Dansdepartementet - Wankers 7" 1984

This must be the best goth produced in sweden ever. As you could hear on their first Lp posted a while back, Dansdepartementet were very inspired by killing joke, and their heritage can be heard on this one as well, but now Dansarna managed to blend in their own style and create something that quite hadnt been done before. this was their greatest "hit", if you could talk about hits with a band like this, but i believe even a video was produced, so they must have gotten some kind of recognition. this is great stuff, in the vein of killing joke, siekiera etc.
DU HADE EN PLAN FÖR MIG

Unter Den Linden - Vända Inåt 7" 1982

UDLs first single could almost be taken from their split LP or should i say an early version of Joy Division? nonetheless, this is great post-punk in the JD-school, which not many bands in sweden could match or can match today. i especially like the bass-line on Vända inåt... if you understand swedish theres an excellent page about UDL at punktjafs, with discography, history etc. or just download this piece of musical history.
JAG KAN INTE SE DIG I ÖGONEN LÄNGRE

Unter Den Linden - Utom Våra Liv LP 1984

Im sorry for the lack of posts recently, so i suppose its time for a big one today: the most requested album on this blog, utom våra liv! after their first lp together with att som, udl started to play harder punk, sometimes in the realms of contemporary HC-bands (just check their Motstånd i Läder 7", avaliable at killed by death) but what makes them stand out from the boring, one-note trash mayhem of most hc-bands is their overwhelming nihilism. the lyrics are so full of hate, anger, knife-sharp social criticism that its hard to see how any of them lived through the eighties. it could, of course, be a distanced outlook on society and how we behave, but every time i play this one the words stab at me with their fierce darkness. and yes, theres music as well, mostly fast punk with a strong experimental edge, as in the closing, 7 minute track Survivors, the only song thats vaugely remenicent of their first album. but make no mistake, this is an album for both kbd-freaks and goths. and if you understand swedish, just listen to the lyrics! this is great stuff...
JAG VILL INTE DANSA PÅ GATORNA, SOM I GREKLAND

Martin Rössel - Kär 7" 1990

I could say a lot of things about martin rössels late eighties solocareer, but i wont. lets just say that he released three solo LPs and a lot of singles. one lp on gothenburg alternative label Radium Records and the other two on one of the majors, CBS. this single, however, taken from his last LP, Resan, is an excellent exercise in silly pop music. i first heard the title track in frispel, a weird program on the swedish national radio, and looked for it for many years until i found out he was a member of a early eighties band and finally i managed to find this record. its so silly its brilliant! the b-side is quite good as well, a bit synth-flavoured and all.
SVEN, TJENA!

Lars Cleveman - 100 Wars Of Jesus Christ 7" 1986

Second single from Cleveman's solo career (although most of Dom Dummaste plays on this record), with a remake of what would have been their biggest "hit", jesu kristi 100 krig. this time in english and with a new arrangement, leaving a bit of the pure synth joy that was the original and updating it to 1985. the b-side shows cleveman at his most john cale-ish, drenched in traditional blues, something im not especially fond of but overall its a great performance. also, its produced by one of the best producers in sweden, johan vävare. if you like DDs vision of the world theres no turning back now, get this as well.
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE

Lars Cleveman - Cleveman LP 1985

If you loved Lars Clevemans single or his parts on Revolverkäke youll love this as well. another slice of minimal synth goodness that, as usual, should be selling on ebay for 100000000$, but as its been almost forgotten since its release i guess its no surprise most people havent heard this. So, this is great synth-based heaven, with Lars voice as good as it always is. Sometimes, though, he fumbles a bit with the english language, but its ok, since hes such a great singer. The music reminds me a bit of Cluster and similar kraut-electronica at times, but also of DDs contemporaries of the time. Just like Martin Rössels solo-LP this was released on DD-records and recorded in Martins private studio. Do not miss this, its GREAT!
MY BEST FRIENDS ARE THOSE WHO DIED

Lars Cleveman - The Ghost 7" 1984

Up for grabs today is Lars Clevemans first solo output, a single released on Dom Dummastes own label DD records. this should please all minimal synth collectors with its mellow synths and lars' great vocals. the b-side is a remake of the title track off Revolverkäke and i think it beats the original many times over. also, ive just heard that a book is in the making, in time for DDs 30th anniversary, so stay tuned for more information on that or check their site again. more cleveman coming soon...
BARNEN SÖRJER VID HANS GRAV