Artist: Dungen
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Atmospheric, jazzy, psychedelic, and soaked with the jam band instincts of the late 60s, "4" is a fantastic album. Opener "Sätt att se" sets the tone for this cinematic experimentation with freeform rock and jazz, the retro production adding further depth to the nostalgic experience - warm, buzzing guitar notes; no sharp edges anywhere, just wave after wave of layered instrumentation. The fact that frontman Gustav Ejstes sings in Swedish does not necessarily matter, not in the way that Markus Krunegård's record suffers for non-Swedish speakers - the beauty of Dungen is in watching the band's songs augment, gain inertia, evolve, and one doesn't have to understand Ejstes' lyrics to witness the progression of the compositions. "Fredag" has quickly become one of my favorite Dungen tracks, though there isn't a bad song to be found on "4". It may not make my Top 10 of 2008, but "4" might well outlive some of those that do through sheer talent and timelessness.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
The Guild, the sideproject of Sylvester Schlegel from The Ark with members of Dungen, will release their new album "The golden thumb" on November 19. Samples and more info: http://www.myspace.com/ohmyguild
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Hello Saferide
02. Tiger Lou
03. Anna Ternheim
04. Taken By Trees
05. Glasvegas
06. Frida Hyvönen
07. Shout Out Louds
08. Kent
09. Juvelen
10. Dungen
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
Dungen's new album "4" is the first one I've ever been able to get into and I think it's because the record is more of a full band effort than a solo project. The music is still the same psych/progg as always, yet it flows so much more effortlessly than ever before. Besides, that's always the best thing about all the classic Swedish progg this borrows from: the extended jams. That's where the action is. Throw in a couple pop tracks (such as what I've posted today) to lighten the load and you're all good. Too much either/or and your either lost in jam-band hell or bored by trying to do something they aren't meant to do. I love the pulsing bass here, the propulsion of the groove. Frilly flutes can't diminish that. So while I still prefer the darker, heavier sounds of fellow retro Swedes such as Witchcraft, Graveyard and Sienna Root, I dig this too and am happy to recommend it.
Dungen - Mina damer och fasaner
Live music with Dungen at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2008/09/19/musik-med-dungen/
I've been mostly ambivalent about his work before, but the new album "4" is surprisingly good. Easily his best work so far.
New North American dates for Dungen:
10/24 - Music Hall of Williamsburg (CMJ/Kemado), Brooklyn, NY
10/27 - Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ
10/28 - Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA
10/30 - Great Scott, Boston, MA
10/31 - Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ONT
11/01 - Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
11/02 - Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
11/04 - 400 Bar, Minneapolis, MN
11/07 - Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
11/08 - Doug Fir, Portland, OR
11/10 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
11/11 - Cellar Door, Visalia, CA
11/12 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
The Fader has live footage of Dungen performing songs from the new album "4" in a stripped-down "jazz" setting: http://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/7/21/fader-tv-dungen-performs-their-new-album-jazz-style
Here's some good-time summer vibes for you courtesy of The Amazing, a new-ish Swedish act featuring members from Dungen, Granada and The Guild. It's all about that lazy acoustic strum, that languid melody line in the two lead guitars (best appreciated with headphones) and the soft, understated vocals. So mellow, so sweet, perfectly paired with a cold beverage and a few bites of ripe summer fruit (your pick). I imagine these dudes probably even look as retro as they sound, but I'm not sweating it. I'd rather just lay back in the shade of the elm in my backyard, forget my troubles and turn up the music. Keep an eye on these guys, there's an album on the way soon.
The Amazing - Dragon
Dungen will be playing a special acoustic show in NYC at Le Poisson Rouge on July 15. It's mostly an invite-only affair apparently, but a limited number of tickets will be available via Brooklyn Vegan or at Other Music starting July 9 at noon.
The new Dungen album "4" is confirmed for a fall release via Kemado. Expect a 12" EP for first single "Sätt att se" a bit earlier via Mexican Summer/Subliminal Sounds.
Look for Dungen to do a select run of US live dates this fall beginning in late October. Details soon.
Dungen