Have YOU Been to Stockholm?

Unfortunately, this month will continue to sag in posts as this weekend I will be going up North. The main reason is that for a second week in a row I will be attending a California region's second best music festival: Party in the Pines in Big Sur. I am pretty amped to not only see Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti again, but also to see a band I have wanted to for over three and a half years - Dungen.

A few months back I posted their follow-up to this album, and indisputable masterpiece. This one, originally released in 2002 made its way to the US in 2005 and in my experience stands up more than any of the following albums do. Hopefully the group's set won't rely too much on that stuff. More seventies-style psych-rock here, and quite a bit more pop-oriented than the harder, trippier Ta Det Lugnt. The album, which's translated title is "City Walks" kicks off with catchy title track that keeps your ears glues as much as the follow-up's "Panda" does. Urban tribute "Har du vart' i Stockholm?" makes it a solid one-two punch that makes the album as great a tribute to the band's home city as classics like Midnite Vultures and Marquee Moon did for Beck and Television, respectively ...and all without understanding the language!

Whereas later efforts show Gustav Ejstes trying to recapture the mastery of Ta Det Lugnt, this album is the sound of him honing his craft in creating the best vintage-style psychedelia, nay music of this decade while displaying his multi-instrumental virtuosity. His way with folkier European arrangements is remarkable as well with "Sol och Regn" being a fiddle and flute instrumental on par with the bonus disc included in the reissue of the follow-up. It is one of the album's finest tracks. Like most other music of the present half of the decade, forget about Dungen's later work - this is the next stop for them. Either way, though I am expecting a life-changing performance from the crew this weekend, and this should give anyone else who will be joining me similar expectations.


Dungen - Stadsvandringar (2002)

Take It Easy, Jon and Miriam

This weekend I was away in Nashville (the greatest!!!) for a wedding for a friend of mine. His taste, to an extent, was reflected in what I listened to in the car, and this is one of the best examples.

It had been a few years since I had really spun this one, but at first it was a massive part of not only my life, but that of the people around me. It is one of the best psychedelic records of this decade, far and away and should not be missed by any fans of rock 'n' roll (granted I would think many of the readers here have it already, but I should take no chances here).

Dungen is a Swedish "group," though their records are made almost entirely by Gustav Ejstes who clearly excels in every instrument, composition, and in the art of sound recording. It is a pretty great album for any occasion as it can get loud and fast and also have moments of transcendently beautiful psychedelia. Some of the best exaples of Dungen's sound here are the rockin' opener "Panda," the catchy folk-rocker "Festival," and the gorgeous "Det Du Tänker Idag Är Du Imorn." What really sets the band apart is the use of Swedish lyrics, as almost every other group to acheive crossover success from that nation has used mostly English. One flaw of the Ejstes', however, is that the sound is not the most original, but at least it serves as a good anchor and I can firmly state that fans of other exotic psychedelia like Ghost, Amon Düül II, and Erkin Koray should not miss out.

Also included is a mostly instrumental bonus disc which really fits in with the rest of the album, most notably on "Jämna Plågor."


Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt (2004)

In other news, though, Jay Bennett, formerly of Wilco died on the 24th. The cause has not been announced, he brought a lot to the band and his influence is best heard on 1999's Summer Teeth.

Jay at his peak during the recording of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.