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SKIT I ALLT

Dungen

Psychedelic/Space Rock


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Dungen Skit I Allt album cover
3.88 | 31 ratings | 4 reviews | 13% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2010

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Vara snabb (3:10)
2. Min enda vän (3:15)
3. Brallor (3:15)
4. Soda (3:39)
5. Högdalstoppen (4:44)
6. Skit i allt (2:59)
7. Barnen undrar (3:21)
8. Blandband (3:49)
9. Nästa sommar (3:20)
10. Marken låg stilla (2:55)

Total Time 34:27

Line-up / Musicians

- Gustaf Ejstes / piano, strings, flute, guitar (3-7), bass (2,8), organ (3,7,8), zither (6), drums (2), vocals, composer & producer
- Reine Fiske / guitar, bass (1,5-7,10)
- Mattias Gustavsson / bass (5,9)
- Johan Holmegard / drums

With:
- Anna Järvinen / vocals (3)

Releases information

Artwork: Jenny Palén

CD Subliminal Sounds - SUB-077-CD (2010, Sweden)
CD Mexican Summer MEX 060 (2010 US)

LP Subliminal Sounds - Sub-076-LP (2010, Sweden)
LP Mexican Summer MEX 061 (2010 US)

Thanks to rivertree for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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DUNGEN Skit I Allt ratings distribution


3.88
(31 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(13%)
13%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(45%)
45%
Good, but non-essential (32%)
32%
Collectors/fans only (10%)
10%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

DUNGEN Skit I Allt reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Guldbamsen
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Retired Admin
4 stars Bringing it all back home

Over the years I´ve heard a lot of old school rockers talking about how precious and unique the sound was, back when the guys had long hair and took up knitting for fun, and what a pity it is that music just doesn´t sound like that any more. Well all I can say to you folks is, that you haven´t been looking in the right places, because this Swedish band have been making that kind of music ever since they hit the stage in 2001 with their wonderful debut album.

Dungen are a psychedelic folk rock band completely lost in the wrong decade, and how I just love em´! Sometimes I get very tired of the "prog" vs "progressive" discussions, and how we aren´t listening to one or the other because it isn´t one of either... Well just call me a stupid sucker that listens to music that makes me live to the fullest, smile, dance, juggle, woo women, eat fish and go snorkel diving in the Danish desert. Music should be whatever you want it to be, but don´t, whatever you do, slap stickers on the poor thing just so you can make a better fit for it in whatever black box.

This music simply feels free. An overwhelming feel of letting yourself go, taking a day off - opening the jail-cell doors for the first time in a decade - releasing a soft and magical phoenix of joy. I dare anyone to listen to Dungen without feeling happy. Even though the music also brings forth moments of melancholy, often through the flute or the occasional female backing vocals, the emphasis on freedom and that specific time in space once so long ago, where people walked around with flowers, and it meant something without being silly - yeah that is what´s going down here. Adding to these rather nostalgic images are the usage of hand claps, wah wah pedals, soaring vocal harmonies alongside some beautiful flute sections, which in the end will have you transported back to a field in Haight Ashbury - looking at topless chicks and people with stark black eyes.

Gustav Ejstes´ voice is something of a Dungen trademark. The somewhat ethereal aspect of this band oozes through in Gustav´s vocalizations and into the other guys, and makes both the guitars, piano and flute work sound breezy and fluid like they were melting upwards like butter with wings. Ejstes has a highly original way of wrapping his lips around the words. He sounds so lazy and smooth at the same time. He adds a distinct lazy afternoon charisma to the overall sound, as well as giving the band a slight jazzy touch - one that works so well within the multitude of different styles on offer here. Playing a mean piano as well, I honestly think the notes from said instrument slowly and quite spontaneously over the years have seeped into his vocals, because what he really sounds like, when I close my eyes, is the light minor chords of a piano.

There´s no getting around him and why should I, as Reine Fiske without a doubt is my current favourite guitarist. I love his playing like I love sunlight. He sounds like the perfect combination of David Gilmour and Jimi Hendrix, and to me personally - praise just doesn´t get any higher than that. In Dungen he operates on many different levels. Playing sluggish rhythm sections with a careless attachment to the riffing that opens up the music and cuts of the rough edges. I think much of modern rock music revolves around clockwork timers, and what that really does, is adding an anodyne and clinical coating to something that´s supposed to be heartfelt and warm. Fiske is all over the place in whatever he does, and that seeps into the drums. Thankfully I say! Again, this is part of what makes this band so freaking fantastic! The feel is naive and not because they couldn´t be bothered to do the 5th take to get everything in check and all lined up to the nearest millimetre, but because they purposely seek that in the music, - and when Fiske whips out his guitar in full attack mode, the mountains fall down and everything stands on end. Talk about goosebumps city! A brilliant little instrumental track from this album, which will perfectly explain what I´m raving about, is Högdalstoppen. It consists of a beautiful piano driven melody that reinforces itself with the earthiness of the bass and loosely played drums - catapulting itself over that Högdalstop with a ferocious and firebreathing guitar solo wobbling through the music. Everything that Dungen stands for is right here in this track.

