International relevance: *
Hyper-leftist label Oktober, home to Fria Proteatern and other similar
nincompoops as well as being responsible for a number of unlistenable
fistwaving various artists compilations, released Kenneth
Thorstensson's only album. As a singer, his talents are limited –
to put it politely. He sings in the Värmland dialect with an
annoying vocal style that's oddly shouty with a monotonous kind of
timbre. He's backed by musicans from Södra Bergens Balalaikor and
Opponer which imemediately gives away that the music is in a sort of
folky style. Some songs have a cabaret touch which doesn't help its
case. Most songs are Thorstensson penned, either entirely or in
collaboration with others, but he borrows a traditional song as well
as defaming John Fogerty with ”Vi gir aldri åpp”, an embarrasing
translation of Creedence Clearwater Revival's ”Have You Ever Seen
the Rain?”. Hearing it, I'd rather ask ”Have You Ever Felt the
Pain?” because this is seriously painful to endure. Hopefully you haven't.
When Thorstensson turns to yodeling on
side 2, I just fall down dead with shame on his behalf.
Thorstensson
later founded (the better) Arvika Gammeldansorkester.
A curious footnote: Robert Aschberg took some of the pictures used for the album cover. Aschberg later
became known as a provocative talk show host and is still known as an outspoken media personality. In the 70's, he was involved in the leftist circuits. Later he explained it was because they had the prettiest girls.
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