via//chicago

np: "Det Tar Tid" - Dungen

I love it when a band that I think I have pegged tosses a curveball and spins their sound into something quite a bit different from what I expect, but not altogether removed from what I loved about them in the first place. Such is the case with the latest album from Swedish psych-folk-rockers Dungen. Well, I used the plural form loosely, as Dungen is 98% the work of one insanely talented man that goes by the name of Gustav Ejstes. I fell in love with Dungen's 2004 album (released here in 2005) Ta Det Lungt, which was a surprisingly fresh take on the oftentimes stale retro-psych sound. Besides the expected fuzzy guitar and cascading drumfills, Ejstes packed the album with tons of instruments and mind-beding detours. Last year's Tio Bitar brought forth more of the same, but the lengthier wanderings were tightened into surprisingly tuneful pop songs without sacrificing Dungen's signature sound. But this year's release, 4, tossed many of my expectations out the window. 4 is a much more subtle, jazzier affair full of brushed drums, gentle flute, and tons of piano. The guitar-drenched acid rock is toned back in favor of lounge suited acid jazz, but the album is all the more rewarding for it. Ejstes steps back significantly this time around, letting other musicians shine and shine they do - Johan Holmegard on the drums particularly. If you are looking for a great Sunday morning record with just the barest hint of psych-rock, you could do much worse.

(In all honesty though, I still love the guitar work of Dungen, showcased on this album by "Samtidigt 1", which sounds as if was yanked directly from some lost 1960s jam session tapes. Very nice.)

Dungen - "Det Tar Tid" (taken from 4)
Dungen - "Maleras Finest" (taken from 4)
Dungen - "Samtidigt 1" (taken from 4)