Whilst he hid it fairly well beneath layers of multitrack production and the shimmering harmonies of Agnetha and Frida, Benny Andersson's music has always been influenced by the melodies and structures of Swedish, and northern European folk, polka, and Schlager (popular music-hall tunes setting those central European dance floors alight in the baby boomer years). Listen carefully, though, and ABBA's finest moments owe more to traditional forms of folk and fireside singalongs, even to classical motifs, than they do to most ephemeral and forgettable western pop and rock - an… read more
Whilst he hid it fairly well beneath layers of multitrack production and the shimmering harmonies of Agnetha and Frida, Benny Andersson's music has always been influenced by the melodies and structures of Swedish, and northern European folk, polka, and Schlager (popular music-hall tunes … read more
Whilst he hid it fairly well beneath layers of multitrack production and the shimmering harmonies of Agnetha and Frida, Benny Andersson's music has always been influenced by the melodies and structures of Swedish, and northern European folk, polka, and Schlager (popular music-hall tunes setting those central European dance floors alight in the baby boomer ye… read more