GRUS I DOJJAN – Friska grustag (Sonet, 1976) / Efter kaffet (Amalthea, 1981)

 
Swedish vocals, English vocals, a cappella, instrumental
International relevance: *

Grus I Dojjan were a band of surprising longevity. Formed in 1970, their album debut came the following year which kicked off a ten year long career on record. They existed much longer than that but didn't release another album until 2002. Also, they backed Thomas Wiehe on his 1980 album ”Fågeln i mej” under the moniker Hullimullan Band.

I've reviewed Grus I Dojjan's other albums before, and these two LPs are the last remaining to appear on Swedish Progg Blog (unless they release a 10 CD box set of previously unreleased private tapes...). There's nothing I can say about them I haven't already said before. It's goodtime music, a cheerful mix of old Swedish dance tunes, various country music styles including bluegrass, and Irish folk. All their albums are basically interchangeable; they remained true to their style over the years, and if you like it you like it, but I don't.

I can just add that ”Friska grustag” (with a nice looking sleeve) was recorded live which was the perfect setting possible for the band, and that ”Efter kaffet” was their last album from the original era. ”Efter kaffet” actually has the best track I've ever heard from them, ”Rakkniven”. It's a genuinely great track; dark, doomlaiden and paranoid – completely unexpected coming from Grus I Dojjan! Too bad it took them ten years to come up with something on that level.

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THOMAS WIEHE & HULLIMULLAN BAND – Fågeln i mej (Silence, 1980)

 
Swedish vocals, instrumental
International relevance: *

One of Thomas Wiehe's later albums recorded with backing group Hullimullan Band which is Grus I Dojjan in disguise. They're better here than on their own albums, but don't sit too well with Wiehe's songs and vocal style though. He often sounds a bit lost among all the instruments. It's not unlikely that he got a few of the ideas from The Incredible String Band's last few albums – ”Fågeln i mej” sometimes sounds like what Mike Heron's ISB songs from the 70s would have sounded like with Robin Williamson singing them. The best selection here is by far the brooding, country flavoured title track which could have been a good one by Wiehe's brother Mikael. A quite tasty number that clearly outshine everything else on the album.

Full album playlist 

GRUS I DOJJAN – I klackbaren (Metronome, 1978)

Swedish vocals, other languages, instrumental
International relevance: -

Just another Grus I Dojjan album. The only thing that differs their later albums from the earlier is that the later ones are better recorded. Other than that, it's the same cheerful, good-timey folk/bluegrass fare as always. The skewed ”Tokfans polska” is a bit fun though with the deliberate off-key playing that will surely drive some people nuts.

But whar's Jeff Lynne doing in cover shot???

Full album playlist

GRUS I DOJJAN – Slarvigt men säkert (Sonet, 1974) / Högt spel (Sonet, 1975)

Swedish vocals, English vocals
International relevance: *

Third and fourth album by Grus I Dojjan, previously featured on the blog with their debut album. These albums are simply more of the same: cheerful mix of old-timey Western folk traditions including Great Britiain, America and Sweden, performed in a devil-may-care fashion. ”Slarvigt men säkert” translates to ”sloppy but surely” which is the best description of Grus I Dojjan you'll ever see. ”Högt spel” is a little more professional sounding which in a way contradicts Grus I Dojjan's homegrown nimbus. If you're one of the two last people (there can't be any more than that left) who still absolutely love this style, you'll love these albums too. 

Slarvigt men säkert full album
Högt spel full album playlist

GRUS I DOJJAN – Spelar hullimullan (Playback, 1972)

Swedish vocals, English vocals, instrumental

International relevance: *

 

Grus I Dojjan's goodtime mix of country, bluegrass, Irish, Scottish and Swedish folk was rather popular in Sweden in the 70's, but they should be regarded as a parenthetical inclusion here as they were more progg in attitude in style (”Hey, I know how to play and sing – neither can I but it's fun!”). They made eight albums up until 1981 (and a one-off album in 2002). This live album is their first and may appeal to fans of Euskefeurat, Sjön Suger and moonshine. If coloured vinyl interests you, then you can get this one in at least three different colours. But the music doesn't sound any better on any of them...

Later albums followed the same musical pattern. The band is still active.

Full album playlist