Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Product Description
Review
Even without Ejstes’ help, the ecstatically breezy, bucolic, polyrhythmic psych that constitutes the Swedes’ sixth album already suggests a world of freedom and possibilities and an absence of hang-ups and put-downs. There’s always been a mellow gene within Dungen’s superfuzz DNA, which comes right to the fore here; it’s like psych in folk-rock form (Dungen means “The Grove”) but on a jazz-rock mission. Skit I Allt is the musical version of floating downstream (anyone who knows the stunning Parsley Sound album will instantly recognise this mood) or and wandering into someone else’s dream. And like dreams, you don’t need to understand the meaning. Like Sigur Rós, Dungen have shown bands can stick to their native tongue and not lose an iota of sense because the music is, in itself, the language.
Of course, Ejstes might be singing the Stockholm bus timetable, in which case it’s got to be one hell of a journey he’s taking. Via a lightly tapped cymbal, thumbed electric piano, skittish guitar and a lead flute, the opening, instrumental Vara Snabb establishes a plateau of weightless, yet taut, serenity. It never falters, not when the following Min Enda Vän adds strings, distant drums and Ejstes’ dreamy, yet edgy, vocals; nor during the blistered blur of Högdalstoppen, which resembles Hendrix in air-sole sneakers. Reine Fiske’s guitar unwinds through Skit I Allt like threads of quicksilver, deepening the mood of 1967 vintage. Both retro- and avant-rock fans will have a feast here.
At the end of the trip, Blandband (translated: “Mixtape”) is another sundappled instrumental before Marken Låg Stilla displays the glint of a pop song – proof that Ejstes has more at his command than psilocybin tranquillity. To further the point, the album’s 10 tracks total just 34 minutes, so listeners will snap out of the dream rather than disappear with it down a wormhole. But the blissful summery mood hangs around for ages. If you don’t want summer to end, or you’re a SAD sufferer, then consider Skit I Allt the best and cheapest antidote on the market.
--Martin AstonFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
I first heard Dungen a few months ago on KUT, the local college radio station here in Austin. The piece they played was an extended, mind-blowing slice of far-out prog rock from what I recall. Hungry for more, I decided to pick up their latest album, SKIT I ALLT (which I've since discovered means "F... ALL"). Initially I was quite disappointed as this music wasn't really what I was hoping for. But I believe one should always listen to an album for what it is, not what you want it to be. With this in mind I continued to listen to the record and I approach this review in the same spirit.
SKIT I ALLT focuses quite a lot on pretty, simple arrangements featuring a prominent flute along with piano and sweetly sung lyrics (in Swedish). Heavier elements occasionally emerge: drums endlessly roll and crash at times, bass guitars rumble and distorted guitars add muscle and color in certain places. Track 5 in particular features guitars that launch into psychedelic overdrive and other interesting sonic textures.
I certainly don't recommend putting much stock in labels, but in an effort to describe this music, I would say it vaguely resembles Krautrock such as Can on occasion and it could loosely be considered prog rock with an emphasis on its prettier side although it's less complicated than prog tends to be. Others might call parts of this album "psych-pop" or even "easy listening," especially track 2.
Admittedly my appreciation for the album is limited by my ignorance of Swedish, although I have seen some of the lyrics which, appropriately, seem to espouse traditional hippie ideals such as freedom and doing what you want. The music here is good and quite enjoyable but, despite some interesting passages, I find the album to be less than compelling overall and even bland on occasion. I guess the main complaint I have is that the band is perhaps too restrained; I feel they could've pushed themselves much further at times. All of the songs are about three to four minutes long and the whole album lasts only about 34 minutes. But I do like it and I would even recommend it to anyone willing to give it a try. Clearly others are much more enthusiastic about Dungen than I am and the band's success in America is quite impressive, especially considering the fact that they sing in their native tongue. So take this review with a grain of salt (as you should with any review) - I merely offer my honest opinion.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
