Compilation of music groups in Tonkraft during the 1970s

(As a basis for selecting art-rock groups. Art-rock groups in bold.

This listing is based on program lists from Tonkraft that I have analyzed to determine the group’s style. Analysis was done using the magazines Musikens Makt and Ny Musik, discussions with program host Christer Eklund from Tonkraft, interviews, and personal knowledge.

Aires – Style undetermined. Alfons Bandage – Improvisation group, not art-rock. Albione Dance Band – English folk rock. (MM issue 11/12 1976 p. 29). Björn Alke Kvartett – Jazz group. Alter Ego – Clearly an art-rock group with clear influences from Jethro Tull according to Tonkraft recording. Complexity in composition/arrangement and typical art-rock instrumentation. Anna Själv Tredje – Art-rock group according to Tonkraft, including Dan Söderqvist (electric guitar, vocals) and Karl Gasleben (synth, vocals). “Meditative programs have been composed where stationary soundscapes consisting of a mix of loops, sound clusters, and concrete sounds form the foreground.” (Statement by AST in H. Gatu’s review MM issue 11/12 1977 p. 35) An early art-rock group with a distinctive sound. They are also influenced by the art-rock group Tangerine Dream. Antabus – Punk group. Anton Swedbergs Svängjäng – Blues/pop/jazz/folk group from Luleå. Archimedes Badkar – A “collective improvisation group with music from F Zappa to Archie Shepp” (Mård A., MM issue 4, 1973) free jazz. Arbete och Fritid – “from free jazz to a kind of all-music with strong elements of Swedish and foreign folk music. (Persson B. N.M. issue 4, 1973 p. 22) Not art-rock, called ‘progg’ style. Arkestra Arkestra – (Lasse Tenander) Arnes Änglar – Prog rock. Art Zoyd – French art-rock “musical roots in jazz and classical music.” (BR p. 26) Aston Reimers Rivaler – Folk and rock music with African influences. (MM issue 11/12 1979 p. 29) Barabass – Style undetermined. Bastard – Style undetermined. Beijerstrand Band – Rock-based music. (Jönsson K.G., MM issue 7 1978 p. 19) Belt And Braces Roadshow Band – English prog rock. Big Voice Odom – American blues. Blue Fire – Blues. “Blue Fire’s blues often derives from Chicago blues.” (J. Rosenqvist, MM issue 5/6 1978 p. 29) City Boy – Foreign rock. Combo 8 – Jazz-funk. “The Borås group Combo 8 plays ‘jazz-funk,’ but on their debut album, they balance on the edge of disco music.” (F. Söderling MM issue 3 1977 p. 21) Contra – Jazz-rock, fusion. (Tonkraft record) Cosmic Overdose – Art-rock “Lyrical and sensitive synth and keyboard-oriented music.” (From BR 1993 p. 598) Influences from Kraftwerk and German synthesizer art-rock. The group has the typical art-rock sound and instrumentation but verges on New Wave/synth-rock. However, included due to the potential reorientation of art-rock towards the 80s. Dag Vag – A punk-, pop-, and reggae-inspired group. Not art-rock. (Bonnier Rock Lexicon p. 141.) Dice – A clear example of art-rock that meets most of Brolinson/Larsen’s complexity and timbre criteria, with clear influences from ELP. Delirium – Art-rock with inspiration from King Crimson. Complexity in composition and arrangement. (According to an interview with Lundquist B. 18/6 1995, a member of the group.) Dimmornas Bro – “Rhythmic, somewhat stiff and uneven form of prog rock” (From Bonners Rock Lexicon p. 259.) Kaipa review; If you compare with the only other Swedish band playing similar music – Dimmornas Bro -” (O. Clausen MM issue 7 1978 p. 19) Art-rock, especially for the sound and influences the group had from Pink Floyd and Genesis. Doggers Bankar – Prog rock. Dom smutsiga Hundarna – Blues rock. (A. Brännholm, MM issue 4 1977 p. 19) Duga – A group with Lars Tenander, a troubadour with roots in blues and rock. (BR p. 568) Ebba Grön – Punk group. (Article MM issue 7 p. 12) Egba – Free jazz group. Peter O Ekberg och Rockamöllan – Blues-based rock. Elda med höns – Punk rock. Eldkvarn – Rock