sessions and newly recorded tracks and believe me, those recordings are absolutely excellent and essential stuff.

The original Spjärnsvallet broke up shortly after the debut album was released. Bengt Berger took off for Ghana. After his return, Spjärnsvallet reunited (sans Nikke Ström, plus Sigge Krantz) for an album with Bella Ciao/Låt & Trall singer Fred Lane entitled ”Till soluppgång och till lycka” (Krokben, 1982).

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