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)….
Dungen – ‘Satt Att Se’: [audio="http://kemado.com/_files/audio/dungen/SATT_ATT_SE.mp3"]
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. Oh yeah, and it’s pronounced Doon-yen!
More pics after the jump…
*Picture courtesy of Lee Greenfeld of Dead Flowers Productions
We had a great time seeing the Master in a packed Prospect Park last night. My only complaint is that the level wasn’t loud enough on the lawn, and I believe that’s due to Park Slope noise ordinances. Umm, don’t you think they could make an exception when Bob Dylan’s in town! C’mon!! Lawn tickets weren’t exactly cheap.
Anyway, Bob gave us a great set and here’s the list, also courtesy of Lee Greenfeld. I pretty much just jacked his whole Myspace blog post. Thanks, Lee!
bob dylan, 8/12/08
prospect park bandshell
brooklyn, u.s.a.
set-list:
1. rainy day women 12 & 35
2. lay, lady, lay
3. lonesome day blues
4. girl of the north country
5. the levee’s gonna break
6. spirit on the water
7. honest with me
8. john brown (!!!)
9. highway 61 revisited
10. beyond the horizon
11. it’s alright, ma (i’m only bleeding)
12. nettie moore
13. summer days
14. masters of war
15. like a rolling stone (encore)
16. thunder on the mountain (encore)
17. blowin’ in the wind (encore)
KT and I went to a Dungen upcoming album listening party last night at a hip new space in the heart of the NYU Village…where I don’t typically hang out, as I’m a little old for the area…and had a great time! The venue is called (le) poisson rouge, which is a beautiful space where we got to see Dungen mastermind, Gustav Ejstes on grand piano and vocals along with new drummer, Johan Holmegard, play a stripped down set of old and new tunes. The sound was fantastic and the performace was absolutely beautiful. And I got some great pics…
Oh yeah, and the new album, 4, is quite possibly their best yet. It will definitely be up there with Ta Det Lugnt. Pick it up when it drops in September!
Oh yeah #2…be sure to visit The Stoned Crow pub when you’re in the Village. We had an absolutely great time there, didn’t feel old like you do at other Village bars, and had a great bartender who served our “Absinthe Ritual”. Wow, that stuff fucks with your head! Some after-hours pics at the end of the post…
Click on through to the other side for more pics…
