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| This site provides an introduction in English to the music of the Swedish band Eldkvarn. Additional information can be found at their official Swedish web site or by following the links at the bottom of this page. —Carole Klinger | |
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| This site provides an introduction in English to the music of the Swedish band Eldkvarn. Additional information can be found at their official Swedish web site or by following the links at the bottom of this page. —Carole Klinger | |
| "This
is my love song, this is my moment on earth. Nothing you saw in a movie
sometime, nothing out of literary history. Every night at the paper mill,
hours of lumber tumbled down. Then on our bikes in the morning light, the
road home in a world of gold."
Landsortsgrabb / Small town boy
Utanför Lagen / Outside the Law, 1986 (more...) |
| Background |
The three musicians at the heart
of Eldkvarn (Firemill)—brothers Plura and Carl Jonsson, and
Tony Thorén—have performed together professionally since 1971, when
they formed a band in their hometown of Norrköping, Sweden, under
the name Piska Mig Hårt. One short year later, the band packed their väskor
and left Norrköping for that city of starry-eyed dreams, Stockholm.
The capital city continues to be home for the group, but the years spent
growing up in a small town—and on the streets around Norrköping's
factories—play an important role in Eldkvarn's lyrics.
[comments] |
| On vocals and guitar is Per "Plura" Jonsson, a prolific and poetic lyricist who writes the majority of the band's songs. Plura's autobiographical lyrics and soulful voice are the essence and abiding trademark of the group. Carl "Carla" Jonsson, younger brother to Plura, is Eldkvarn's lead guitarist and a second writer for the group, contributing songs in his own distinctive style. On bass is the steady, driving presence of Tony Thorén. Rounding out the lineup are longtime members Werner Modiggård on drums and Claes Von Heijne on keyboards. |
Tony, Carl, Plura, Claes and Werner |
| Eldkvarn has been described as Sweden's version of The Band, and they do share the attribute of an outsider's perspective on an American music tradition. The group cites musical influences such as Velvet Underground, Mothers of Invention, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen among others...but with lyrics that rarely detour from the path of personal experience, Eldkvarn's music is unmistakably their own. |
| Album Lyrics and Audio Clips |
| Lyrics and music by Plura Jonsson and Carl Jonsson •
English translations by Carole Klinger
[ Lyrics by Song Title (Swedish) ] |
| "I
learned how to work, I grew up into a man. Good years and hard years followed
each other. Now I walk beneath the clouds in the yard of this farm. Alice,
I still see you in blue jeans, the straw hat at your neck. May the doors
behind me always remain open and I wear your leather jacket tight around
my heart."
Alice
Himmelska Dagar / Heavenly Days, 1987 (more...) |
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| Official
Swedish Web Site
Norwegian Eldkvarn Site (Eldkvarn på Norsk) - Vidar Olaussen Tour dates and more -- Kotte Management Need some help with your svenska? Here's a terrific online Swedish-English Dictionary. |  |
