Swedish prog "feel"
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Topic: Swedish prog "feel"
Posted By: awaken77
Subject: Swedish prog "feel"
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 05:46
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listening to various Swedish prog rock bands (of very different genres) including Kaipa, The Flower Kings, Samla Mammas Manna, Anglagard, Anekdoten, Sinkadus, Blakulla I found some subtle similarities in harmony and general perception of the music (although they play in quite different styles) and even some Transatlantic tracks, which are dominated by Roine Stolt, have that feel. What is that? Is there some "Swedish way of musical composition" ? |
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Posted By: PabstRibbon
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 08:17
| Since they all come from the same country, they sure have similar folklore influences and that's something that influenced a lot in the moment of writting music. Most of the melodies are folk based. ( Just think about the flute in Anglagard or some keyboard themes in Flower Kings) That's what makes Swedish music so Swedish I think haha |
Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 08:19
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It's the same deal with a lot of Finnish metal. I've noticed that Amorphis and Nightwish share similar melodic structures, and like PabstRibbon said, that's because they share the same cultural music. ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: Rune2000
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 09:35
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I personally blame it on our clean tap water! ------------- 
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 09:39
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it can be a mixture of folkmusic, Abba, and avoidence of all thing concerned dance band musik, real musicians get rash and skin diseaces from listening to Vikingarna og Lasse Stefans, ucch worst thing called music is Swedish dance band followd by Norwegiain dance band. but i mostly the folk music which creeps into peoples fingers and Abba i think is the main couses -------------  
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Posted By: OT Räihälä
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 12:36
I know something even worse, and that's Finnish schlagers... Swedish dance bands aren't half as irritating.  * * * Folk music is an obvious reason behind a lot of Nordic prog, and the Swedish "feel". Apart from genuine folk music, most Swedish prog musicians have heard stuff like Jan Johanssons Jazz på svenska for their whole lives. It is impossible to avoid its influence in Sweden. I think it's a good thing only, because Swedish (and other Nordic) folk tunes transform into prog very well. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/osmotapioraihala/sets" rel="nofollow - Composer - Click to listen to my works! |
aginor wrote:Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 12:57
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maybe also some influence from Evert Taube and Cornelis Vresvijk also can have had a strong finger in the development of the Swedish prog sound -------------
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 13:22
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I've never heard any particular Swedish sound in the bands mentioned in the OP and in Swedish rock in general, but I do hear a very strong "Scandinavian" / "nordic" sound in ECM music. People tell me it's because of the strong influence of Scandinavian folk. In prog, the only scenes that have their own sound are IMO the Italian and the German scene. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 13:37
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thier is a sound in british prog to, an celtic influenced subconcious mystical force that one can find in most UK bands
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 13:37
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I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, it's drawn me to bands like The Flower Kings, Karmakanic, most of The Tangent, Beardfish, even Transatlantic. The Tangent and Transatlantic are probably the best in fusing that Swedish feel with British and American feel respectively. (well, TA has all 3!) ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Posted By: rdtprog
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 15:48
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Yes there is a "Swedish prog feel". My favorite bands are coming from this country. But i can't say what's common to all swedish bands. But there are many similarities in a lot of them. I can put them in 2 category : Dark bands : Anglagard, Anekdoten, Gosta Berlings Saga, etc. Light bands : Flower Kings, Moon Sagari, Brother Ape, etc. I think there is a lot of retro sounds in all of them, sometimes eclectic, other times symphonic, sometimes a good use of mellotron. |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 15:54
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I've been meaning to get some Moon Safari. I'm going to order their Blomljud album
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: seb2112
Date Posted: August 17 2011 at 17:42
| I'd say its a Scandanavian feel, as I hear it also in Wobbler's early material |
Posted By: brainstormer
Date Posted: August 18 2011 at 20:04
OK, put on your prog cosmic hats:  I am totally convinced that there is something in the geology, which is inadvertently influenced by/and influences the flora and fauna of an area, that seeps into the atmosphere, which people breath, and which somehow influences them. Travel around the U.S. enough and you will see people have subtle differences in every state. ------------- -- Robert Pearson Regenerative Music http://www.regenerativemusic.net Telical Books http://www.telicalbooks.com ParaMind Brainstorming Software http://www.paramind.net |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: August 19 2011 at 00:03
As I read this thread in Chicago, Illinois USA, I have to laugh! You Scandinavians bicker like a bunch of Yanks from the Midwest! Clearly, your music is influenced by your diets of various pickled fishes, excellent vodka and probably too much sex. I approve, keep up the good work.
