Imperiet "Studio / Live" (1988) (live)

Studio / Live (compilation) (live)
release date: Nov. 1988
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Stefan Glaumann, Imperiet
label: Mistlur Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: Disc 1, Live: 1. "Rock'n Roll e' död" - 4. "...som eld" - 7. "Jag är en idiot" - 11. "Bibel" - - Disc 2, Studio: 1. "Alltid rött, alltid rätt" - 2. "Kriget med mig själv" - 4. "Rasera" - 6. "Höghus, låghus, dårhus (Version)" - 10. "Cosmopolite" - 11. "Kom ihåg" - 12. "Saker som hon gör" - 13. "Märk hur var skugga (Epistel 81)"

Compilation album by Imperiet released after its disbandment. Disc 1 is a collection of live recordings, and much like the studio collection on disc 2, the tracks are a selection of songs comprising the band's entire lifespan from 1983 - 1988. Actually, the span is not long, but the music is still quite varied. The live recordings (recorded and mixed by Stefan Glaumann) are from the band's farewell tour ['avskedsturné'] recorded live Aug. 29-31, 1988 at Sardines in Oslo, Norway.
I recall thinking somewhat lukewarm about the release back in '88. Mostly, because there isn't much new on these two discs. Of course a live disc should provide us with another aspect of the band's repertoire, but given the album 2:a augusti 1985 from '85 provides us with live material, and if you happen to know all the band's five studio albums is hard not to see this as a commercial stunt.
If, on the other hand, you don't owe any albums by Imperiet, I think this could be a fine choice.

Imperiet "Tiggarens tal" (1988)

Tiggarens tal
release date: May 1988
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Imperiet & Stefan Glaumann
label: Mistlur Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Jag är en idiot" - 3. "Party" - 5. "Ballad om en amerikansk officer" - 6. "...som eld" - 7. "I hennes sovrum" - 9. "Tiggarens tal (jag vill ha allt)"

4th and final full-length studio album by Imperiet, who has been reduced to a trio as keyboardist Per Hägglund has left the band (he is credited for synths on track #3) after recording the English-versioned album Imperiet from '87. As additional studio keyboardist, Stefan Blomqvist plays synths and piano on most tracks.
Musically, the band has made a small U-turn by playing more as heard on Blå himlen blues from 1985, which means with much less focus on synths and keyboards.
I recall my disappointment upon listening to the album back in '88 and comparing with the previous albums, I still find that this may be regarded as the band's least coherent studio album. All tracks could almost have been included on either of the band's previous and quite different three studio albums, but they mostly sound like a bunch of unreleased songs put together to make up one final album - but I also find that it's a better album in retrospect than I found back then.
It's by no means a poor album but it may not be the right place to start if you want to check out this band.
Thåström disbanded Imperiet the following Summer but the band kept playing its scheduled national live concerts until September and they played two more live concerts in Nicaragua and a final one in Costa Rica, December '88. Also in the Autumn of '88, Imperiet released a final 2-disc compilation and live album Studio / Live. Thåström then initiated a solo career where he kept playing songs by Imperiet and usually with Hägglund as keyboardist, as he did on his first solo album Thåström (Sep. 1989).

Imperiet "Synd" (1986)

Synd
release date: Mar. 1986
format: vinyl (MLR-55) / cd (1997 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,94]
producer: Stefan Glaumann, Imperiet
label: Mistlur - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Österns röda ros" (4 / 5) - 2. "Cosmopolite" - 3. "D-D-D-D (Dum-Dum-Dollar-Djungel)" - 4. "Saker som hon gör" (4 / 5) - 5. "Vykort" - 6. "Tennsoldat och eldvakt" - 7. "Bibel" (4 / 5) - 9. "Innan himlen faller ner" - *10. "Märk hur vår skugga (Epistel 81)"
*Bonus track on 1997 cd reissue

3rd full-length studio album by Imperiet following Blå himlen blues (Mar. 1985) is as usual with Stefan Glaumann as producer. The 1997 reissue is expanded with two bonus tracks. The band has always been on the move experimenting with styles and on this album, the band has now progressed into a more orchestrated sound with the use of strings, organs, harmonica, and more synths. The album has a concept dealing with 'Sin' ['Synd' is Swedish for 'Sin'], and all tracks deal with different aspects of sin and sinners.
My initial feelings were that it was an album containing some fine songs but also with several compositions with too much focus on Per Hägglund's keyboards. However, that impression didn't stay for more than another decade. I have always seen this as the last really good album by Imperiet, but perhaps it's actually their finest hour. Fact is, I have come to appreciate this album much more over the years and not just hear Hägglund's synths. It contains many strong tracks, and when you listen to later Thåström albums, there's definitely links to what appears to be industrial rock bits and pieces on this. It's tight and it appears as the band's most coherent album.
After this they released the English versioned album Imperiet (1987) (not to be confused with their homonymous Mini-LP, 1984), which in a way is a compilation album as it consists of English versions of older songs.

