Monday, September 3, 2018

DAG VAG – Complete albums 1979-1983

Dag Vag was one of the bands bridging the declining old and the burgeoning new. They called their music 'trans-continental rock reggae' and that explains their music pretty well. Frontman Stig Vig (real name Per-Åke Odeltorp) was previously known as Per Gud and used to hang around with Träd Gräs &Stenar (TG&S). He recorded several of their gigs and released two TG&S albums on his own Tall label, ”Djungelns lag” and ”Mors mors”. Stig Vig's first band was God's Sideburns which he founded in 1966. He was in several other bands in the early 70's including the music theatre group Blomkraft with members from Archimedes Badkar and TG&S. In 1978, he released the single ”Dimma” as Dag Vag & Svagsinta, a raw and fantastic solo DIY effort with its roots in progg but punk in attitude that eventually led to him forming a full band, keeping the name Dag Vag. In the early 00's, Stig Vig said in an interview that he wanted Dag Vag to be fun and joyful alternative to the increasingly narrow-minded politicized progg, and with consciously simple lyrics.

Dag Vag (Silence, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
 
Already known to Silence Records as the live engineer for Tråd, Gräs Och STenar, it was only natural that Dag Vag scored a deal with the label. The album opens with an excellent cover of ”Sanningens silverflod” from TG&S's green album, and features two more translated covers, The Fugs' ”I Couldn't Get High” (”Jag blev inte hög”) and Bob Dylan's ”Tombstone Blues” (”Snorbloos”). However, the best track on this splendid album is the original number ”Idioterna” that captures the band's 'trans-continental rock reggae' at its best.

First edition was released with clear vinyl. 

Scenbuddism (Silence, 1979)
Swedish vocals, instrumental
International relevance: **

When original guitarist Olsson left (real name Ola Backström, known from albums by Stockholm Norra, Torkel Rasmusson, Tore Berger, Lena Ekman et al), Kenny Håkansson of the recently disbanded Kebnekajse stepped in. His first vinyl appearance with the band (as Beno Zeno) was the live album ”Scenbuddism”. Covers of The Modern Lovers' ”Egyptian Reggae” and a translated ”Wild Thing”, but mostly terrific original material including the classic reggaefied version of ”Dimma” . Håkansson delivers some of his best guitar work ever but perhaps he shines brightest on 8+ minutes closing track ”Tokna & galna”.

Palsternacka (Silence, 1980)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
 
Still good but not as consistent as their first two albums. The lovely ”Jag har drömt” has lyrics adapted from Swedish poet Dan Andersson and collectively set to music by the band. Highlights also include ”Rulla på” and ”Lång väg”.

7 lyckliga elefanter (Silence, 1982)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

The weakest of their original early period albums, with too many highlife and new wave influences, including a translated version of Generation X's ”Dancing with Myself” (”Dansar med mej själv”). ”Min pappa” is however brilliant, written by Zilverzurfarn (real name Johan Zachrisson). 

Almanacka (Silence, 1983; recorded 1978-1981)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

Dag Vag disbanded in 1983 and released this live compilation as a farewell album, recorded between 1978 and 1981 and including a trippy version of ”Snorbloos” and a very dubby version of ”Tokna & galna”. Also Kenny Håkansson's brilliant and otherwise unavailable ”Om döden”. Features Don Cherry on several tracks. The expanded CD reissue has different cover art:


Dag Vag also released a number of non-album 45's and has a track on the ”Nej till kärnkraft” comp released in 1979, the great original version of ”Många gånger om” (re-recorded in a lesser version for ”7 lyckliga elefanter”). All stray tracks were later added to the CD reissues along with previously unreleased tracks.

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