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 19 2011 at 00:14
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Lamb of Gods song Redneck is written/influenced from a time when Lamb of God toured with Dimmu Borgir and observed them as more Redneck then most conservative redneck in the midwest, it is the truth...
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 19 2011 at 00:28
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: August 19 2011 at 06:56
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Swedish prog feel? Hmm... I guess Anekdoten, Anglagard and Sinkadus all have a distinct sound, which very often conveys images of the cold hard north with snowcapped mountains, fjords and relentless winds. Would we take notice of this, if we didn´t know where these bands hail from? Maybe - I´m not quite sure. Dungen is one of my absolute favorite Swedish bands, and they sound completely different - as do Sammla Mammas Manna and The Spacious Mind. I kind of get what the OP is refering to though, and perhaps our cultural heritage and geology somehow shines through in the music like Brainstormer said. Every action sport a reaction - simple physics. Just like Krautrock was a sonic revolution against the antiquated mindset of the fascist regime the country had been enslaved by. I personally think Italy´s RPI stems from the same sort of thing, although rooted in their own musical heritage. Krautrock seemed to tear up their sonic roots and start from scratch. Sweden or let´s just say Scandinavia - have no such past, where they were trambled underfoot by imprisoning boundaries. This raises the question: Does the freedom attached to making music like you want to - set you "free" as a musician, or does it lull you into an unexploratory mode - where you get your inspirations from outside of your own little pond? Personally I think much of the Scandinavian prog bands share many attributes with the UK - and always has. BUT the way we dress it up might just reflect the essence of old Nordic myths together with a carelessness and security that is made possible and supported by our countries who in recent times have been spared of dictatorships and mind-control. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: thehallway
Date Posted: August 21 2011 at 16:00
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They are all heavily influenced by ABBA! 'couldn't escape if they wanted to....... ------------- http://www.thefreshfilmblog.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: August 21 2011 at 21:04
I agree with Pabst Ribbon's comment (the first one you received) about Swedish cultural and folksong influences. I like your monicker - awaken77 - as that is my favorite song off of that great 1977 Yes album. Really like certain songs from Kaipa and Flower Kings too...
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 08:48
Not to forget the gentle sounds of Roxette and Ace of Base - which tend to be overused in modern symphonic bands. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: awaken77
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 09:48
yes they have similarities with Anglagard/Anekdoten/Sinkadus type of "dark folk-prog sound" (though they are Norvegian ) |
Posted By: thehallway
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 10:07
Roxette were Swedish? Well, you learn something every day! ------------- http://www.thefreshfilmblog.com/" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 12:36
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Par Lindh was responsible for forming the Swedish Art Rock Society around about 1991 which included Roine Stolte as well as members of Anekdoten and Anglagard. This may of helped to create a conformity of approach or ideas perhaps? Read more: http://www.parlindh.com/Content.aspx/Page/PLPHistory" rel="nofollow - http://www.parlindh.com/Content.aspx/Page/PLPHistory From the article: 1991 to 1994
At the dawn of the new wave of Swedish progressive rock The Swedish Art Rock Society was founded in 1991 with Pär Lindh as chairman. This movement helped to launch the Swedish progressive rock wonder of the nineties with bands like Änglagård, Galleon, Anekdoten, The Flower Kings, and of course The Pär Lindh Project (PLP). At the first Festival arranged by the society in autumn 1991 Pär gave a speach as well as a performance. All the three major progressive bands at the time from Sweden showed up Anekdoten, Änglagård and Landberk. Some of them came to perform others just to attend the event. This Art-rock festival became somewhat of a startingpoint for a new wave of exiting music emerging from this scandinavian country. Pär was determined to once again take up the banner of progressive rock." I listened back to some old recordings with ELP, YES, Genesis, King Crimson and other progressive bands from that era and just realised how very good this music was.". So Pär dusted off his old B3 Hammond organ which had been standing unused in the cellar of his parents house and started to look for a band. He found the group Manticore in a nearby town and played with them for a couple of years before moving on to build his own studio-complex for the recording of his musical compositions. The first record to emerge from the Crimsonic Label is Pär Lindh´s innovative album "Gothic Impressions" which has influences from renaissence music, early baroque, Bach, postromanticism, aventgarde, impressionism and from the symphonic rock bands of the early seventies. The result is a unique new kind of music. On this CD you will find some of Swedens finest artrock musicians which ensures a very high performing quality |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 12:52
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most on Britney Speats first two albums are written and produced in Stockholm Sweden (Hit Me Baby One More TIme are writen by a swede, Max Martin a ex heavy metaler), he also wrote most of Backstreet Boys albums and NSynch so you can say that some early Boybands had the swedish sound as well as Britney Spears.
