MERSMAK – Liten groda i stor damm (Frog, 1978)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

An unexciting predominantly mellow folk rock Kalmar outfit with a slight British vibe. Several singers, with the female vocals reminding me The Incredible String Band's Licorice McKechnie and Rose Simpson, That is not meant as praise.

But at least the soft folk rock of limited suffiency is easier to accept than Mersmak's very annoying habit of tossing rock pastiches and mock blues into the mix, sometimes in the middle of a song of a completely different nature. That's when I want to throw my hifi system out of the window. A pity, because ”Liten groda i stor damm” does have some pleasant features such as the occasional use of cello and a sometimes promising atmosphere. But promises are worth zilch unless they're fulfilled, and Mersmak repeteadly fails to fulfill them.

They also had a non-album 1978 single out on their private Frog label. Guitarist Dan Jonsson joined Ragnarök in the 80's and has appeared in different constellations since.

Full album

KUNG TUNG – Kung Tung på ”Redit”! (Ljudcenter Recordings, 1977) / Det är ett kort liv – det är våra liv! (MNW, 1978) / Demos och live 1974-1975 (Plätt, 1995)

Ulf Bejerstrand's original band Kung Tung was better than his solo albums but that doesn't say much. Then again, he was only the bass player – main songwriter and singer was Thomas Svensson (later Stålberg) and that probably saved Kung Tung from the worst Bejerstrand facepalm embarassments. Still they were a pretty crappy band, aiming at an Ensamma Hjärtan kind of satire but ending up with more attitude than substance where Ensamma Hjärtan had both. 

Kung Tung på ”Redit”! (Ljudcenter Recordings, 1977)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

”På 'Redit'!” was recorded live with inferior sonics to match the equally insufficient quality of their punky blues rock stumblings through original material and translated covers by Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and Eddie Cochran. Plus one Gudibrallan cover. Excessively boring.

Det är ett kort liv – det är våra liv! (MNW, 1978)
Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

 

After their self-released debut, Kung Tung hooked up a deal with MNW, releasing ”Det är ett kort liv – det är våra liv!” in 1978. It obviously helped them direct their energy into something a little more consistent. But they're still as dull as watching an old bicycle rust. Peter Bryngelsson's guitar playing is good though but one wonders why he hung around with these nincompoops when he already had his own outfit, the initially magnificent Ragnarök.

Demos och live 1974-1987 (MC, Plätt, 1995)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

A self-released cassette compilation of previously unreleased archival recordings, including some made right at the beginning of Kung Tung's career. The early tracks are in a sound quality's just below basement level. The music's as lousy as usual. For Kung Tung completists only (if there are any).

2001 career overview ”Imperfekt” has a couple of non-album tracks including Kung Tung's only really good recording, their cover of Thomas Tidholm's ”Två blodröda segel” (originally on Hot Boys' ”Varma smörgåsar”).

Kung Tung disbanded in 1980, but had a continuation of sorts in Thomas Svensson/Stålberg formed Prins Lätt in the late 80's. Kung Tung reunited in 2013 and released a comeback album in 2014, ”Längre bort på livets väg”.

From Det är ett kort liv, det är våra liv

Fotogen

Du är min korvkiosk

The Arbetslös Blues

Tevelåten

Sa du nåt?

Dröm eller verklighet

Varm snö - Ge mig ett glas vatten

Marlon Brando

På "Redit"! and Demos och live 1974-1987 no links found

RAGNARÖK – Ragnarök (Silence, 1976) / Fjärilar i magen (Silence, 1979) / Fata Morgana (Silence, 1981)

Like Kung Tung, Ragnarök came from Kalmar (Ragnarök guitarist Peter Bryngelsson has played in both bands) but their sound is vastly different, with the latter at best creating a web of lyricism and introspective mystery. They were founded in 1972, turned professional in 1975 and appeared at Alternativfestivalen, the protest manifestation against the Eurovision Song Contest that year.

Ragnarök (Silence, 1976)

Instrumental

International relevance ***

 

This is a thing of beauty, different in style but related in mood to Bo Hansson's albums post ”Sagan om ringen”. ”Ragnarök” floats in a beautiful mind sphere, with lightly soaring guitars and transparent flute leading the way to inner paths through sunlit birches and beeches. A tranquil excitement permeates the album, and the effect is soothing but never in a cheap new age kind of way. Instead: dreamlike, with lovely colours infused by a sense of sweet synaesthetic hyperreality Evocative.

Fjärilar i magen (Silence, 1979)

Instrumental

International relevance: ***

After the elevated beauty of ”Ragnarök”, the band returned with ”Fjärilar i magen” and an opening track to tear you right out of the relaxed state of their debut album. ”Adrenalin” sounds like something out of King Crimson's oeuvre circa 1973. Actually a reference valid to the rest of the album as well – it's much heavier than their previous release. Sometimes ”Fjärilar i magen” makes me think of what Kebnekajse could have been like had they been closer to prog rock than folk rock. Even the softer parts of ”Fjärilar i magen” have a greater density than the lucid debut album. A very good album, although not as captivating as their debut.

Fata Morgana (Silence, 1981)

Instrumental

International relevance: ***

Two years further away from ”Ragnarök” and the sound has become even more prog rock with more instruments, including synthesizers and saxophones. There are even some fusion moves to drag ”Fata Morgana” down below the usual Ragnarök level. It's OK for a 1981 release, but after one excellent album and one very good one, this is ultimately disappointing.

Ragnarök made another album for Silence in 1983, the partially vocal ”3 Signs” (steer clear of that one!) before disbanding in 1984. They have reunited several times after that, and are currently active. They've released several albums after their reunion. Selections from two Tonkraft shows for Swedish Radio were released as part of ”Progglådan”, and there are at least four Tonkraft sessions of various length from 1974 to 1981.

Ragnarök full album playlist

Fjärilar i magen full album playlist

from Fata Morgana
Fata Morgana 

Midvinterblot II
Eskapage