LANDET LEVERPASTEJ

Fantastic!!! This is far better than Änglagård!!! Not that they are similar, but they are both contemporary Swedish instrumental prog bands, so that's the reason for the comparison. In Änglagård, I've always found the music a bit stiff. Grovjobb has a heavy and quite jazzy groove in their music, and with a lot of "live-feel". This jamming and groovy playing makes it sound like a live set. There are also folk-inspired parts, so the directions are jazz, folk and rock, but it blends together perfectly with the superb musicianship. The flute brings thoughts to Jethro Tull, and the jazzy parts to King Crimson. If you're a fan of old school prog and appreciate good musicianship you would probably love "Landet Leverpastej". The band name "Grovjobb" translates "hard work", and that's certainly what this band puts in their music. I'm not patriotic, but this is definitely an album that deserves full five stars! Without a doubt!

Often mentioned, rarely reviewed, this Swedish bluesy jazz-prog group released three albums in the late 90's that were noticed by the prog scene. An instrumental quartet on this album lead by guitarist/Indian sitarist Jerry Johansson, this unusual line-up included flutist Simon Jensen as well.Released on the small Garageland Record label and sporting an intriguing railway bridge lost out in Sweden's mountainside, this instrumental prog album is a bit unusual from what the average proghead might expect from Sweden.

Grovjobb (hard work) is indeed a bit different than most of their countrymen in that that they don't have a keyboard player (let alone a mellotron) and that they are often in the happy jazz rock mode (with a persistent bluesy jam tinge) rather than the sombre symphonic realm, but somehow, you won't have to overstretch yourself to guess their country of origin once the disc is halfway through, because the usual Swedish melancholy is there, often inspired by Anekdoten. In that regard, the title track is the textbook example.

As their leader Johansson wrote all of the tracks (but sharing half of those credits with drummer Jensen and then-outsider Lundgren), the album might seem a bit monotonous at first and it will take a few listens to start getting in the different tracks, among which the hauntingly enthralling Sommarvals (summer valleys, I think), with its heart torn between early Anekdoten and Anglagard. While the album is loaded from flute, it escapes the usual Tull comparison, its style being between Van Leer, Mel Collins and Ian Mcdonald, rather than the Mad Flauter's saturated antics.

As JJ will continue his musical career well after Grovjobb's demise, specializing and getting a solid reputation in classic Indian sitar, I am not aware of what the Jensen brothers or bassists Jarold became, but LL is a good album that all progheads should appreciate for its typical Swedish ambiance.

Grovjobb (translate in hard work) is a swedish band formed in mid '90's. They have since now 3 albums , this one Landet Leverpastej is the first one from 1998. Grovjobb's music sounds if was made in 1976 or even earlier, the atmosphere , the way they manage to create the passages gives you the feeling that you listen to some obscure mid '70's band. But surprise is given by the year of release - 1998. With this release Grovjobb come with an impressive album - Landet Leverpastej , with some brilliant guitar parts interplayed very well with flute and in places with sitar. As many bands from the newer generation tries to sound like their teachers - Grovjobb is no exception - they really succeded to sound like a 70's progressive band. What gives to Grovjobb musical uniquess is that they don't have keybordis and keys, the only instruments are guitar, drums, flute, bass and ocassionaly sitar. Very good and intristing are the prog elements combined with native folk motives and aswell some jazzy moments here and there, that gives a special atmosphere to the pieces. All album is instrumental that is another thing that the members must be congratulated, because they done a great effort with this album, and have enough spave to create something of a true value in progressive rock these days. For a debute album this is real something. All the pieces stands as excellent to me, not a weak moment for sure. As one of the reviewers said earlier is that Grovjobb are often mentioned but rarely reviewed, not because thier music is unintristing or something alike, but because their are very unknown in prog circles and is a damn shame. They are not an everyday band, thay have their own sound and quite intristing arrangements all the way. I will give 4 stars for this debute , excellent work by this unknown band. The CD is available or it was, I don't know because I have them all three albums for some years from Garageland Records, a small label from Sweden. Intristing and aswell intriguing is the cover art, looks like a railway bridge lost somewhre in the swedish lands. Recommended

All instrumental Swedish outfit Grovjobb begun life in mid-90's originally as a bass/guitars/drums trio featuring Jerry Johansson, Ola Wolfhechel Jensen and Jonas Elgemark.Their sound though became richer a few months later with the addition of Danish flutist Simon Krarup Jensen, who around the time had moved to Göteborg.The band made their debut in 1998 on Garageland Records with the album ''Landet Leverpastej''.

The first work of Grovjobb outburst a strong Scandinavian flavor throughout the whole release, exploring psychedelic, jazzy and folk grounds depending on the track.Most of the tracks hide some pure energy and late-70's power reminiscent of KEBNEKAJSE, where the musicianship is led by Johansson's fiery psychedelic guitar grooves and riffs along with a dynamic rhythm section, often accompanied by strong flute solos by Jensen.These tracks contain strong Heavy Rock and Blues influences but at moments, when the guitars slow a bit down, there is a strong LANDBERK flavor to be tasted.But Grovjobb show also some love for somber and low-tempo instrumental tunes with a heavy Folk vibe.Then is when Jensen's flute work is certainly on the forefront, creating typical Scandinavian melancholic soundscapes and the rest of the band supports playing in a rather mellow style.Not the whole album is tightly structured, as Grovjobb offer also some loose arrangements with a jamming feeling and a light improvisation touch.

File next to all Swedish bands of the 90's (ANEKDOTEN, LANDBERK, ANGLAGARD), which tried to bring back the 70's Progresive Rock aura in one way or another.A nice album for fans of Scandinavian Prog with evident Folk, Jazz and Psychedelic Rock inspirations...3.5 stars.