
UPPÅT VÄGGARNA – Jag hatar politik / Jag färdas (Efel, 1971)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***
One
of the best Swedish heavy rock singles ever! No wonder
originals are dead expensive. ”Jag hatar politik” was also on the
third volume of ”Who Will Buy These Wonderful Evils” as well as
”The Essence Of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979”, the 4CD box
set released in conjunction with Tobias Peterson's progg
encyclopedia. But the B side is almost as good with an inescapable
riff and great soloing. Thankfully, the single was reissued in 2022
by Regain Records as a 12”. Not only that, Regain also unearthed
two previously unreleased tracks, doubling Uppåt Väggarna's
frustratingly slim discography. The two ”new” tracks, one sung in
English, are from a radio session, and while the second of those
aren't up to snuff, it's great seeing them out. Let's hope someone
will find more archival material soon – Subliminal Sounds?
Another classic single and another ”Who Will Buy
These Wonderful Evils, Vol III” selection, namely ”Help Me”.
It's a decent track, not on the same level as Uppåt Väggarna, but
it's better than the unnecessary and pretty tame Deep Purple cover
”Into The Fire” on the flip.
If After Life found their inspiration in Deep Purple, then Malmö's Zane are closer to Black Sabbath. With their seedy underground vibe, both tracks were comped on different volumes in the often great ”Brown Acid” series successfully exhuming obscure raw and rare hard rock singles from near and far. Both tracks are good, especially ”Step Aside”. A third track was recorded in 1980 and released on ”Vykort från Malmö”, an Amalthea V/A compilation of wildly disparate bands. The song, ”Malmö City”, shows a Zane then a wee bit closer to punk. Still OK though.
Baron Bult
came from Stockkholm but sounds more like a Gothenburg band. ”75
ton stål” has some heavy aspirations but is essentially just dull
rock typical to the turn of the decade. The B side is too close to
youth center disco. It's not particularly expensive but I wouldn't
pay even a small sum for it. They had another single out on RCA
Victor in 1980 before fading into well-deserved obscurity. Prior to
Baron Bult, main man Peter Wartin made an album with Claes
Nordenskiöld in 1978, also on private label PETCLA.
E.F. Band, where E stands for bassist Pär Ericsson and F
stands for guitarist/singer Bengt Fisher, became a rather successful
band with some longevity, releasing three albums and as many singles
during their lifetime. They were part of the FWOSHM, i.e. The First
Wave Of Swedish Heavy Metal, the domestic equivalent to NWOBHM, the
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Only their debut 45 ”Night Angel”
is remotely relevant to this blog, simply because it's a pretty
effective track with an unexepected almost-Hawkwind drive to it. B
side ”Another Day Gone” isn't too exciting though.
Released on Ulf Bejerstrand's
Grisbäck label, a fact that should put you off immediately. ”This Is Life!” is a clumsy attempt at hard rock
with faint punk elements. B side ”Wagabond” seems to aim for a more
progressive style with tempo changes that they handle with the same
elegance as if they were a poo snake in their hands. Terrible.

TIDEN LIDER / IMPULS – Norrland Export / Andetag (Manifest, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
A split single on the Northern Manifest
label. ”Norrland Export” by Tiden Lider is a rather ambitious
track perfectly ruined by Helena Tewolde Berhan's painfully piercing
vocals. She sounds like Savage Rose's Anisette on 78 rpm. ”Andetag”
by Impuls may or may not have a Pink Floyd influence, depending on
what you're references are. Non-descript vocals are a relief after
Tewolde Berhan's ear assault, but the entire track is uninteresting
with an overlong guitar solo that leads nowhere.
Somewhat
expensive 45, possibly because of the guitar playing which probably
is the best thing about it. The A side is an anti-police brutality
statement with clichés well-known from a plethora of punk songs of
the same era. ”Morgontankar” is a kind of a ballad which is
better than ”Samma batonger” but still not very good. An album's worth of 1978-80 material, some of it better than the 45, has been added to the
single on guitarist Hans Hogedahl's Youtube channel. The band came
from Kungälv outside Gothenburg.
An extremely rare three-track EP with an adolescent take on punk inclined hard rock/heavy metal but not without progressive touches. Title track ”Plugget” is a hate song to school and the weakest song on the seven-inch. ”Tåget” is pretty effective with a couple of tempo changes which is a far cry from anything Yes plus an endearingly bad guitar solo. Best track is the 6/8 instrumental ”Blackout”. Not for everyone but I find it all pretty charming. Reissued with new cover art in 2021 by Swedish reissue label On The Dole Records.

CHRISTER NAHRENDORF
Sju minuter kvar (Återblick på år 2003.2) / En existensiell blues (Musiklaget, 1978)
Då e're alright / Hard Rock (Metronome, 1982)
Solen Skiner frontman
Christer Nahrendorf made three solo singles between 1978 and 1986.
None of these two here is that interesting but ”Sju minuter kvar”
and ”En existensiell blues” both have a a slight symphonic vibe
to them that might attract some listeners. At least if you can stand
Nahrendorf reciting the dystopic lyrics of ”Sju minuter kvar”.
His
second single has back-up band Hårt Regn (=”hard rain”) and is
entirely ignorable. ”Då e're alright” sounds like a blatant
attempt to get airplay. The B side's ”Hard Rock” in turn sounds
like a parody ot exactly that.
Baron Bult full single
E.F. Band full single playlist
The Wagabond full single
Tiden Lider - Norrland Export
Impuls - Andetag
Tonvikt full single playlist + bonus
Frozen Fire full single playlist
Uppåt Väggarna full single playlist + bonus tracks (Bandcamp)
Vampa full single playlist (Bandcamp)
After Life:
Help Me
Into The Fire
Zane:
Step Aside
Damage
Christer Nahrendorf:
Sju minuter kvar / En existensiell blues full single playlist
Då e're alright / Hard Rock full single playlist
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