LASSE ENGLUND – Den andra depressionen (Alternativ, 1977)

 
Swedish vocals, instrumental
International relevance: **

Lasse Englund's second and final album for Kjell Höglund's Alternativ imprint, following two years after his lovely debut ”Drakväder”. During that time, Englund broadened his musical palette, adding influences from African and Caribbean music, rock, jazz, and contemporary singer/songwriters to the folk baroque stylings that made ”Drakväder” such a sweet and delicate album. It's an admittedly more diverse album, which is another way of saying less focused. I really appreciate Englund as an acoustic guitarist steeped in the tradition of the great British fingerpickers, and while there are a couple of short examples of that on ”Den andra depressionen”, they're too few and far inbetween. Englund is neither the most distinctive songwriter (or cover chooser), nor the most engaging singer, so leaving his strictly instrumental work for songs with vocals isn't his best move for a winsome record. ”Den andra depressionen” is nice and pleasant but forgettable.

Worth noting is that Kjell Höglund wrote lyrics to four of the songs, while Turid provides backing vocals to one track.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS - 3 x Tonkraft

Before there was ”Progglådan” and before there was a Mellotronen label raiding the Swedish Radio archives for other previously unreleased live tapes by notable bands, there was ”Tonkraft – Levande musik från Sverige”, three double LP volumes of Swedish bands recorded for the Tonkraft radio show that ran from 1971 to 1980. (It was preceded by another show, Midnight Hour.) All in excellent sound quality, the first volume covered 1972-74, the second 1975-76, and the third one 1977-78, all of them with a number of bands featured with one track each. Today the 'one band, one song' format is antiquated with the demand for preferably complete sessions, but the Tonkraft albums were long the only place to go if you wanted more progg than what was available on the artists' original albums and singles.

Despite that the 40CD ”Progglådan” box set contains many of the recordings from the original ”Tonkraft” albums, they aren't entirely redundant since they still feature recordings not available elsewhere. Also, there are a couple of bands here that never released any discs of their own, or bands that at least were underrepresented on vinyl back in the day, such as Plus Gäster, Kolossos Sandaler, Doggers Bankar, Kapten Krok, and Harem to mention a few. Also, some of the better known artists have tracks here not on any of their regular releases, among them Anna Själv Tredje, Mikael Ramel, Mount Everest, Berits Halsband, Elda Med Höns and Ensamma Hjärtan.

Taken together, the three 2LP's work as a quick (i.e. not sufficiently representative) 'here and now' (or now, rather a 'there and then') guide to what the music movement and progg had to offer.

Tonkraft – Levande musik från Sverige 1972-74 (Tonkraft, released 1980)

Featured artists: Peps Bluesband / Pugh & Nature / Hoola Bandoola Band / Trotsålderns Barn / Södra Bergens Balalaikor / Mikael Ramel & Unga Hjärtan / Kebnekajse / Solar Plexus / Plus Gäster / Blå Tåget / Samla Mammas Manna / Hörselmat / Mount Everest / Berits Halsband

International relevance: ***

Swedish vocals, instrumental

Several good ones here, most notably from Peps Bluesband, Pugh Rogefeldt with Nature, and Kebnekajse going berserk in a version of ”Comanche Spring”. Of the otherwise undocumented bands, the completely unknown Plus Gäster's ”I badkaret” is the best, like a blend of Kebnekajse and Fläsket Brinner.

Tonkraft – Levande musik från Sverige 1975-76 (Tonkraft, released 1981)

Featured artists: John Holm / Kolossos Sandaler / Norrbottens Järn / Doggers Bankar / Omlopp / Första Förband / Fläsket Brinner / Elda Med Höns / Östan Sol, Västan Måne / Eldkvarn / Kornet / Vargavinter / Kjell Höglund / Iskra / Guran / Trettioåriga Kriget / Kapten Krok / Resa

Swedish vocals, instrumental
International relevance: ***

With the ”Tonkraft” series following the chronological trends, the 1975-76 volume provides a fair bit of fusion and symphonic rock inspired music such as Kolossos Sandaler, Första Förband (with Thomas Wiehe), Östan Sol Västan Måne, Kornet, Trettioåriga Kriget and Resa. Some good stuff here though, especially John Holm (although now redundant as it has been released elsewhere since) and Fläsket Brinner's ”Barbarella” (later issued on their Swedish Radio sessions box set).

