Steppeulvene
Hip - Metronome 1967
Tracks: 1. Dunhammeraften / 2. Itsi-Bitsi / 3. Til Nashet / 4. Jensen / 5. 0-0-0- / 6. Lykkens Pamfil / 7. Kvinde kom ud / 8. Kun for forrykte
Comments:
Steppeulvene (In Danish, The Steppenwolves) was a legendary Danish rock band from 1967, who, unlike most groups at that time, sang in Danish. With fine original lyrics by singer Eik Skaloe, the group showed that you could play rock in Danish with contemporary and subtle lyrics.
The lyrics and vocals are strongly inspired by Bob Dylan and the music is based on blues and folk with a guitar sound very similar to The Kinks anno 1965-66.
It became only this one album from the group, as singer and lyricist Eik Skaloe after recording the singer went to India, from where he never returned. He took his own life in October 1968 on the border between India and Pakistan. He left these lines in his farewell letter, "For the officials: As I guess you know - this suicide is decided & carried out by myself. * noone is to blame, except the cruel person inside me * forgive me Eik Skaløe”
In the meantime, a single "Du skal ud hvor du ikke kan bunde" ( You must go out on deep water) was released, with a new singer and guitarist. This single is actually quite good too, and I remember it being played regularly on Danish radio for a short period of time.
The album "Hip" was released in 1967 and created a lot of attention by being very different from contemporary pop/rock in Denmark.
It opens with the song "Dunhammeraften", which musically draws on both Bob Dylan and The Kinks. It is a catchy mid-tempo blues-rocker, perhaps especially remembered for the line “Når du har dine violette snabeltyrkersko på” (When you're wearing your purple proboscis Turkish shoes).
The album's biggest "hit" (It wasn't a real hit) is undoubtedly "Itsi-Bitsi". "Itsi-Bitsi" was a nickname Eik gave his girlfriend Iben, and the lyrics is about her going to Nepal with Eik. A very catchy and melodic song, with music written by guitarist Stig Møller, who later re-formed the group with himself as lead singer. In addition to being a songwriter, Møller is also a fine guitarist.
"Til Nashet" is another beautiful love song; predominantly acoustic, with fine guitar playing from Stig Møller. Another highlight and a song perhaps remembered for the line “Lad mig knæle for din bestjernede fod og give dit et lotus læbekys” (Let me kneel at your starry foot and give you a lotus lip kiss".
"Jensen" is one of the album's musically less interesting tracks. Lyrically, it is a bit of a Danish counterpart to Ray Davies' "Mr Pleasant" and "Well Respected Man".
"000" was originally the most played number, but was never released as a single. It's an upbeat rocker with a quirky lyric about calling 000 (Danish 999). Also quite catchy.
"Lykkens Pamfil" is a quiet melodic folkish waltzy song; quite Dylan inspired. It was later recorded by Kim Larsen. A rather long text, where each verse ends with the line “Og en klokke der siger ding dang”" (And a bell that says Ding Dang).
One song "Kvinde kom Ud" has music by bassist Søren Seirup. Also one of the album's less interesting tracks; musically speaking – all of Skaløe's lyrics are worth listening to.
The group took its name from author Herman Hesse's novel "Der Steppenwolf" and the final number "Kun for forrykte", is an expression taken from the novel. It is also the title of a documentary about the group made in 1988. The music is somewhat in the same style as "Smokestack Lightning".
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