Flesh Quartet

Biography

Starting as a string quartet, Flesh Quartet turned into an experimental group mixing classic music with dub and techno, while later becoming more ambient. The front figure Wadling, with his scarred but explosive voice, was capable of providing an intense output, but the group also co-operated with a great number of other artists during the late '80s and the '90s. Apart from recording albums they wrote film soundtracks and music for modern ballet.

Flesh Quartet was formed in the mid-'80s as a string quartet, including members Helldén, Lindgren, Högberg, and S. Öberg. After playing small gigs for a few years, they got a fixed spot on TV in 1987 as the house orchestra for the show Daily News. The same year they recorded an album together with the American composer Moondog: Moondog Conducts Fläskkvartetten/Bracelli. The group now included bassist A. Öberg and percussionist Lakatos. For What's Your Pleasure ex-Cortex and Blue for Two singer Freddie Wadling joined the group and though he would not become a steady member, he did come to be something of a front figure. On the album was included the soundtrack for the film En Livsfarlig Film by Susanne Osten. The following tour saw Flesh Quartet perform at New Music Seminar in New York, as well as in the last televised show of the Soviet Union. The group had long since stopped being an ordinary string quartet and added effects, modern beats and influences from rock music as well as oriental and Nordic folk music.

Around 1990, the members of the band were busy in various projects like Lucky People Center and PITT & the Dreamers, but Flesh Quartet still managed to release an album every, or every second, year. On Goodbye Sweden, released in 1990, Wadling played a bigger part, as did he on Fläskkvartetten Featuring Freddie Wadling Med Västerås Symfonietta. Until then, the actual name of the group had been Fläskkvartetten, but for the record Flow they translated it to Flesh Quartet. A number of well-known artists, like Joackim Thåström from Imperiet and Peace Love and Pitbulls and Stina Nordenstam participated on this record, which became Flesh Quartet's most successful record during the '90s and gave them one of their few hits: "Walk." Pärlor Från Svin from 1995 was mainly instrumental, but on Fire Fire, released the following year, Wadling took more room than ever, while the heavy rhythms and aggressive strings had been turned into a more ambient soundscape. The same year, Neneh Cherry used the group for her hit "Seven Seconds."

In 1998 Flesh Quartet, again under the name Fläskkvartetten, released their first record in Swedish, Jag Ger Vad Som Helst För Lite Solsken, with lyrics written by Thomas Öberg from Bob Hund. Nina Persson from Cardigans also appeared on one track to sing a duet with Wadling. As usual the reviews were favorable and, while not being played on commercial radio, they got some airtime on the state radio. After this the name was changed back to the English version and in 2000 the instrumental Love Go was released. ~ Lars Lovén, All Music Guide