Tonkraft – Levande musik från Sverige 1977-78 (Tonkraft, released 1982)

Featured artists: Rolf Wikströms Hjärtslag / Moder Svea / Horizont / Dimmornas Bro / Norrlåtar / Ensamma Hjärtan / Folk Och Rackare / Harem / Solen Skiner / Rekyl / Little Big Horns / Mora Träsk / Alter Ego / Anna Själv Tredje / Hot Salsa / Contra / Ramlösa Kvällar / Tintomara

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

The weakest of the three ”Tonkraft” sets, with only a couple of interesting selections; Anna Själv Tredje's otherwise unavailable ”Snöfall och daggyra”, and Ramlösa Kvällar's ”Den maskulina mystiken”. Of the unknown bands, Harem is the best, coming off almost like a power version of UK renaissance folk rockers Gryphon. Apart from that, too much fusion, B grade symph and crappy blues rock. (Alter Ego is the same band that had an archival release on Musea as Alter Echo.)

As a sample of progg's stylistic development from 1972 to 1978, the ”Tonkraft” volumes are fine, but from a musical point of view, a 'best of' would be much more listenable.

KJELL HÖGLUND - Complete albums 1971-1980

Undran (Alternativ, 1971)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Kjell Höglund's first album, privately recorded, privately released, privately sold (originally with only an inner sleeve). Most of his trademarks are evident already here, small songs asking big questions in unassuming phrases, simple guitar accompaniment and his patented intimate voice. ”Jag hör hur de ligger med varandra i våningen ovanför” is one of Höglund's best known songs but hardly one of his best. The album is endearing for sure but very uneven – not all tracks are as good as ”Denna känsla av undran”, the utterly charming ”Gustav under trappan”, ”Den vita kråkan” and ”Stormen före lugnet” (the latter re-recorded for ”Vägen mot Shangri-La”). 

Later versions have the cover pictured above with the album title handwritten. Same cover was used for "Blomstertid", also with the title in handwriting. 

Blomstertid (Alternativ, 1972)

Swedish vocals, spoken word

International relevance: *

Second album, similar to the first so it makes sense that ”Undran” and ”Blomstertid” was later combined to a double LP. (Original copies were also sold in a white inner sleeve, as with "Undran".) The main difference between the two albums is that Höglund sounds more self-confident here, plus the addition of electric bass on a couple of tracks. ”Du sålde min biljett” is a great track, one of his best from the early years, but ”Blomstertid” has, generally speaking, higher lows and lower highs. Or if you will, it's a less uneven album than ”Undran”. 

Baskervilles hund (Alternativ, 1974)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Höglund matured considerably with ”Häxprocess” released in 1973. With ”Baskervilles hund” (with appearances from Lasse Englund and Rolf Wikström) he had carved out his particular songwriting style rather well. Or actually his two styles – the perky songs, and the more reflective ones which usually are Höglund at his best. A terrific example of the latter is ”Man vänjer sig”, a heartwrenching description of a numbingly dull everyday life but, as the title says, ”you get used to it”... ”Trollfolk på bygden” is another brilliant track, this time featuring a funky full band. And, at the other end of the arrangement spectrum, the hysterically funny a capella tragicomedy of ”Sista valsen”.

This is Höglund's second best album, here and there actually reaching the heights of ”Häxprocess”.

Hjärtat sitter till vänster (Alternativ, 1975)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

A disappointment after the great ”Häxprocess” and ”Baskervilles hund”, with uninspired songs, some of them quoting blues and trad jazz with a yawn. Also, Höglund tries to adapt to the political agenda of the time which suits rather bad. He's an observer asking questions, but not leading questions as he does here. Only ”Lågor för dom döda” is up to the usual Höglund standards. 

