MÖGEL – Mögel (Slick, MLP 1981)

Swedish vocals
International relevance **

Avid readers probably know that I'm quite fond of those bands that walk the thin line between progg and punk. A line much thinner than general consensus usually admits – I insist that the two genres have much more in common than they do separating them. This subgenre has no real name, sometimes it's simply referered to as 'prog punk', but somebody suggested 'pronk' but I pray that word won't ever catch on...

Mögel (not to be confused with any other band by that name) was one of the bands that crossed punk's energy with proggish ambitions. Beginning in 1978 in Stockholm suburb Farsta, they kept going for about five years (unless you count their recent reunion) and was a pioneering outfit with an all female line-up. Although I never felt the need to distinguish female bands from male bands – it's all music no matter what gender you are – it was still not that common in those male dominated years. They navigated the same area as the aforementioned Kräldjursanstalten and Boojwah Kids, taking cues from Captain Beefheart's angularity as much as they did from the then current punk and burgeoning post punk scenes. Imagine a mix of Beefheart and UK do-it-yourselfers The Raincoats and you're nearly there.

As promising as it may sound, Mögel lacked the necessary musical efficiency and skills to convincingly pull itoff. They aimed far too high: their 'complicated' songs sounded clumsy and awkward. Their more straightforward tracks suited them better, simply because those didn't demand the same level of proficiency. But, and this is important, despite their obvious shortcomings, they had something that's hard to dismiss categorically. Amongst the squeaks and yelps and rickety arrangements, Mögel put forth an endearing lot of energy and honest intentions. They meant what they were doing, and while it's sometimes eargrating, their music is often oddly touching. Yes, they failed in their ambitions but they did puzzlingly successful. I don't necessarily like them, but I still can't stop listening to them once I put on their album.

Which in fact isn't an album, but a six-track 45 rpm EP. Much later, in 2003, it was expanded to twice its original length for the belated CD reiusse retitled ”1978-1983”. Contradictive as it may seem, the added material consisting of demos, live recordings and rare tracks previously only available on a hard-to-find various artists cassette-only compilation, present the band in a wider scope and slightly more beneficial multifaceted light.

Mögel were certainly an acquired taste, and while some will never acquire that particular taste, others will find it an interesting and/or annoying listen if you're in the mood for it. It's also like a time capsule, a snapshot of what might be the only time in history when a band like this was not only allowed to have their music out but also managed to gain positive attraction from both the audience and the media. The music movement's own periodical Musikens Makt even ran a feature on them in 1980.

Full album playlist (expanded reissue)