Dagens Industri Weekend 110622
By: JAN GRADVALL
Benny Andersson Band
Title: O Klang Och Jubeltid
Label: Mono Music
Rating: 4
What is Benny in Benny’s music? Photos where Benny doesn´t smile are rarely published. But melancholy goes like an underflow through all of his greatest compositions. The Vilhelm Moberg book that best reflects the mood of Benny’s music is “Din stund på jorden” (Your time on Earth) where a man in his mind is trying to recreate the Swedish homeland that no longer exists.
By foreign journalist colleagues I am often asked: “And when will Benny and Björn start working together again?” I always reply, “They already do,” even if not even Swedes seem to know about it.
All albums by Benny Andersson Band – this is the sixth – contains newly written Benny Andersson / Björn Ulvaeus compositions. At times, they can’t help but sound like ABBA. “En dag i sänder” is a fantastic pop song (the arrangement!) where a customary magnificent Helen Sjöholm can’t hide her joy of singing both Agnetha’s & Frida’s parts.
Otherwise this is an album where Benny Andersson unfolds the entire map of Sweden. The interplay between the horns and violins is exceptional and unique to Benny Andersson Band. Tommy Körberg get to wear Jussi Björling’s jacket in “Jag hör…” and fills it out. And has Benny himself ever before played piano like in “Flickornas rum”?