Factory

FACTORY

Factory (1979)

Factory II (1980)


Music Hunterista löytämäni debyytti ja Sörnäisten Pelastusarmeijan kirpputorilta löytämäni kakkoslevy. Aika vähän olen viitsinyt koluta läntisen naapurimaamme musiikkitarjontaa, ja vielä paljon harvemmin olen löytänyt sieltä mitään ikimuistoista. Äidin kaseteilla majailleet Efter plugget ja Är det konstigt att man är rädd? sytyttivät minussa jo varhain melkoisen suuren kiinnostuksen tätä bändiä kohtaan. Levyjen löytämiset tuntuivat todellisilta onnenpotkuilta.

Annan RateYourMusic-arvostelujeni puhua:

"This debut LP by these Swedes is mostly brilliant keyboard-oriented rock. Of course it contains the hit song "Efter plugget" (After School), with bewildered lyrics about what to do now that school's ended, how to build your future, what to start studying or doing for a living, and yet sensing that everything will work out by sheer luck. That song has been one of my favourites since childhood. However, there's more to love here. A daring decision was to open the album with a pro-lesbian relationship song ("Så e' livet", "That's Life").

"Poängsamling" (Point Collecting) and "Du kan sova gott i natt" (You Can Sleep Well Tonight) are two more excellent rockers. The former tells you not to believe everything your pals brag about when they tell about their sexual escapades, the latter is a story about a guy who meets a girl, spends a wonderful night with her and then gets his heart broken when the girl doesn't even remember him the next day, probably getting ready for her next one night stand. Since these two songs are mixed together, you could imagine them as two sides of the same story.

The instrumental "Psalm 613" feels a bit overlong, and I'm not so excited about "Paula, två år" (Paula, Two Years) either (I don't have children myself, that's possibly the reason). The rest is perfect. Of course I also have to mention the good-looking cover art :)"

"Factory, like so many other bands, faced difficulties when trying to follow up a solid debut album. The first three songs are shaky, the guys criticize TV addicts and politicians with their hollow promises, but don't manage to write good melodies to bring these messages forth with enough vigor. The LP thankfully picks up with track four, "Är det konstigt att man är rädd" (Is It Any Wonder That You're Afraid?). A long, exciting intro is followed by strong message lyrics against indifferent treatment of old people. A well-written melody with top-notch keyboard work make this the band's second best song after the debut's hit "Efter plugget".

Side B doesn't contain any more real highlights, but apart from the weak "Kuddsnack" it's very listenable. "In i dimman" (Into the Mist) is a song about alcohol addiction - musically very close to disco. I like the whispering female vocals and the moody keyboard work. "Ligger det i släkten" (Does It Run in the Family?), about a rock musician's desire to be on the road touring, is a powerful closer.

So, "II" is a bit weaker than the debut LP, although the guys have even more to say this time. Thankfully the album doesn't get too message-heavy. Musically this one is also slightly more varied, but some of the energy is gone. Not too bad a follow-up though, and I'm glad I found both LP's here in Finland (cheap), without having to consult our neighbors :)"

Myöhemmistä singlebiiseistä olen kuullut kaksi. Ruotsinkielinen "Ultrabox" ja englanninkielinen "Face to Face" todistavat kuitenkin, että bändiltä oli kadonnut se paras ote. Ei ihan ylletä vanhalle tasolle, vaikkei ihan huonoonkaan kyetä.