CHARLIE & ESDOR

This compilation contains the "Grönt är Skönt" EP songs with other unpublished recordings of the group, and thus contains the largest official selection of the band's material. Their maybe best composition "Dagen är Över" is presented here twice, creating a circular theme reference to the album, and showing their talent in both studio with guest musicians, and as a duo on stage (maybe at Gärdet). The band's music is probably a compromise of progressive concept both in the context of artistic innovative rock music of the 1960's/1970's, and also the less adventurous political "progg" music of Swedish. The Incredible String Band comes into my mind from sitar, folk rock style and long wailing untrained male duo voices. Some songs resemble more The Jimi Hendrix Experience due violent acid guitar and straightforward aggressive drumming, "It's All Over Now" sounded Jimi's Driving South radio live jam, and "Fuck The Cops" as a hybrid of Little Miss Lover and Purple Haze. The original provocative lyrics are sadly not heard on this record. The title song of the EP "Grönt är Skönt" sounds more like Bob Dylan amplified 1970's songs. The only English sung tune "How Does It Feel to Be Without Friends?" is quite painful listening experience somehow, maybe due vocals and negative feeling of the song. Other tracks in Swedish are quite simple folk rock structural tunes, with some audio soundscapes attached to them. Interesting music, being partly very good, partly not so appealing to my personal tastes, but certainly appearing interesting and recommendable for fans of global and Swedish psych folk prog rock scene.

Charlie Franzén och Esdor Jensen were two guys from Katrineholm in Södermanland, Sweden. They were found by Träd, gräs och stenar when they were on tour and were invited to the first "Party at Gärdet" 1970 a music event with underground more or less amateurish bands. Their music is best describes as late 60s psychedelic rock with blues and oriental influences in the sitar for example. I have red that some people consider them as one of the most important bands during the alternative music movement in the early seventies. Despite this they didn't get a record deal. Perhaps the group "Philemon Arthur & The Dung" were inspired by Charlie och Esdor when they did their famous record in 1972 (a record that should be here at PA).

After hearing this I can't really agree it's an essential disc. They were quite unique and some track are good. What is unique here is primarily the lyrics which feel improvised. They played many instruments, Charlie plays sitar and Esdor seems to be a good bass player fpr example. They were helped by a skillful guitarist: Lasse Summanen on most tracks.

And now to the songs: I will start with the best ones. "Dagen är över" is both showed in a studio and a live version, the studio one is best. The text is very simple but life-affirming: Dagen är över (the day is over), nu kan kvällen komma (now the evening are allowed to come), och sen glida över (and then slide over), i nattens lugn och ro (in the night's tranquility) etc. It's a significant "progg" song with some skillful instrumentation and some really amateurish stuff. "Då klagar mina grannar" feels even more improvised and still a good song about a man who cleans his glasses and then takes a guitar and plays, but not too loud because then his neighbors will complain. "Grönt är skönt" is the best song on the record. It's a protest song about leaving the trees unhurt. They thought that "green is nice". Some songs are very groovy psychedelic blues rock songs with great performances from the musicians such as the instrumentals "It's all over now" and "Fuck the cops" but hery were not my favourites. A very interesting record for hippies and people interested in the most obscure among the obscures. This is so obscure that they didn't even do a full length record in the seventies, just one singel and one EP. Good but not essential.