Artist - Hoven Droven
Formed - 1989
Genres - World
Styles - Polska, Halling, Swedish Folk Fusion
Instruments - Fiddle, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Härjedalspipa, Conga, Guitar, Drums, Bass, Saxophone, Hammond Organ Labels - Xource, NorthSide
Latest release - Groove (1997)

The members of Hoven Droven come from diverse musical backgrounds that include rock, jazz, avant rock and Swedish folk fusion. According to drummer Björn Höglund, they knew the sound that they were trying to achieve from the beginning, but took awhile to settle into their current mix of loud heavy metal-sounding guitar, folk-inflected violin,and rocking rhythm section with brass highlights. The sound was fully-formed, however, by the time Hoven Droven first cut wax in 1994.

Most of the members of Hoven Droven live in the province of Jämtland, In the north of Sweden near the border of Norway. They thus perform many songs from their province as well as a few Norwegian tunes that have migrated into Sweden. They don't feel like limiting themselves to a regional scene, though, and are open to performing tunes from all over Sweden. The group regularly excites their audiences with their high octane blend of powerful guitars and lilting Swedish fiddlework. If any group can interest young Swedes in their folk heritage, this is the group.

Charter member Gustav Hylén (formerly of Groupa) left in November of 1997, resulting in a change of instrumentation. The group pulled in Hammond organ player Janne Strömstedt, violin player Kjell-Erik Eriksson's bandmate in Triakel.

1994 Hia Hia Xource XOUCD 110
1996 Grov Xource XOUCD 114
1997 Groove NorthSide NSD6002

Groove
Artist - Hoven Droven
Album Title - Groove
Date of Release - May 20, 1997 (approx.) inprint
Rating - ****
Genre - World
Style - Swedish Folk

1997 CD NorthSide 6002

This album compiles element's from Hoven Droven's 1994 album Hia Hia and their 1996 effort Grov, with the addition of two live cuts. Grov (which means rough or coarse in Swedish) becomes Groove for the American audience. The album begins with the growling of a bear (literally) and the music is as beautiful, powerful and dangerous as a full-grown bear. While there have been fusions of Swedish traditional music with jazz and rock, there has never been a fusion like this before. Hoven Droven does for Swedish folk music what the Pogues did for Irish music.

Their sound ranges from heavy metal-tinged to alt-rock to alt-jazz á la Bill Frisell, all mixed into a large pot of Swedish traditional music. There are even slight echoes of Oingo Boingo in Slentbjenn. About half the selections are polskas, the rest is divided between hallings, waltzes, marches, and other dance forms. Despite the strongly heavy metallish guitars, the traditional Swedish quality shines through. As if to emphasize their reverence for tradition, Hoven Droven includes excerpts from folk recordings made earlier in this century which kick off Årepolska and Hia Hia Svärmor. The trills and ornamental patterns of Swedish melodies are now married to a head-banging beat. And your head will bang when you listen to this. I guarantee it.

Drew Miller - Artwork, Design
Robert Simonds - Compilation Producer
Hoven Droven - Producer
Doug Wild - Mastering
Gustav Hylén - Trumpet,Flugelhorn, Härjedals-Flute, Congas
Bo Lindberg - Guitars
Björn Höglund - Drums and Percussion
Kjell-Erik Eriksson - Fiddle
Pedro Blom - Bass
Jens Comén - Saxophones

1. Slentbjenn (Slope-Bear) - (Kjell-Erik Eriksson)
2. Timas Hans - (Timas-Hans)
3. Myhrpolska - (Per Myhr)
4. Grovhalling (Rough or Coarse Halling) - (Simon Simonsson)
5. Tjångel - (Jens Comén)
6. Okynnesvals - (Kjell-Erik Eriksson)
7. Årepolska - (Traditional)
8. Kjellingen(Kjell-Erik Eriksson) - (Kjell-Erik Eriksson)
9. Köttpolska - (Traditional)
10. Skogspolska - (Gustav Hylén)
11. Stilla - (Bo Lindberg)
12. Hia Hia Svärmor - (Traditional)
13. Grottan - (Bo Lindberg)
14. Dajmen - (Traditional)
15. Skvadern - (Bo Lindberg)
16. Jämtlandssangsvalsen - (Erik Nilsson)
17. Lillht Gråen - (Lasse Sörlin)
18. Hamburger - (Traditional)

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig!

Established 5/12/99, last modified on 5/12/99