release date: 1974
format: *cd (2004 remaster)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,72]
producer: non-produced (rec. with sound engineer Werner Scherrer)
label: Frituna - nationality: Denmark
Track highlights: 2. "Hey Steen Salonfirben" - 3. "Piano Rob" - 5. "En stynet strejfer" - 8. "Alt er stille indtil videre"
Studio album debut by Danish singer / songwriter C.V. Jørgensen aka Carsten Jørgensen - in whose name the V is for 'Valentin' which is an artistic addition - originally released on the label Hookfarm.
C.V. Jørgensen is credited as songwriter and composer of all nine tracks, on on this he is backed by guitarist Ivan Sonne Horn, bassist Erik Falck, and by drummer Gert Smedegård Andreasen.
Musically, the album places itself far from Jørgensen's later releases by being a fairly experimental and psychedelic rock release (with some inspiration from The Mothers of Invention and Cream) as well as being folk rock-founded with clear inspiration in Bob Dylan. As songwriter, Jørgensen narrates in a contemporary stereotypical psychedelic style, which bears some of the same features as early compositions by Marc Bolan, and especially the lyrics by the two fellow-countrymen songwriter Leif Roden in Alrune Rod and Eik Skalø as heard on the landmark debut by Steppeulvene: Hip (1967).
The album didn't attract much recognition, and several tracks also sound like jam sessions in the studio without a clear direction - perhaps inspired by Captain Beefheart? - but on the other hand it's clear that the participating musicians are skilled instrumentalists, and already here, Jørgensen has a distinct original vocal quality, which attracts some attention to the lyrics.
In Jørgensen's discography, the album shares several similarities with the sequel T-Shirts, gummisko og terylenebukser (1975), and together they may be seen as part of his formative years on an artistic journey somewhat detached from his later style and works.
On the album here, the individual compositions at times sound like several connected ideas, where one melodic line is abruptly juxtaposed with another - which was probably an artistic choice that defined a certain music, which was not only chaotic, but nevertheless, could be seen as a result of an improvisational approach - again with some reference to the old Captain.
En stynet strejfer is an interesting piece of music history, which mostly functions as fan material.
*included on the compilation De 2 første ['The first two'] (2004), a 2-cd-release containing Jørgensen's first two albums.
