HEMKÖRT – I ett hörn av trädgården (Subverskivbolaget, 1976)

Instrumental, Swedish vocals
International relevance: *

Subverskivbolaget, or SUB, was Uppsala's musicians collective SUB-gruppen's label. Run by members of Mobben and Störningen, their best known act was probably Rävjunk who had a couple of 45s out on SUB.

Geography was obviously more important to SUB than musical quality. ”I ett hörn av trädgården” is a testament to that. While Hemkört's playing skills aren't the worst I've heard, the singing sounds as if it was cut straight from a jolly pub night after too few beers and yet too many. The material is of mostly traditional origin with a couple of 'fight workers!' numbers throw in for mandatory measure. The album is lacklustre at best, and at worst (most of the time) best left to oblivion.

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MOBBEN – Och du frågar mig varför (MNW, 1974) / Mobben lever (Sub, 1975) / Elektrisk natt (MNW/Sub, 1976)

Och du frågar mig varför (MNW, 1974)

Swedish vocals

International relevance: **

Mobben was originally a blues band from Gävle that started out way back in the 60's, but after moving to soon-to-be progg hotspot Uppsala in 1970, their music drifted off in a more political direction. They recorded their first album in 1973 and MNW released it the following year. It was only a faint indication of their blues past, being basically a melodic rock effort with obvious hints at early 70's Rolling Stones. Melodic yes, but also mediocre. The songs simply aren't good enough to make any lasting impression. Also, guitarist Peter Ericson's vocals are at the center of the songs and that's not a good thing. His voice is a thin and nasal and when he uses a greater vocal force, it gets too piercing.

Mobben lever (Sub, 1975)

Swedish vocals, English vocals

International relevance: **

Mobben's second album finds them on Uppsala label Subverskivbolaget and in a more apprioriate situation, i.e. on stage. The blues shines through here more than on their debut, but ”Mobben lever” nevertheless fails to impress, largely because Ericson's vocals still get in the way of the songs. Also, the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired. ”Mobben lever” sounds like a audience recording which diminish whatever impact the songs otherwise might have had. Then again, they were probably aware of its aural shortcomings as the album was originally at budget price.

Elektrisk natt (MNW/Sub, 1976)

Swedish vocals, instrumental

International relevance: **

”Elektrisk natt” is Mobben's most varied and accomplished work both in terms of songwriting and sound, and a heavier work than their two previous outings. But it's still not a very good album, and again it's largely down to Ericson's vocals. Here he finds a somewhat lower and more comfortable vocal pitch, but instead he tries too hard to sound like a tough guy which make him sound mannered and silly. That pretty much spoils an album that would have been, well, at least a little better with a different singer.

Peter Ericson later became known as Peter R. Ericson and released several solo albums, and joined forces with the excellent singer/songwriter Anders F. Rönnblom.

Och du frågar mig varför full album playlist

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