Album Review: Dungen - Haxan

It's a shame that despite Tame Impala's tireless support, Dungen haven't gained the wider audience they deserve.

Our local heroes toured the US with these retro psychedelia-saturated Swedes and even asked them to mix their first EP, although main man Gustav Ejstes' preference for singing in Swedish probably hasn't encouraged hits.

Haxan (meaning "The Witch") is Dungen's first foray into soundtracks, having been asked to score the 1926 seminal The Adventures Of Prince Achmed, the oldest surviving full-length animated feature film. The lack of vocals on Haxan is largely inconsequential as to non-Swedish speakers Ejstes' voice is more of an additional instrument than anything else. From the opening onwards, it's clear that this project has given Ejstes good reason to explore new territories, as Dungen's sound palette has never been broader. From the playful ghost-house shenanigans of Trollkarlen Och Fageldrakten - which reeks with suspicion and intrigue - to the mystical church organ that reoccurs like an echo of Pink Floyd at various times, Haxan is playful and gothic in a Hans Christian Andersen kind of way. In amongst the frivolity are some of Dungen's heaviest cuts to date, including the title track and Andarnas Krig, a grisly jig of impending doom.

There are no anthems here, but Haxan is a journey full of colour and adventure. If they can pull these sounds off live, their upcoming tour of Aus should be enthralling.