Centered around poet and former jazz
musician Jacques Werup, the group Storm was preceded by his
collaboration with saxophonist Frans Sjöström,
Werup-Sjöströmgruppen. They made their vinyl debut with as
Werup-Sjöströmkvartetten on ”Club Jazz 1”. a split album with
Nils Lindberg in 1970. Werner-Sjöströmgruppen's first and only
album came three years later with ”Makten och härligheten”,
disbanded soon after, with Jacques Werup forming the progressive
Storm.
Makten och härligheten (Sonet, 1973)
Werup-Sjöströmgruppen
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
Jacques Werup is involved as a songwriter in seven of
the thirteen tracks on ”Makten och härligheten”, providing lyrics to
five of them. The jazz is still there of course, but the arrangements
are varied, some of them utilizing a string quartet and some
revealing a cabaret influence. Unfortunately, the histrionic and
pretentious vocals (sometimes with a squeak not unlike Swedish 80's
pop star Tomas Di Leva) ruin what could possibly have been a better
album without them. Artwork by painter Ola Billgren.
Stormvarning (Harvest, 1974)
Swedish vocals, other languages
Swedish vocals, other languages
International relevance: ***
Storm was very different to
Werup-Sjöströmgruppen, with their music taking cues from prog, jazz,
experimental and Moody Blues' soft symph. ”Stormvarning”
occasionally reminds me of Samla Mammas Manna in approach bit not
sound. The album is full of ideas presented in an imaginative way
that's hard to describe. Not a great album but interesting enough to
hear at least once.
Storm at the Top (Harvest, 1975)
English vocals
International relevance: ***
After their quirky debut, Storm
suddenly went for a more 60's inspired sound, with English lyrics and
pop melodies filtered through perhaps The Sensational Alex Harvey
Band, Cockney Rebel, and early David Bowie? It's a much weaker outing
than ”Stormvarning”, and although Storm tries to put a personal
spin to it, it sounds derivative and fake.
Casanova in Mjölby (Harvest, 1977)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***
For their third album, Storm changed
their style again with a new rhythm section inherited from Lotus.
”Casanova in Mjölby” is a concept album (in short, the story
tells the story of seducer Casanova turning up in small Swedish town
Mjölby – phew...). The music is like a mix of their first two
albums, melodic but progressive. It's better than the inferior ”Storm
at the Top” but sillier than than ”Stormvarning”. Great cover art though.
Storm was obviously a band full of
ideas but not all of them were very good. The initial appeal of some
of what they did wears off after a few listens. ”Stormvarning” is
their best, but while not very expensive, I advise you to listen
before you buy. Several former Storm members continued making music
in various contexts; Werup released several albums under his own
name and kept writing books up until his death in 2016.
Stormvarning full album playlist
Stormvarning full album playlist
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