Skit I Allt is Dungen´s 6th and most recent album, and I can´t think of anything remotely offensive to say about it. In fact I would have a hard time saying that about any of the preceding ones as well. Maybe that´s because I am a big fan and drool uncontrollably every time I get within 2 feet of their records, but I´d like to think that these guys in some magical and forbidden way, have created a modern day counterpart to some of the biggest artists of the 60s. It is very rare that I fall head over heels for both the song writing and the psychedelic nature of the music, because very oftenly those 2 factors have a tendency to weed out each other, but just as The Beatles and The Pretty Things were able to bring these elements together in an elegant and impeccable way - Dungen now have safely brought back the dormant spark and lit up the long and winding road - once lit by stars that everyone could spot in a jiffy.

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars The Swedish band here definitely taking a foray into a more upbeat, psychedelic pop-oriented direction. They've decided they're flower children. And they're successful! It works! This is really good!

1. "Vara snabb" (3:10) a poppy instrumental in which flute takes the central lead in place of a voice. Nice song. (9/10)

2. "Min enda vän" (3:15) more upbeat pop with claps and major scale key. Sensitive vocals and strings and flute contribute to this song's universal accessibility. Definitely a top three song. (9.25/10)

3. "Brallor" (3:15) following a kind late-1960s "dirty" psych-pop musical style similar to The Association or The Pretty Things, popular female vocalist Anna Järvinen matches up very well to Gustaf Ejstes. Another top three song. (9/10)

4. "Soda" (3:39) sensitive guitars, acoustic and electric, are matched with sensitive multi-track vocals. Reine gets some shine-time and the drum-and-strum supported chorus sections are awesome. Beautiful "Flower Child" song. A top three song for me. (9.5/10)

5. "Högdalstoppen" (4:44) an psych-jazzy instrumental to let Reine loose--in which the Inner Hendrix is set free. Even the support band sounds and feels like Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding. (8.5/10)

6. "Skit i allt" (2:59) back to pop--a melodic structure not as engaging to Americans because of the Swedish lyrics. (8.5/10)

7. "Barnen undrar" (3:21) a kind of hybrid of psychedelic fuzz guitar into a pop song. Oddly, it works: it's as if Reine's guitar and Ejstes' voice are having a conversation. (8.75/10)

8. "Blandband" (3:49) opens like a Vince Guaraldi Peanuts song with piano, jazz drums, and syncopated clapping creating the uptempo fabric of what will stay an instrumental song. Reine's reined in guitar joins in during the second or third "verse" and is very spacious and respectful in its contributions. Flute, clapping, and excellent drumming really carry the tune start to finish. (8.75/10)

9. "Nästa sommar" (3:20) acoustic guitar and congas are soon joined by Byrds-like picked electric guitar. The song takes a minute to gel, but then Gustaf's vocal sense and Pan-like flute play bring it together. (8.5/10)

10. "Marken låg stilla" (2:55) Paul McCartney-like piano chords open this before cymbal-heavy drums and bass join in to support Gustaf's vocal. Reine's heavy electric guitar joins in during the first chorus and then persists. Not sure Reine's and Gustaf's visions for this song/album are in sync here. (8/10)

Total Time: 34:27

Though Reine Fiske's guitar contributions are, in my opinion, not always the best fit for several of these songs, I think the band's crossover into a more pop-oriented realm of music is justified--they have the talent and skill to be successful there--especially in a world that is very much interested in a renaissance of hippy/flower child styles and dreams.

B/four stars; a nice addition to any prog lover's music collection--especially if you love the psych pop of the late 1970s.

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars DUNGEN have been releasing music for over 20 years now which is hard to believe. This Swedish Psychedelic/Folk band are very old school and are led by Gustaf Ejstes, and he and guitarist Reine Fiske have been the two constants since that 2001 debut as the lineup has kept changing. And speaking of that debut I have to rank it along with "4", "Haxan" and this one "Skit I Allt" as my favourites from this band.

Released in 2010 it is surprisingly mellow but with some beautiful and memorable melodies. And hey these guys are all players so it's interesting that within the more laid back music we get some real displays of talent. Fiske is clearly mixing things up as well with his playing and style giving us some variety in the guitar department. The flute from Ejstes is important on this release as well but this multi-instrumentalist is all over this album with a variety of instruments as well as his voice.

Top three would certainly include the opener which is my favourite. It's that gorgeous melody with the flute that just opens up before a minute. This is followed by "Min Enda Van" and yes this album opens strong with these first two tracks. Claps, piano, vocals and guitar giving us a light and folky start. The vocals and sound rise before a minute and we get strings too. Two beautiful tracks to get us started. Final top three is "Barnen Undrar" with that urgent beat and cool sounding guitar, love that tone as vocals join in. It's piano and guitar leading after 2 minutes as the vocals step aside briefly but when the singing returns so does that guitar tone. Nice.

A fairly consistent record with my least favourite being the title track surprisingly and it could have finished stronger with the final two songs but still a very solid 4 stars for this beauty.

Latest members reviews

4 stars I've only recently discovered Dungen but doing so has been one of my great pleasures of the last few months. Skit I Alt is a real gem of an album which sits at the proggier end of the SpaceRock/Psychedelia spectrum. The overall sound is very retro and more than a little reminiscent of the Cant ... (read more)

Report this review (#381709) | Posted by timburlane | Monday, January 17, 2011 | Review Permanlink

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