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 12:54
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Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 13:41
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Because I am the only sober contributor here......... schnell !!!.............. Let me get this thread back to topic again. The Swedish prog feel was originally mentioned in the context of the Ingmar Bergman movies. You know, all these dark movies where the devil plays chess with your soul. And that is the most frivolous light hearted of his movies. The rest of his movies, the darker ones, is about depression, repression, darkness and..... did I mention depression ? This was later called "the Swedish depression" and bands like Anekdoten and Anglagard was very influenced by it. Most Swedish bands was, in fact. ABBA was viciously attacked by the Swedish press because they were not depressive. I kid you not ! The depression spread like a wildfire to Norway and we all became suicidal. It also indirectly spawned the black metal movement. So blame everything on Ingmar Bergman. Him and these dark forests which covers Sweden. (actually; I am not sober......) |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 13:46
not the dance bands  they are also pertty dark chapter in scandinavian conteporary history also
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Posted By: refugee
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 14:55
Your last remark (in brackets) was superfluous. Cheers! ------------- He say nothing is quite what it seems; I say nothing is nothing (Peter Hammill) |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 17:00
What's wrong with ABBA?? If they are good enough for Fripp, they are good enough for me!! F: Abba are very, very good. http://www.arthurmag.com/2010/05/09/joe-strummer-and-robert-fripp-in-conversation-1981/" rel="nofollow - http://www.arthurmag.com/2010/05/09/joe-strummer-and-robert-fripp-in-conversation-1981/ |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: August 22 2011 at 17:50
| I think it's a similar issue to what people call "Rock Progressivo Italiano", in which the bands have a similar sound, even though the music is quite different, some being more symphonic, other more heavy prog influenced, etc. and yet, has a feel to it which is quite similar and distinctive. Swedish prog also has it's own sound, even though the bands are quite different in style, sound, etc. |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: August 23 2011 at 00:42
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Maybe they should have their own sub-genre here on PA. At the least it would allow more attention to many of these great bands. Let's face it, the classic 70s bands are all over the top albums charts for the sub genre's they're in. Bands like The Flower Kings have such undeserving ratings on this site.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 23 2011 at 01:22
I don't agree. Anglagard - Hybris is one of the top rated albums while some classic symph bands (well ELP mainly) have low ratings. The Flower Kings have churned out far too much 'middling' stuff with double CD's the norm. Even the classic seventies bands were apparently not as 'inspired' as Roine Stolte seems to be.
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Posted By: thehallway
Date Posted: August 23 2011 at 03:42
I love ABBA. That's why I said it! ------------- http://www.thefreshfilmblog.com/" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: August 23 2011 at 04:47
| I dunno, to me Swedish music (and I have a lot of it on vinyls) has always sounded very cheerful, as if there were nothing wrong with the society, and therefore nothing to complain about. I mean, most of the pop in my country is really down and blue, based on crying and minor chords, but take Kaipa or Flower Kings for example, or even Ace of Base and Abba, you'll find some cheerfulness in them, you must. A lot of the lyrics and playing is also very clean, of course though, because it's symphonic prog usually. Well, I don't know, even Opeth sounds like positive music to me. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: August 23 2011 at 07:13
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@ Passionist
actualy i agree that even as bleek most Opeth is their music have way more positive and major chord dominated then bands like Amorphis, (who is like the Finnish equivelant of Opeth), and they arent particurlarly bleek as of lateer releases) -------------
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Posted By: progrules
Date Posted: August 25 2011 at 03:04
I'm suprised nobody referred to Grand Stand, Galleon, Simon Says, A.C.T., Atlas, Mind's Eye, Evergrey and Pain of Salvation so far. Not to mention some lesser known bands like Cloudscape, Maze of Time and Introitus who are all excellent and it can't be a coincidence all these great bands are from Sweden. I don't know if there's a common ground or a general element detectable in all these bands sounds and styles. All I know is it's incredible quality and I check out anything from Sweden immediately if I don't know it yet.  ------------- A day without prog is a wasted day |
Posted By: mgarrett
Date Posted: September 13 2011 at 03:36
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The main ingredience that makes Swedish and Nordic/Scandinavian prog sound similar to eachother and different to prog from other parts of the world is, as many have already mentioned, their common roots in Nordic/Scandinavian folk music. Many have mentioned the sense of depression in the collective Nordic soul whether it comes from the dark, cold winters with no sunlight what so ever or from Ingemar Bergman-movies.
I think this is somewhat of a misconception.
