You’ve probably heard me singing the praises of Dungen’s brand of Swedish psych-folk rock before, and I’m still singing…especially after the recent release of the 4 album and the Kemado Records CMJ showcase that they headlined on Friday night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. If you have any kind of ear for beautiful throwback psychedelic rock they way that I do, you are already a big fan. And if you’ve never heard them and you’re still reading this, listen up below! This is “Satt Att Se” from their new album, 4 (which is indeed their 4th album)….
See! I told you so. Dungen is one of the newer bands out there now on the rock fringe, proving that rock music can still be adventurous and even sound pretty…and still rock hard. They are part of the new batch of neo psych-rockers (along with bands such as Black Mountain, Wooden Shjips, Howlin Rain, and Earthless) that are keeping that vibe alive in what may just be a reawakening era of rock music.
Dungen are a band who jam, but aren’t a jam band (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). Their live show is pretty true to the music on their albums, and when you hear their albums, it makes you want to hear them live. It’s beautifully-composed pastoral soundscapes with bursts of raw guitar feedback freak-outs and real old-school groove from a rhythm section that knows how to sit right outside of the pocket. All that AND Swedish lyrics.
Definitely go see them on tour if they come to your town. It’s the best kind of music out there…at a value price, because they don’t quite have the mediocre appeal of bands like Coldplay (sorry, Coldplay fans…no I’m not).
Get their new album, 4, here at Amazon, or the other highly-recommended Ta Det Lugnt from 2005.
*all photos copyright Mike Newman