ASTON REYMERS RIVALER – Complete albums 1979-1981

While a first glance may not reveal any overt progg credentials, Aston Reymers Rivaler were in fact cut from the same cloth as Peps (especially in his later years), Ronny Åström and Dag Vag. Mixing African influences, reggae and other Caribbean styles with elements of both cajun music and old-timey Swedish dance tunes, it's no wonder that several Dag Vag members occasionally sat in with the band, and that the ever so open-minded Per Tjernberg, fresh from Archimedes Badkar and then known as Per Cussion, was a permanent member for a while. Also, their first two albums were released by Musiklaget, the very same label responsible for Bättre Lyss, Solen Skiner, Underground Failure and other certified proggsters.

Aston Reymers Rivaler were originally a street band, and a continuation of obscure rock outfit Rockslusk who subsequently had two tracks on a Sista Bussen tape compilation entitled ”Mediokra hjärnor” in 1982. Aston Reymers Rivaler released several albums in the 80's, but only the first three fit in with this blog's timeframe.

Från myggjagare till foträta (Musiklaget, 1979)
Swedish lyrics, instrumental
International relevance: *

The debut LP immediately defined Aston Reymers Rivaler's eclectic musical mix and demonstrated their penchant for exuberant tongue-in-cheek performances. But if the humourous element seemed fresh and catchy back in the day, it unfortunately sounds dated today, a bit like those 'funny' hats you see in 40 years old pictures of your parents at parties that seemed cheerful then but cringe-worthy today. Still it has a couple of OK tracks, namely ”Sambo” (although the possibly ironic jungle themed lyrics are relentlessly dated) and the bittersweet instrumental Russian traditional ”Metsäkukkia”. The track ”Bruno och Vera” was chosen for a single and gave the band a minor hit.

Kräål (Musiklaget, 1980)
Swedish lyrics, instrumental
International relevance: *

Second album ”Kräål” (= the word ”creole” with a made-up Swedish spelling) was a bit more polished than its predecessor, but similar in style. The track ”Stockholms ström” was never released as a single, but it quickly became a massive radio success nonetheless. A Swedish cover of Millie's early ska hit ”My Boy Lollipop” entitled ”(Min tjej) Sockertopp” is this album's cringe peak, while their first full-on foray into reggae ”(Vi bygger om) Hela Stockholm” is surprisingly credible with its mild use of dub effects. Fittingly enough, it features Peps on backing vocals, clavinet and tambourine. Thinking of it, it wouldn't have been out of place on Peps' own album ”Spår”.

A non-album single from around this time brought the band another hit, as the anti-nuclear power calypso ”Godis är gott” was released with the March 1980 nuclear power referendum in mind. ”Godis är gott” and ”Stockholms ström” are probably Aston Reymers Rivaler's still best known tracks.

Tvål (Metronome, 1981)
International relevance: *
Swedish vocals, instrumental

For their third album ”Tvål”, the band switched labels from the independent Musiklaget to major label Metronome which may partly explain why it suffers from a duller sound. Also, their patented gumbo of styles began wearing thin at this point. You may not like the first two albums, but they were nevertheless bubbling with joy whereas ”Tvål” sounds predictable and lacklustre. Album opener ”Jakten på amazonkvinnornas guld” is a decent stab at New Orleans rhythm & blues (with some nice harmonica work to boot), but again, the best track is another brooding extended reggae number called ”Det går”.

Från myggjagare till foträta full album playlist
Kräål full album playlist
Tvål full album playlist

VARIOUS ARTISTS - 2 anti-nuclear compilations

It was an era of engagement and activism. You were expected to stand for something, and what people stood for was sometimes good, sometimes not. Standing up for environmental issues was one of the best things you could do – if more people had done it, perhaps we wouldn't be where we are today, with on one hand a scorched earth and on the other a flooded one. The anti-nuclear movement was particularly strong towards the end of the 70's and early 80's, engaging several artists. Two 'no nukes' various artists albums were released, one in 1975 and one in 1980.

Vi kan leva utan kärnkraft (Silence, 1975)

Featured artists: Bernt Staf / Tore Berger / Elektriska Linden / Turid / Roland von Malmborg / Nynningen / Røde Mor / Thomas Wiehe / Thomas Tidholm

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Silence put out this album in 1975, with both label acts and non-Silence artists. All tracks were recorded specifically for the album. Qualitywise it's a bit hit and miss, but stylistically it's surprisingly coherent despite the disparate contributors. The oddest ones out in this predominantly acoustic lot are Røde Mor, actually a Danish band but here augmented by Nynningen's Totta Näslund on vocals. Roland von Malmborg provides "Stoppa all atomkraft", one of his best songs, and Thomas Tidholm's ”Fortsättning följer” is a great and moody way to end the album. 

Nej till kärnkraft! (MNW/Silence, 1979)

Featured artists: Lill Lindfors / Anders Linder / Monica Dominique / Ola Magnell / Marie Bergman / Robert Broberg / Dag Vag / Monica Törnell / Bernt Staf / Lasse Tennander / Hjördis Petterson

 Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

 

A referendum on the future use of nuclear power was held in March 1980. There were three alternatives to vote for. No. 1 was a definite yes to nuclear power, supported by Moderata Samlingspartiet (The Moderate Party, right-wing). No. 2 stood for a slow phase out of nuclear energy, and was supported by Socialdemokraterna (The Social Democratic Party, left-wing) and Folkpartiet (The People's Party, right-wing liberals). No. 3 represented a definite no and wanted a quick stop to the use of nuclear power, and it was supported by Vänsterpartiet Kommunisterna (The Communist Party, left-wing obviously) and Centerpartiet (The Centre Party, right-wing). Alternative no. 2 won but the phasing out still hasn't happened.

