CD Reviews

Dungen | 4

Kemado (2008)

By DANIEL BROCKMAN | September 23, 2008

3.0 Stars

Back in 2004, Ta det lugnt (“Take it easy”) was a discovery to many in the English-speaking world. We expect Sweden to crank out indie-rock groups with competent skills, excellent production, and easily identifiable Western influences — so what to make of this bizarre psychedelic rock band who veer between smooth-jazzy grooves and acid-tongued guitar scuzz, with odd folky interludes, and all in Svenska? Last year’s Tio bitar saw them tip their hand to their harsh and garagy side, but 4 might be their most schizoid outing yet: “Det tar tid” sounds like Santana sitting in on a Steely Dan session, and “Samtidigt 1” comes blasting out of the gates like the midsection of a lengthy and particularly violent Hendrix jam. Dungen is the project of guitarist Gustav Ejstes, and here he continues to push his songwriting into strange corners: “Finns det någon möjlighet” (“Is there any possibility”) takes a jaunty piano-led Joe Jackson–sounding ditty and, midway through, turns it into a jarring “Spirit in the Sky”–esque jam. The playing is looser and rougher than you might expect, with tons of endless drum fills that teeter on the verge of sloppy, but this only adds to Dungen’s trademark unpredictability — Ejstes seems more concerned with texture and feel than with hooks. Translation: it all sounds better once you’re stoned.

Related: Swede stuff, A history of violins, Dreamgirls, More

Swede stuff
To most rock fans, psychedelic means Jimi Hendrix and Arthur’s Lee’s Love, or Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” and Frigid Pink’s “House of the Rising Sun.”
A history of violins
To paraphrase (very loosely) Ben Franklin, wherever you go in this world of ours — and that includes Sweden, native land of Dungen mastermind Gustav Ejstes — nothing is certain but death, taxes, and being picked on mercilessly if you’re a kid who plays the violin.
Dreamgirls
The chorus has been singing for months now: Bill Condon’s can’t-miss adaptation of Tom Eyen & Henry Krieger’s 25-year-old Broadway musical is roaring into theaters to save a lackluster fall. Watch the trailer for Dreamgirls (QuickTime)
Northern neighbors
Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, is full of promising, undiscovered acts.
The 40 greatest concerts in Boston history
The Phoenix picks the shows that have defined the scene
Men of mettle
Like three trolls in a speedboat, the men of Motörhead have hitched their age-old warty grievance against humanity to a roaring musical accelerant, and yet again they are writing heavy-metal history.
Pleasures still unknown
Ian Curtis (Sam Riley) of the Manchester band Joy Division wrote songs that evoke, with incantatory inevitability, terror, delight, and ecstasy.
Magic numbers
“I like that Stone Roses song,” one of them noted. “You know the one I mean — ‘I Wanna Be a Door.’ ”
Living large
The Hard Rock was donating all bar proceeds to the Boston anti-violence charity Peace Games.
Rockin' neurotic
Nervously pacing the stage in a baggy T-shirt and jeans, Cat Power’s Chan Marshall is about the last performer you’d ever mistake for Tina Turner.
Jimmy Reject, 1971-2006
James Harrington, a/k/a Jimmy Reject, former drummer for the shoulda-been-legendary Boston glam/trash punks the Dimestore Haloes, published novelist, passionate rock critic, former ice-cream shop employee, and through-and-through punk rocker, died suddenly last Monday at age 35.
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Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Music, Pop and Rock Music, More

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