Wikström and Englund are still on the job, and Greg FitzPatrick, Mats G. Bengtsson (Blå Tåget) and Hans Wiktorsson (Nationalteatern) join in too.

 Doktor Jekylls testamente (Alternativ, 1979)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Pretty much a return to form. (I guess it some kind of inspiration proof that ”Desertören” is 17 minutes long, and thus the longest Höglund track recorded, even beating the title track from ”Häxprocess” with almost two minutes.) Some musical quotes that miss the target but they're easy to bear with when Höglund delivers tracks like the part serious, part ironic ”Höglund har blivit gammal”, the tongue-in-cheek gibe at (political) bigotry ”Slutstrid”, and the lovely almost-a-hit ”Lugnare vatten” (that actually was a hit, with Marie Bergman). Not a bull's eye album, but with several very good moments.

Vägen mot Shangri-La (Alternativ, 1980)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Last album of Höglund's classic era, followed by another four year hiatus. Some good songs (”Holländsk genever”, ”Mr. Swanee”, the superior remake of ”Lugnet före stormen”) but ”Vägen mot Shangri-La” suffers a bit from a sterile production. Not as much as Höglund's later albums that are all suffocated by period synths and dated aesthetics, but a more vivid sound could possibly have given some of the lesser tracks a well needed punch.

Kjell Höglund's next album was "Tidens tempo" in 1984. Again it had some good songs, but the album is drenched in synths and studio polish and is hard to digest. Later albums are even worse productionwise.

Undran full album playlist
Blomstertid full album playlist
Baskervilles hund full album playlist
Hjärtat sitter till vänster full album playlist
Doktor Jekylls testamente full album playlist
Vägen mot Shangri-La full album playlist

KJELL HÖGLUND – Häxprocess (Alternativ, 1973)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

Ranked #25 on the blog's Top 25 list

Kjell Höglund is one of the most problematic progg blog inclusions. He's a wonderful artist with a knack for low-key yet intricate and sometimes plaintive lyrics. His searching attitude towards politics, philosophy, relations and spirituality makes him a unique voice in Swedish music, not just progg. Höglund always leaves an entrance open to the listeners, inviting them to step inside his songs and way of thinking. Doubt and choice aren't weaknesses in the mind and world of Höglund, why his music is so much more thought-provoking and, paradoxically enough, more reassuring than many of his cocksure and dogmatic contemporaries proclaiming megaphone politics. With that crucial dimension lost, what qualities are left to grasp for someone unfamiliar with the Swedish language?

Probably only yet another Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan inspired singer/songwriter (Höglund namechecks Dylan in a couple of songs, including the beautiful flute laced ”Skräckhus i Sussex” on ”Häxprocess”) with a rather thin voice not always hitting the notes right on target. Most of the tracks on ”Häxprocess” are acoustic and delicate, but the jam infused ”Falu koppargruva” and the title track see Höglund fronting a full band. The track ”Häxprocess” (”witch trial”) is Höglund's tour de force, originally a much shorter song that soon grew into a 15 minute indictment against self-loathing, bigotry, double moral standards and political duplicity. Although far more overtly phrased, it's the only true contender for a Swedish equivalent to Dylan's ”Desolation Row”, if only for its majestic length and scope.

”Häxprocess” was Höglund's third and in my opinion best album, homemade just like his previous ones and sold to passers-by on the street, years before private pressings became a DIY standard of punk. (Höglund wasn't the first to release his albums without much support from others though; free jazz pioneer Bengt ”Frippe” Nordström did so already in the early 60's, and there are probably more examples of similarly auteur styled musicians.) In many ways, Höglund embodied the true spirit of progg while never quite becoming part of the movement, always operating out on the side as the genuine freethinker he was. That said, he scored a couple of surprise hits in the 80's, later undertaking package tours with younger singer/songwriters to whom he was a source inspiration. But he never lost his sense of originality.

Full album playlist