I don't think it's depression but what is common to most Nordics (especially Sweden and Finland) is a sense of melancholy. (There is a huge difference between depression and melancholy)
This melancholy goes way back in the soul of the Nordic people and is something that they actually treasure.
Another thing I think might influence at least the Swedish prog and Swedish music in general are that there are two things that are strictly "forbidden" in the PC society of the country.
1. You must not think that you are better than anyone else ever. (This is commonly known as the "Jante law" in Sweden)
2. You must never be Nationalistic.
However, there are two fields within both of the two unwritten laws above are no longer valid and that seems to be in music and sports.
Where am I going with this?
 I think what might be uniting the bands of Sweden in both sound and field is that in the music these bands feel free finally to disregard boundries and also treasure and celebrate their cultural heritage of great folk music.
So, in order to reach a conclusion to my personal theory....
I think what makes the feel of the great bands of Sweden such as Anglagard, Anekdoten, The Flower Kings, Ritual, Opeth, Pain of Salvation, Salva, Kaipa and Landberk is a sense of melancholy in the collective national soul and also a joy of finally being able to ebrace all that is otherwise forbidden.
...oh and let's not forget....the influence of ABBA....
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Posted By: rdtprog
Date Posted: September 13 2011 at 04:47
^^ Yes that's what i feel when listening to those bands, a beautiful sense of melancholy and not depression... |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: September 13 2011 at 10:29
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The Jante Law ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_language" rel="nofollow - Danish and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_language" rel="nofollow - Norwegian : Janteloven; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_language" rel="nofollow - Swedish : Jantelagen; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_language" rel="nofollow - Finnish : Janten laki; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroese_language" rel="nofollow - Faroese : Jantulógin) is a pattern of group behaviour towards individuals within http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavians" rel="nofollow - Scandinavian communities, which negatively portrays and criticizes individual success and achievement as unworthy and inappropriate. The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark" rel="nofollow - Danish - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway" rel="nofollow - Norwegian author http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aksel_Sandemose" rel="nofollow - Aksel Sandemose in his novel http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_fugitive_crosses_his_tracks&action=edit&redlink=1" rel="nofollow - A fugitive crosses his tracks (En flyktning krysser sitt spor, 1933, English translation published in the USA in 1936) identified the Jante Law as a series of rules. Sandemose's novel portrays the small Danish town Jante (modelled upon his native town http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyk%C3%B8bing_Mors" rel="nofollow - Nykøbing Mors as it was at the beginning of the 20th century, but typical of all small towns and communities), where nobody is anonymous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jante_law#cite_note-0" rel="nofollow - [1] Generally used colloquially as a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology" rel="nofollow - sociological term to negatively describe an attitude towards individuality and success common in Scandinavia, the term refers to a mentality which refuses to acknowledge individual effort and places all emphasis on the collective, while punishing those who stand out as achievers. The term may often be used negatively by individuals who more or less rightfully feel they are not allowed to take credit for their achievements, or to point out their belief that another person is being overly critical. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jante_Law&action=edit§ion=1" rel="nofollow - edit ] DefinitionThere are ten different rules in the law as defined by Sandemose, but they all express variations on a single theme and are usually referred to as a homogeneous unit: Don't think you're anyone special or that you're better than us. The ten rules state:
An eleventh rule recognized in the novel is: 11. Don't think that there aren't a few things we know about you. In the book, the Janters who transgress this unwritten 'law' are regarded with suspicion and some hostility, as it goes against communal desire in the town to preserve harmony, social stability and uniformity. -------------
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Posted By: paganinio
Date Posted: September 22 2011 at 07:17
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I've always said that if you use one hour of music to represent Sweden, exactly 2/3 of it will be Edge of Sanity's Crimson. The melodic development, crystal feel, and cold toughness can be witnessed in other Swedish music. ------------- 
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Posted By: sturoc
Date Posted: November 28 2011 at 23:08
| BO HANSSON |
Posted By: Skägget
Date Posted: November 29 2011 at 05:44
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From reading this thread I feel pretty proud of being swedish! Let's not forget that the swedish music wonder extends itself to other sorts of music to. As mentioned earlier much of the comercial mainstreem pop is written in and by sweds.. Lady Gaga works alot with a swedish producer called Red One for example. But then we have the swedish deathmetal scene to, both a Gothenburg(At the Gates, In Flames) and a Stockholm(Entombed, Dismember) sound. And don't forget that we got some of the leading bands when it comes to retrorock to. Hellacopters, Graveyard and the likes. There is not that much to do here during wintertime so I think many people play music instead of going out alot. ------------- www.soundcloud.com/lotgardet www.myspace.com/inevitableend |