and soul-based music. Elektriska Linden – Rock with circus-style on stage. (F. Rubin MM issue 9 1979 p. 5) Rock music in the style of Motvind (MM issue 3 1978 p. 21) Ensamma Hjärtan – Hard rock. “…which was a much more rock-oriented band..” (From BR p. 477.) “Anyone who’s heard Deep Purple and Black Sabbath has heard this too.” (S. Andersson, MM issue 5/6 1978 p. 29) Etna – Fusion rock on the edge of art-rock. (C. Eklund) Extra – “Lipp is from Poland and trained as a classical pianist.” Keyboard in Extra. (BR p. 60 and 490) Formed in 1978 with art-rock playing technique and formal complexity. Falskspel med Trumf – Style undetermined. Fantasia – Art-rock. “‘Fantasia’ is perhaps the most symphonic record any of us have made.” (Graf, Grendel issue 1 1984 interview with Hans Lundin in Kaipa.) Fiendens Musik – “Dynamic rock music, inspired by the punk and new wave sound but with clear roots in 50s and 60s rock music.” (BR p. 205) Flod Otto – Style undetermined. Fläsket Brinner – A mixture of folk music, jazz, and rock with inspiration from Frank Zappa. (B.R. p. 211) Folk och Rackare – Folk music group. (MM issue 4 1978 p. 21) Friskt Vatten – Vis rock. “Many of the songs have a lot of troubadour influence…” (K.G. Jönsson MM issue 7 1978 p. 20) Första Förband – Rock. Gnid och Drag – Folk music group. Swedish, Finnish, Romanian, Irish. Grisen Skriker – Punk group. (MM issue 5/6 1979 p. 29) Groundhogs – English rock. Göta Klimax – Prog rock. Jan Hammarlund – Songwriter. Haffsorkestern – “Many talented politically aware musicians playing rock…” (M. Zetterberg MM issue 3 1978 p. 21) Harem – An art-rock group with influences from Bo Hansson according to Tonkraft recording, complexity in arrangement, and influences from Jethro Tull. Heartbreak Hotel – Power pop. (H. Gatu MM issue 10 1978 p. 16) Hets – Music movement rock. Hip Alpbert Band – Style undetermined. Hjärnstorm – Swedish rock. John Holm – “Can be characterized as rock-funk.” (H. Lagher MM issue 1 1977 p. 19) Horizont – According to listening, an art-rock group with influences from Genesis and other art-rock groups. Complexity in arrangement and composition, art-rock lyrics. Hot Salsa – Latin-inspired jazz rock. Hunting Band – A rock band “What works well is straightforward rock…” (MM issue 8 1977 p. 18) Hybris – Art-rock with elements of jazz rock according to an interview with T. Sundström. (Not included in the study.) Häxmjölk – Jazz funk. Hörselmat – Jazz rock group. Ibis – Blend of jazz and pop, instrumental music (article in NM issue 3 1974) Iggesundsgänget – Folk music/vis rock. Intermezzo – Disco rock group. Singer ‘Orup’ (Tomas Eriksson). Iskra – “The improvisational music group ISKRA has its roots in jazz improvisation.” (T. Millroth MM issue 11/12 1977 p. 35) Jack the Lad – English group spawned from Lindisfarne. (BR p. 337) Jajja Band – “Plays positive and full rock, à la old Jefferson Airplane and Allman Brothers..” (G. Flemming MM issue 11/12 1979 p. 9) John Sold – Pop music. Jonas Fjeld Band – Norwegian rock group. Josef K Band – Style undetermined. Kabareorkestern – Group formed by Mikael Wiehe, his backing group. Folk-inspired rock music. (B. Persson, MM issue 1 1980 p. 20) Kaipa – The most well-known name in art-rock in Sweden. “We play pop-symphonic music that is close to the classical structure,” continued Ingmar.” Ingmar Bergman on drums in Kaipa. (P. Gulbrandsen, MM issue 7 1976 interview.) Clear influence from Genesis with the typical ‘symphonic’ sound. Kalebass – Fusion. Kartrait – Style undetermined. Kapingba – Liberian afro rock. Kapten Krok – Folk rock. Katedral – Jazz rock. “Improvised music that, for example, continues in Zamlas tradition.” (J. Rosenqvist MM issue 5/6 1979 p. 29) Kebnekajse – Was from 1971-77 a group with Swedish folk music in rock arrangements. Counted as art-rock from 1977 onwards. “K reorganized (1977) and reemerged as a more symphonic rock band inspired by Yes and