Imperiet "2:a augusti 1985" (1985) (live)

org. vinyl cover

2:a augusti 1985 (live)
release date: Oct. 1985
format: vinyl (MLR 50) / digital (1992 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
rec. by Stefan Glaumann
label: Mistlur - nationality: Sweden

4th album release by Imperiet is a live album recorded after Blå himlen blues and in the aftermath of a long international tour, which brought the band to Nicaragua, Mexico, Cuba and the USA. The album is recorded Aug. 2, 1985 [in Swedish: album title] in Sweden at Västerås folkpark, Västerås (near Stockholm).
Imperiet had long been known as a fabulous live band, which this album also serves to document; however, it's mostly just for fans, as the sound and production isn't impressive, but then you know it's recorded as is without post-production overdubs.

1992 cd reissue

Imperiet "Blå himlen blues" (1985)

Blå himlen blues
release date: Mar. 1985
format: vinyl (MLR-45) / cd (1997 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Jeff Eyrich, Stefan Glaumann, Imperiet
label: Mistlur - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: A) 1. "CC Cowboys" - 3. "Sura-baya-Johny" - 5. "Tonårs Jesus" - - B) 1. "Blå himlen blues" - 4. "Fred"

2nd full-length studio album by Imperiet. Founding member and drummer Gunnar 'Gurre' Ljungstedt - who had been part of Ebba Grön - left the band during the recording sessions and was replaced by Fred Asp (former Reeperbahn).
Stylistically, the band has moved into a bolder blues rock styled art rock, today perhaps better labelled alt. rock.
Together with the follow-up Synd (Mar. 1986) this is one of the best studio releases by the band.
Imperiet received the Swedish Rockbjörnen (Swedish Grammy) for the album.

Imperiet "Imperiet" (1984), mini-lp

Imperiet, mini-lp
release date: Mar. 1984
format: vinyl (MLRM 02) / cd (1997)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Stefan Glaumann & Imperiet
label: Mistlur - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Det glittrar" - 2. "Dekadanser" (4 / 5) - 3. "Kickar" (4 / 5) - 4. "Kriget med mig själv" - 6. "Jag kan inte leva utan dig"

2nd album release by Imperiet. This was released as a six track "Mini-LP" but it's often listed as the band's second studio album, which I think of it... but it does raise a question as to where the line is between 'extended play' and 'mini-album'? Both are characterised by a short playing time but where's the exact limit to that?
Anyhow, this is a 'Mini LP', meaning 'Mini (short) Long Playing' [!] album with a total of a little more than 24 minutes playing time... and it's really fine. Actually, it's one of the best by the band. Stry Terrarie sings and plays guitar on the album, and saxophonist Per Hägglund has taken over playing keyboards. For whatever reasons, this is the last album featuring Terrarie.
The album was later (in 1992 and 1997) released on cd with the album Rasera.

Imperiet "Rasera" (1983)

org. vinyl cover

Rasera [debut]
release date: Sep. 1983
format: vinyl (MLR 35) / cd (1997)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
pro. by Stefan Glaumann & Imperiet
label: Mistlur (vinyl) / MNW (CD) - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Rasera" (live) - 2. "Tusentals händer" - 4. "Sjung inte falskt" (4 / 5) - 6. "Kom ihåg! (Den fria världen?)" - 10. "Höghus, låghus, dårhus"

Full-length studio debut by Imperiet - the band already released the 4 track ep Rumdimperiet in Jun. 1982 as Rumdimperiet. While being part of Ebba Grön, Joakim Thåström, Stry Terrarie and Gunnar "Gurra" Ljungstedt initiated their side-project, Rymdimperiet with bassist Christian Falk. On "Rasera" Imperiet has been expanded with saxophonist Per Hägglund, who also played sax on both Kärlek & upprör (1981) as well as on the final album by Ebba Grön. Basically, Imperiet is the continued story of Ebba Grön having only replaced a bassist and expanded the band with a musician who already used to play with the band.
Also, the style is really just the style of Ebba Grön continued, which is just nice. On this, one will find many similarities with the last album by Ebba Grön, which means a combo of post-punk and more traditional pop / rock and a blend with especially blues rock traces.
The album was reissued on Mistlur in 1992 in an expanded edition titled Rasera + Mini-LP, which starts with the 1984 release Imperiet and continues (from track #7) with Rasera. The album was then reissued by MNW in 1997 where it's simply titled Rasera with 6 bonus tracks... , though the playing order remains the same. In either case the cd combo issue is a rather fine release, only I wish they had kept the chronological order intact, and even better: issued the combo album as a 2 discs-release.

      

1992 reissue

1997 reissue