DAN TILLBERG – Complete albums 1979-1981

Another name from the ”you may also like” list at the end of Tobias Petterson's book ”The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music”, but unlike some of them, Dan Tillberg at least has some progg bearings, if not so much stylistically so historically. He was, for instance, in Änglabarn. 

Gatstenar (Bellatrix, 1979)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

An album consisting exclusively of Rolling Stones covers translated to Swedish by Mats Zetterberg (Fiendens Musik) and Dan Hylander (Raj Montana Band). This is one bizarre beast of an album and probably one of the most uninhibited albums you'll hear in a while. I wouldn't exactly call it good, but the over the top energy, perhaps more akin to punk than progg, is perversely fascinating. Eyewitness reports from the studio sessions promise no intoxicants were involved but they manage to give the whole thing a sloshed street fight vibe, even on the slower tracks. Try ”Hur var det med din morsa, tjejen (kom hon i skymundan)?” (=”Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadows?”) or ”Din första kollision” (=”19th Nervous Breakdown”) and I think you'll see what I mean.

Two sleeve variations exist, one brownish yellow and one turqouise with the brownish one being the original.

Mors och fars kärlek (Axiom, 1980)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: -

Mostly originals second time around with only a couple of stray covers of Bob Dylan, Swedish garage rockers Problem, and a Chip Taylor penned number. A couple of tracks are co-written with Ronny Carlsson of Rockamöllan and Onna Taas Band. Nowhere near as hysterical as ”Gatstenar” which unfortunately means the skewed appeal of the predecessor is all gone. ”Mors och fars kärlek” most of all sounds like a bad Raj Montana Band album. Best track by far is ”Det är okej” still has a very long way to go to even lick the shoes of Problem's original version, even though Problem main man Stefan Ahlqvist appears on guitar. Partly recorded in Silence's studio, but you couldn't tell from the cold, bony, artificial production.

Kärlek minus noll (Axiom, 1982)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: -

Back in covers land again, this time Bob Dylan. But it's better to read the album than to listen to it (if you know Swedish, and even so if you don't). The production is as 80s as it gets already in 1982 – unbearable. But some of the translations are among the best Swedish Dylan interpretentions you'll ever see. Two of them are by Ronny Carlsson, one by Dan Hylander, but most of them – the best ones – are by man of words Mats Zetterberg.

Dan Tillberg made a few more albums in the 80s.

Gatstenar full album playlist
Mors och fars kärlek full album playlist
Kärlek minus noll full album playlist

FIENDENS MUSIK – Fiendens Musik (Bellatrix, 1979) / Häftiga hästen och andra äventyr (Bellatrix, 1980) / ZETTERBERG & CO – Z (Tredje Tåget, 1982)

Fiendens Musik (Bellatrix, 1979)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Formed in Lund by singer Mats Zetterberg and saxophonist Mats Bäcker in 1977, Fiendens Musik was a transitional band with their roots in progg and the energy of punk and UK pub rock. After a couple of singles, this debut album appeared in 1979. An very good effort that deserves a lot more attention than it seems to get. ”En spark rätt i skallen” is a classic though, and among the other great tracks are ”Snutbil” (a translation of Larry Wallis' brilliant ”Police Car”), the frantic ”Mer eller mindre (mot din vilja)”, and the chilling album closer ”Sista skriket”. One of the greatest albums with one foot in progg and the other in the new, loud sonds of the late 70s.

Häftiga hästen och andra äventyr (Bellatrix, 1980)
Swedish vocals

International relevance: *

The second album isn't quite on par their debut album, with less energy. Or rather with more pop energy and less punk ditto. Best tracks: ”Unga så länge vi vill”, ”Jag kommer” and ”En våning upp”.

Z (Tredje Tåget, 1982)

as Zetterberg & Co

Swedish vocals, English vocals

International relevance: **

Released as Zetterberg & Co on Mats Zetterberg's label Tredje Tåget, but this is effectively the third Fiendens Musik album. The songwriting is a bit stronger than on ”Häftiga hästen och andra äventyr”, with ”Ingen trygghet”, ”Alltid en öl i min hand” and ”Underläge/överläge” highlighting the set. ”När tuppen kacklar” is a Swedish version of traditional song ”Black Jack Davy” with vocal assistance from Monica Törnell.

Fiendens Musik released a couple of great singles to expand their all too small discography. Mats Zetterberg was also in Bluesblocket. A reunited Fiendens Musik has recorded a yet unreleased comeback album.

Fiendens Musik full album playlist
Häftiga hästen & andra äventyr full album playlist
Z full album playlist