Genesis, among others.” (BR p. 308). Kenny Håkansson Band – Swedish folk music in rock attire. Knoa – “Plays acoustic instrumental music” (L. Lilliestam MM issue 10 1978 p. 16). Folk-inspired music. Kolossos Sandaler – Art-rock group (C. Eklund), not included in the study. Kokomo – English backing group for Roger Daltrey. (BR p. 145) Kornet – Jazz rock group. (L. Lilliestam MM issue 1 1978 p. 20) Kriminella Gitarrer – According to BR p. 569, a punk group. Krokus – Jazz rock group. Kräldjursanstalten – Improvisation group. Kung Tung – “Kung Tung plays genuine Småland rock.” (P. Bryngelsson guitarist in KT MM issue 1 1978) Lekstulaget – Folk music group. Line Out – Fusion group. Magnus Lindberg Band – Blues- and country-based rock. Linus and his Band – Blues-based rock. Little Big Horns – Jazz rock. (Tonkraft record) Ulf Lundell & Nature – Blues- and country-based rock. Läskiga Skogen – Prog rock. Lön för Mödan – Prog rock. Maddepolam – Fusion or possibly art-rock (C. Eklund), not included in the study. Made in Sweden – “A distinct jazz rock trio.” (B.R. p. 608) Miklagård – An art-rock trio with inspiration from Samla Mammas Manna and clear elements from ELP. Complexity in arrangement and art-rock sound. Mobben – 70s rock. “Mobben plays rock.” (B. Olsson MM issue 2 1974) “70s rock with clear threads back to 60s and 50s rock and pop.” (H. Norrby, MM issue 4 1977 p. 19) Moder Svea – Art-rock from Tonkraft record. Influenced by early Genesis according to interview. Has typical art-rock complexity in arrangement and art-rock timbre. Moderna Tider – Prog rock. Montevideo – Style undetermined. Mora Träsk – Folk-inspired rock group. Review in MM issue 7 1974 p. 21 “guitar group, and their music can evoke thoughts of Wishbone Ash and Kebnekajse.” (Kebnekajse before 1977 was folk rock.) Motvind – Blues-based guitar rock. “Steady rock with sassy guitars…” (H. Gatu MM issue 1978 p. 20) Myrbein – Style undetermined. Mwendo Dawa – Funk jazz “Based on rhythm, a bouncy funk music is built up.” (F. Söderling, MM issue 8 1977 p. 18) Mögel – “Melodic but imaginative soft pop” (MM issue 1 1976 p. 21) Nationalteatern – Prog group with blues-based rock. Nerv – According to an interview with Björn Lundqvist, a member of the group, they were a New Wave band at the end of the 70s. Noice – New Wave group. Nota Bene – Style undetermined. Norrbottens Järn – “Here you’ll find tango, calypso, a bit of jazz, country and western, Swedish folk tunes, and not least, the group’s own personal version of rock.” (L. Lilliestam, MM issue 4 1977 p. 19) Norrlåtar – Folk musical with influences from rock. Nynningen – Music movement group with roots in rock and blues. Okasala Storm Band – Finnish group. Olle Bäver – Jazz. “A hint of the new German jazz can be detected.” (A. Westman, MM issue 5/6 1978 p. 30). Omlopp – Art-rock according to C. Eklund, not included in the study. Opponer – Vis rock. Oriental Wind – Jazz influenced by Turkish folk music. (H. Norrby MM issue 10 1977 p. 20) Otitis – Jazz rock group. Overture – An art-rock group with formal complexity and a ‘symphonic’ sound according to eavesdropping on Tonkraft and interview. Ozark Mountain Daredevils – American group. Pondus – Style undetermined. Prana – Jazz rock. “A group that attempts a funky jazz rock à la Weather Report.” (H. Gatu MM issue 2 1978 p. 19) Problem – “Garage rock” according to BR p. 451. Puls – Style undetermined. Mikael Ramel Band – Vis pop rock group. Radio Balkan (Balkan) – Danish folk music group. Ragnarök – Art-rock group after a review in MM “Stretching the old standard themes and harmonies and extracting something unique and innovative from the music. “Rhythms are broken and built up again,” (MM issue 3 1976) The color created by acoustic guitars, saxophones, and flutes, and the described complexity and refinement make this art-rock. Ramaskri – Style undetermined. Ramlösa Kvällar – Ethnic, improvisation-based music. Red Label – Blues rock. Reeperbahn – New Wave group. Rekyl – Blues-based rock from Luleå. “Rekyl has its roots in 60s rock and blues music…” (K. Svennem MM issue 2 1978 p. 8) Resa – “Sophisticated, electric jazz.” (K. Sempler issue 11/12 1975 p. 31) Rocking Dopsie – Zydeco music from Louisiana, USA. Rubisa Patrol – American jazz. Ruh Arkestra – Arabic rock. Röda Bönor – From “rice worker’s song” to “Oh Carol” to jazz. (A. Bränholm MM issue 5-6 1977 p. 27 and B. Larsson, MM issue 11/12 1978 p. 14). Rock music. Anders F Rönnblom – Vis pop rock. Roger Rönning Band – Vis pop rock group. Samla Mammas Manna – An art-rock group with rhythmic and formal complexity and “echoes of e.g. baroque music.” “Certain figures are made that are believed to be classical music” (Interview L. Holmer) from the essay Samla Mammas Manna by Lars Lilliestam 1976. Art-rock group mainly in the early stages of the group’s existence. Influences were according to the essay King Crimson, Gentle Giant, and ELP. Sassafras – Style undetermined. Sarek – Style undetermined. Sega Gubbar – Prog rock. Skabb – Punk group. (Article MM issue 7 p. 12) Skilfinger – Danish acoustic ‘music movement progressive’ group. Skottes Musikorkester – Music theater orchestra with songs and theater. (E. Söderström MM issue 11/12 1979 p. 7) Sky High – Blues-based rock group. Solar Plexus – With their piece Concerto Grosso for pop group and orchestra, and according to a review in MM issue 8 1974, they are categorized as art-rock. They have complexity in form and arrangement. Solen skiner – Blues rock. According to an interview in MM 5/6 1975 “The band plays straightforward rock music with its roots in the blues.” Sonant Space – Jazz rock group. Spjärnsvallet – Fusion/folk music. Stentorget – 50s rock and swinging rock music. (MM issue 4 1979) Stetson Kody Group – Jazz rock group from Umeå. Stockholm Slim Blues Band – Blues group. String Driven Thing – English folk rock group. Stålfågel – “We want to play rock music with drive and groove, but it should still be full of surprises.” “Influences from both Captain Beefheart and Shadows.” (P. Kågström MM issue 1 1980 p. 13) Sonant Space – Jazz rock. Southside Stockholm Blues Band – Blues-based music. Suicide – American duo with sound and light show. Sutherland Brothers and Quiver – Foreign rock. Sådd – “Swedish disco?” More music than American disco. (M. Steinvall MM issue 9 1979 p. 22) Eje Thelin Group – Jazz rock group. Tintomara – Female jazz group. Trettioåriga Kriget – Art-rock. “Difficult music” with abrupt changes and shifting time signatures, formal complexity “songs often constructed from short loops that tie together,” (MM issue 8 1974 p. 21.) Formal complexity with influences from King Crimson, Yes, and Genesis according to interview. Trotsålderns Barn – Art-rock with inspiration from Genesis. (Hofverberg J. Rock in Umeå 1958-83) Monica Törnell New Band – Folk rock group. Georg Wadenius – Jazz rock group. Vargavinter – Folk music. “Vargavinter plays folk music from all corners of the world.” (B. Håkansson, MM issue 1 1977 p. 19) Tomas Wiehe – Rock music with progressive lyrics. Rolf Wikström and Hjärtslag – Blues “their way of preserving and evolving the blues” (H. Norrby, MM issue 4 1978 p. 21). Yalsa Band – “The group has its musical roots in the blues,” (K.B.B. Larsson MM issue 1 1980 p. 16) They play “rock and sometimes the blues…” (M. Jonsson MM issue 4 1980 p. 5) Yes – Foreign art-rock. Zamla Mammas Manna – “In a way Zappa-inspired, but much more than that.” “Their music is more full of unexpected contrasts and they are not as hard as Zappa.” (B. Bengtsson MM issue 3 1979 p. 23) “Some of Zappas collage techniques live on in their music,” (H. Norrby MM issue 3 1979 p. 23) “A collection of songs with Zappa-like humor,” (L. Lilliestam MM issue 11/12 1978 p. 18) “In many ways similar to Zappa’s earlier records.” (E. Weman MM issue 3 1978 p. 20) Art-rock with formal complexity.