release date: Nov. 1984
format: vinyl (MdLP 6159, 2nd pressing) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Lars Hug, Himer Hassig (ass.pro.), Finn Verwohlt (co-pro.)
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark
Track highlights: 2. "Afsked" (4 / 5) - 3. "Glemt kvarter" - 4. "Ikke døden" - 5. "Vent" (5 / 5) (live performance) - 7. "De berusedes vej" - 8. "Passager" - 11. "Hen over himlen"
Solo studio debut by Lars Hug [aka Lars Haagensen, aka Lars H.U.G.] is music by Hug to lyrics by Danish poet Søren Ulrik Thomsen. The poems were released by Thomsen in his first book "City Slang" in 1981 (track #7 is from a collection titled "Digte om natten"). The album is with assistant producer Hilmer Hassig (of Love Shop) and with Finn Verwohlt (of SW-80 and Funtime) as co-producer. In a collaboration work, Hug, Hassig, and Verwohlt arranged the songs with a long list of musicians featuring Hassig, Verwohlt, Per Chr. Frost (of Gnags), and Søren Wolff (of SW-80) on guitars, Per Frost, Lars Jeppesen, and Verwohlt on bass, and with Jacob Sæther (of SW-80 and Funtime) on drums. The music is primarily art rock with inspiration from Roxy Music, Brian Eno, and possibly Kraftwerk, but in essence it's quite original incorporating elements from early synth, progressive electronic or space ambient.
It was clearly not an album that produced high sales numbers, although, it was well-received by critics and other musicians. Lars Hug had just left the perhaps most promising and important Danish rock band, Kliché after only two studio albums. This has parts in common with the second album by Kliché, Okay Okay Boys from '82, e.g. "Hen over himlen", but it also fore-shades Hug's second solo album Kysser himlen farvel (1987) especially in the more pop-founded song "De berusedes vej".
I recall a late night live broadcast from Danish national TV (late 1984?) as Hug presented his new songs. I wasn't exactly impressed, but watched the concert through more in ave. I understood it was more than special, although, the music felt like experimental avant-garde more than anything else. Still, I purchased the album 'cause I immediately enjoyed a few of the tracks including "Vent", which in my mind is the album's best track. Despite the experimental non-mainstream musical approach, the songs endure as strong lyrical compositions thanks to Ulrik Thomsen's writings.
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