If understanding Swedish were as easy as eating Swedish Fish, I’m sure more people would know about indie folk rock group Dungen. However, while I didn’t even dare to translate their latest album, 4, it is clear from the instrumental arrangement and the sound of Gustav Ejstes voice that this band is just as sweet as the candy. 
The language barrier isn’t too much of a problem as many of the songs are mostly instrumental like the flute-driven “Marleras Finest” and “Fredag.”
The instrumentation on this album makes use of strings, flutes, xylophones, piano and horns. The arrangement reminds me a lot of songs you’d expect to hear in the classic television program “Charlie’s Angels.”
My main criticism of this album is that for a record filled with such flowy songs, the transition between many of them is very abrupt, like that from “Det Tar Tid” into the rockier “Samtidigt 1.” I don’t think it would have been too hard for the band to improve this movement. Also, perhaps it is the language barrier, but I found it difficult to pick up on the connection between “Samtidigt 1″ and “Samtidigt 2.”
Broaden your knowledge of European artists and dare to listen to songs in another language. 4 is available now.
Tracklisting:
01. Satt Att Se
02. Marleras Finest
03. Det Tar Tid
04. Samtidigt 1
05. Ingenting Ar Sig Likt
06. Fredag
07. Finns Det Nagon Majilighet
08. Mina Damer Och Fasaner
09. Samtidigt 2
10. Bandhagen
Written by: Bethany
Pingback: Pages tagged "dungen"