A vast number of artists supported the third alternative, and to raise money for the no nukes campaign, the two most notable progg labels MNW and Silence joined forces for a mutual release in 1979, ”Nej till kärnkraft!”. If ”Vi kan leva utan kärnkraft” has a diverse line-up, it's nothing compared to this release. Bringing together mainstream artists such as Lill Lindfors and Marie Bergman, actress Hjördis Petterson who had her heyday in the 1930's-50's, progg singer/songwriters like Bernt Staf and Ola Magnell, the one-of-a-kind visionary Robert Broberg, and jazz singer Monica Dominique (previously in Solar Plexus) to mention but some of the participants sure makes for a spastic listen. Which is not to say it's without merits. Most notably, it has ”Många gånger om”, one of the best track the excellent progg/rock/reggae band Dag Vag ever did. But the album is certainly subordinated to the cause and I can't think of anyone who would actually enjoy it from start to finish.

From Vi kan leva utan kärnkraft

Roland von Malmborg - Stoppa all atomkraft 

Nynningen - Det löser sig 

Thomas Tidholm - Fortsättning följer

Nej till kärnkraft full album playlist

DAG VAG – Complete albums 1979-1983

Dag Vag was one of the bands bridging the declining old and the burgeoning new. They called their music 'trans-continental rock reggae' and that explains their music pretty well. Frontman Stig Vig (real name Per-Åke Odeltorp) was previously known as Per Gud and used to hang around with Träd Gräs &Stenar (TG&S). He recorded several of their gigs and released two TG&S albums on his own Tall label, ”Djungelns lag” and ”Mors mors”. Stig Vig's first band was God's Sideburns which he founded in 1966. He was in several other bands in the early 70's including the music theatre group Blomkraft with members from Archimedes Badkar and TG&S. In 1978, he released the single ”Dimma” as Dag Vag & Svagsinta, a raw and fantastic solo DIY effort with its roots in progg but punk in attitude that eventually led to him forming a full band, keeping the name Dag Vag. In the early 00's, Stig Vig said in an interview that he wanted Dag Vag to be fun and joyful alternative to the increasingly narrow-minded politicized progg, and with consciously simple lyrics.

Dag Vag (Silence, 1979)
Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

 

Already known to Silence Records as the live engineer for Tråd, Gräs Och STenar, it was only natural that Dag Vag scored a deal with the label. The album opens with an excellent cover of ”Sanningens silverflod” from TG&S's green album, and features two more translated covers, The Fugs' ”I Couldn't Get High” (”Jag blev inte hög”) and Bob Dylan's ”Tombstone Blues” (”Snorbloos”). However, the best track on this splendid album is the original number ”Idioterna” that captures the band's 'trans-continental rock reggae' at its best.

First edition was released with clear vinyl. 

Scenbuddism (Silence, 1979)

Swedish vocals, instrumental

International relevance: **

When original guitarist Olsson left (real name Ola Backström, known from albums by Stockholm Norra, Torkel Rasmusson, Tore Berger, Lena Ekman et al), Kenny Håkansson of the recently disbanded Kebnekajse stepped in. His first vinyl appearance with the band (as Beno Zeno) was the live album ”Scenbuddism”. Covers of The Modern Lovers' ”Egyptian Reggae” and a translated ”Wild Thing”, but mostly terrific original material including the classic reggaefied version of ”Dimma” . Håkansson delivers some of his best guitar work ever but perhaps he shines brightest on 8+ minutes closing track ”Tokna & galna”.

Palsternacka (Silence, 1980)
Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

 

Still good but not as consistent as their first two albums. The lovely ”Jag har drömt” has lyrics adapted from Swedish poet Dan Andersson and collectively set to music by the band. Highlights also include ”Rulla på” and ”Lång väg”.

7 lyckliga elefanter (Silence, 1982)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

The weakest of their original early period albums, with too many highlife and new wave influences, including a translated version of Generation X's ”Dancing with Myself” (”Dansar med mej själv”). ”Min pappa” is however brilliant, written by Zilverzurfarn (real name Johan Zachrisson). 

Almanacka (Silence, 1983; recorded 1978-1981)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Dag Vag disbanded in 1983 and released this live compilation as a farewell album, recorded between 1978 and 1981 and including a trippy version of ”Snorbloos” and a very dubby version of ”Tokna & galna”. Also Kenny Håkansson's brilliant and otherwise unavailable ”Om döden”. Features Don Cherry on several tracks. The expanded CD reissue has different cover art:

Dag Vag also released a number of non-album 45's and has a track on the ”Nej till kärnkraft” comp released in 1979, the great original version of ”Många gånger om” (re-recorded in a lesser version for ”7 lyckliga elefanter”). All stray tracks were later added to the CD reissues along with previously unreleased tracks.

The band reunited in the late 80's with several disbandings and reunions following over the years. Stig Vig died in 2012.

Dag Vag full album playlist with bonus tracks
Scenbuddhism full album playlist with bonus tracks
Palsternacka full album playlist with bonus tracks
7 lyckliga elefanter full album playlist with bonus tracks
Almanacka full album playlist with bonus tracks