Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt

  by Helen Tipping

published: 18 / 9 / 2005

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Review

Dungen are from Lanno in Sweden and sing in Swedish.  It doesn't really matter, as this album is more about sound than message. It takes you on a swirling psychedelic jaunt back to the late 60's / early 70's.  Dungen is mainly Gustav Ejstes, singer song writer and player of just about every instrument recorded.  He is helped out by other muscians on 'Ta Det Lungt', and has to be when playing live, although guitarist Reine Fiske also features on most of the tracks.   'Panda' is the first track and was released as a single in September.  It starts with a drum solo, but not in the style of those usually to be found in the middle of heavy metal tracks.  This is by way more of an intro to the track, and is too brief to bore the listener.  The vocals sound very much as though they've been recorded back in the 60's and have the tinny quality that belongs to that era.  Other effects are very much up to date, but fit totally with the sound they are trying to achieve.    Each track on the album is well crafted, and they differ from one another enough to maintain interest.  Rather than just returning to psychedelia and rehashing it, Dungen work hard to bring it up to date and give it a new and fresh life.  Ejstes is very creative, more of a composer in some respects. Influences appear to be drawn from a variety of sources - jazz, Islamic music, folk, rock, church organ music (!) - so that it becomes hard to pin Dungen down.  Just when you think they've gone all folksy and serious, you find yourself in the theme to a 70's TV cop show, or children's TV programme.  It has quite a nostalgic feel to it in places, bringing back a childhood (mis) spent riding chopper bikes, roller skating and drinking cream soda.

Track Listing:-

1 Panda
2 Gjort Bort Sig
3 Festival
4 E För Fin För Mig
5 Ta Det Lugnt
6 Det du Tänker Idag Är du I Morgon
7 Lejonet & Kulan
8 Bortglömd
9 Glömd Konst Kommer Stundom Ānyo Till Heders
10 Lipsill
11 Om du Vore en Vakthund
12 Tack Ska Ni Ha
13 Sluta Följa Efter

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