RONNY ÅSTRÖM – Den ensamma människan (Sonet, 1976) / Hampadängor (Sonet, 1977)

Peps Persson cohort Ronny Åström was involved in board game development for kids in the 60's, and also in children's comics including the Swedish version of Donald Duck. He released only two proper albums, both produced by Peps Persson with Peps Blodsband backing him up. The lyrics are sometimes political but with a humorous twist and sung in Åström's thick Skåne dialect.

Den ensamma människan (Sonet, 1976)

as Ronny Åström med Peps Blodsband

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

”Den ensamma människan” is disarmingly charming but with lyrics of a much greater depth and with far darker serious strains than what the music itself might imply. The album title, ”the lonely human” and track titles such as ”Big Brother is watching you” and ”Why does Noa drink?” give a hint. There's a lot more going on here than what only a slapdash listen reveals. But what would a foreign listener hear? Probably only well played but pedestrian blues and reggae with some old-timey feelgood music in-between. It's the lyrics that really carry it and they're lost on non-Swedes.

Hampadängor (Sonet, 1977)

as Ronny Åström och hela Skånes ljudpark

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

Åström's second album has a not entirely comfortable calypso influence on several tracks. Much too close to Peps Persson's albums with Pelleperssons Kapell, which means this is mostly a terrible album. But one can meditate on whether ”Mäster Felix göingavisa” is a deliberate tribute to Philemon Arthur & The Dung or not. 

After ”Hampadängor”, Ronny Åström retired from music, and kept working in the comics business. He died from cancer in 2002.

Den ensamma människan full album playlist
Hampadängor full album playlist