SVEN-ÅKE JOHANSSON
Schlingerland / Dynamische Schwingungen
Atavistic Records Unheard Music Series
UMS/ALP 212CD

I’ve known Johansson’s name for ages, listed in the Cadence magazine center section way back when it was set from typewriter and lovingly filled with typos, although I’ve never heard his work until now. This disc was first released on his own SÅJ records, and then reissued on LP by SAJ (this one without the circle over the A), a sister imprint to FMP. His playing cohorts had been Schlippenbach, Schoof, Brötzmann and the like.

Now Schlingerland / Dynamische Schwingungen has resurfaced on CD courtesy of Atavistic’s Unheard Music Series, curated by Chicago-based (as is Atavistic) music journalist John Corbett. The cover reproduces the original LP cover, and, delightfully, the label reproduces the original LP label, side one. When you lift the disc, under the clear tray you see the label for side two. Even better is that an extra track has been added to this 1972 recording.

Drummers; hmm. Well we all know the dreaded (or beloved by some) sixties’ interminable rock drum solo. Many of us were lucky enough to buy when new, or find later, the classic LPs by Andrew Cyrille and Milford Graves on their IPS (Institute of Percussion Studies) label and discover the crossroads of polyrhythm and pointillism. Even more of us thrilled to the teasing drum ramble climaxing Sly and The Family Stones’s “Sex Machine” (still a subway discman favorite of mine). For me the next step was the solo disc of Pheeroan akLaff, House of Spirit: Mirth, amazing in its simple rhythms, yet hypnotically rich.

Johansson, as I hear him on this disc, fascinates me in the way he’s able to start with a simple drum sequence, followed by deliberate and delicate timbres on cymbals and brushes, and keep things flowing. There are repetitions and echoes that nowadays slackers would accomplish with electronics to no effect, but here it’s alive, integral. For one thing, although the tapes have clearly deteriorated and its dynamic range is lacking, the soundstage is 3D, and the shadings still come through. A bit into the first cut, and through the rest of the pieces, the basic module becomes variations on a subway-like riff (you can perceive a choo-choo dangerously rattling down the rails), but this train takes turns and curves and sometimes there are three lines converging, deceptively polyrhythmic. Each time I listen I find more to appreciate, and I liked it from the beginning. I hope to hear more from Sven-Åke Johansson .

Steve Koenig

Track Listing: 1. Nahbild; 2. Kurze Studie; 3. Etwas Entfernt Vom Mikrofon

Personnel: Sven-Åke Johansson, drums