Dungen Ta Det Lugnt (Universal) CD - Import

One of the most critically acclaimed indie-rock albums of 2004, TA DET LUGNT introduced Dungen to audiences far outside of the group's Swedish homeland. Led by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Gustav Ejstes, the collective specializes in a musical hybrid that it has dubbed "folkrockpsych," an appropriate appellation, since the band gleefully careens through the trippier realms of 1960s/'70s-era folk and rock, occasionally breaking out jazz and ambient passages to make the ride even more intriguing. While DUNGEN, a collection of earlier recordings, showcases a mellower side to the ensemble's sound, TA DET LUGNT revels in more amped-up territory, venturing into Hendrix/Cream-like guitar freak-outs with wild abandon. Although some listeners may be put off by the sometimes-chaotic nature of the album, those looking for dynamic and adventurous '60s/'70s-inspired rock will find it in abundance here.

One of the most critically acclaimed indie-rock albums of 2004, TA DET LUGNT introduced Dungen to audiences far outside of the group's Swedish homeland. Led by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Gustav Ejstes, the collective specializes in a musical hybrid that it has dubbed "folkrockpsych," an appropriate appellation, since the band gleefully careens through the trippier realms of 1960s/'70s-era folk and rock, occasionally breaking into jazz and ambient passages to make the ride even more intriguing. While DUNGEN, a collection of earlier recordings, showcases a mellower side of the ensemble's sound, TA DET LUGNT revels in more amped-up territory, venturing with wild abandon into Hendrix/Cream-like guitar freak-outs. Although some listeners may be put off by the sometimes chaotic nature of the album, those looking for dynamic and adventurous '60s/'70s-inspired rock will find it in abundance here.Spin (p.62) - Ranked #26 in Spin's "40 Best Albums Of 2005" - "Dungen add an imperious Cardigans polish to the mountainous riff-raider power surges of those Scandinavian '70s prog bands..."
Spin (p.99) - "[A] richly rewarding passage through the last five decades of American music history, with a lingering stopover in the PET SOUNDS era." - Grade: A-
Entertainment Weekly (No. 834, p.145) - "...[Y]ou'll swear it's a lost tape from a sweet Hendrix-Iron Butterfly-Cream jam session." - Grade: B+
Entertainment Weekly (No. 834, p.145) - "...[Y]ou'll swear it's a lost tape from a sweet Hendrix-Iron Butterfly-Cream jam session." - Grade: B+
Uncut (p.113) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] classic of modern psychedelia, encompassing lush chamber-pop pastoral acid-folk, jazz time signatures and Beatlesy waltzes in a way that's clearly inspired by saucer-eyed rockers past..."