Fiendens Musik were one of the finest groups to bridge progg and punk in a time when genres blurred. Centered around singer Mats Zetterberg, they released two albums but also several singles with non-album tracks/takes.
”En spark rätt i skallen” appeared as one of the key tracks on the ”Fiendens Musik” LP in 1979, but this is an earlier, rawer take. It's more desperate than the album version which suits the song's lyrics against senseless street violence perfectly. A great song in its best version! The B side is a Swedish version of Iggy Pop's ”The Passenger”, not as great as the A side but amusing and charmingly semi-chaotic.
Recorded late 1978 and released early
1979. ”Pappa har alltid haft rätt” is co-written by Zetterberg
and Lars ”Ferne” Fernebring (Risken Finns), and an early example
of Zetterberg's knack for engaged storytelling (this time about the
generation gap) with suitably pissed-off vocals and a great use of
Mats Bäcker's sax -- always crucial to Fiendens Musik's trademark
sound. ”Tredje tåget” is a straightforward rock track in a
Stonesy pub rock vein with rough edges. The title was later recycled
for Mats Zetterberg's record label Tredje Tåget.
English language versions of two tracks
otherwise found on the debut album. ”A Boot Right In The Face”
doesn't work quite as good as ”En spark rätt i skallen”, while
”Goalgetter” is actually better than the Swedish equivalent
”Kulan i luften”. Originally intended for a British release, the
single got stuck in the archives until 2014 when finally released on
Slyngel Rekords, a Swedish label specializing in 45s with unreleased
material by domestic punk bands.
International relevance: **
A slightly more polished outing from
Fiendens Musik compared to their earlier singles, with two pretty
catchy tracks ”Moderata brudar” and ”Slutna sällskap” as the
main attraction. The most interesting track though is the third one,
the semi-instrumental ”Arabisk bonus”, an oddly jouncing number
with loads of echoed sax. An atypical Fiendens track but an odd
favourite of mine.
Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***
”Musik mot gryningen” is probably the most sophisticated track by Fiendens Musik with a slightly snaky melody and an unsettling mood underscored by Bäcker's nervy sax. A great one and a pity it was their swansong (not counting reunions). B side ”Stadsbo” is a humorous upbeat track, more of a throwaway compared to the brilliant A side.
En spark rätt i skallen full single playlist
Pappa har alltid haft rätt full single playlist
A Boot Right In The Fave full single
Moderata brudar full single
Musik mot gryningen full single