SOUNDTRACK: KASVOT VÄXT-“Stray Dog” (1981/2018).
Back in 1994, Phish started covering a classic album for its Halloween costume. In 2015 they covered the Disney album: Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House, which pretty much meant all bets were off. So in 2018, they decided to cover an obscure Scandinavian prog rock band called Kasvot Växt and their sole album, í rokk. This proved to be a big joke–they were a nonexistent band. They had so much fun creating this band, that they even enlisted others to expand the joke. This included impressively thorough reviews from WFMU and from AllMusic.
The joke is even in the name: when translated together Kasvot Växt and í rokk means “Faceplant into rock.”.
Here’s some more details they came up with:
The Scandinavian prog rock band purportedly consists of Jules Haugen of Norway, Cleif Jårvinen of Finland, and Horst and Georg Guomundurson of Iceland. The album’s label, Elektrisk Tung, supposedly went out of business shortly after the LP’s release and little information about the record appears on the internet. Bassist Mike Gordon made a tape copy of í rokk in the mid-’80s and Phish would play it “over and over in the tour van in the early ’90s.” In the Playbill, guitarist Trey Anastasio insisted, “Every time the Halloween discussion comes up, we talk about Kasvot Växt. We honestly were worried we wouldn’t have the chops to pull it off or do justice to the sound, but when it came down to it, we just couldn’t resist any longer.”
The decision to go with an obscure album few have heard or even heard of appealed to the members of Phish. “We’ve paid tribute to so many legendary bands over the years, it felt right this time to do something that’s iconic to us but that most people won’t have heard of,” Gordon said as per the Phishbill. “And with these translations we’re really performing songs that have never been sung in English before.” Keyboardist Page McConnell added, “I love the mystery surrounding this whole thing. If those guys ever hear we did this I hope they’re excited because we absolutely intend it as a loving tribute.” As for what Phish fans can expect? “A weird, funky Norweigan dance album! Get out there and put your down on it!” exclaimed drummer Jon Fishman.
While the listings for the 10 tracks on the original í rokk were in a Scandinavian language, the titles appear in English in the Playbill. Phish called upon a Nordic linguist to translate the lyrics to English for tonight’s performance.
These songs do not really sound like a Norwegian prog rock band. They do sound an awful lot like Phish (although with a more synthy vibe overall. The band has this part of their live show streaming on Spotify under the Kasvot Växt name. And I’m ending the year by talking about each song.
This song seems to eschew the whole Scandinavian prog-rock joke entirely. It’s a pretty conventional bluesy song and it’s the shortest one. There’s really nothing un-Phishy about this song excpet for possibly some of the synth sounds.
This might be the least interesting song of the set, but it sets up for some good upbeat jamming.
[READ: December 2, 2018] “Literary Customs”
I enjoy Zambra’s works, both fiction and non-fiction. This, like many of his pieces, was translated by Megan McDowell and it is a treat to read.
Zambra talks about how he always takes books with him when he travels. He takes two or three books that he feels safer having around: “I can forget my medicine or the cloth for cleaning my glasses, but i never forget these novels.” He also brings a book he hasn’t read–a large tome that he thinks will captivate him, but which usually never does.
We shouldn’t travel with books because they take up some much space–better to bring a second pair of shoes–you’re more likely to need a second pair of shoes. Plus, since books are more expensive in Chile, every trip Chileans take is an opportunity for shopping–an anxious tour of bookstores. And yet oftentimes no purchases are made, because there is so much to buy it feels not like you are getting something but that you are now more aware of what you don’t have.
And then there is the guilt that you won’t even read them. But that doesn’t stop him.
On this trip to Mexico he started off well, reading what he bought, but he soon began “collecting” again.
Then there’s always the trip home–the suitcase is a mini library and the only way to make room is to leave pounds worth of clothes at the airport–sometimes you must walk around terribly dressed but draped in the very best literature.