Album Notes

Jan Hammarlund lives in Stockholm, and you can read this in Swedish below if you prefer.

Jan Hammarlund is an incredibly versatile artist. Since emerging on the new folk scene in Sweden in 1972, Jan\'s songs of struggle, liberation and love have garnered him the admiration of acoustic music fans and activists all over Scandinavia.


In addition to his popular original compositions, Jan has introduced the songs of Violeta Parra to Swedish audiences with his sensitive translations. He\'s also turned his translation talents to the works of Brecht, Malvina Reynolds and various French cabaret-style composers. His marvelous performances of these songs are available on other recordings which will soon be available on CDBaby.


Jan Hammarlund is more than a musical storyteller - he\'s a singing historian. On Röda Linjen you\'ll find songs about a labor massacre in Ådalen in 1931, about the so-called \"honor killing\" of Fadime Sahindal in Sweden in 2002, about Jerusalem - a city under siege by three monotheistic religions, about Franz Schubert\'s struggle for his life and his art in 19th century Vienna, and compelling songs about neo-Nazis and fearless union leaders. --

You\'ll also find intimate and playful portraits about swimming at Vinterviken, a dog on Palestine\'s West Bank, and a Scandinavian music festival.




Jan Hammarlund är inte bara musikalisk historieberättare utan också sjungande historiker - här finns sånger om dödsskotten i Ådalen 1931, om Fadime Sahindals kamp mot de krafter som till slut förintade henne, om tre religioners mångtusenåriga kamp om staden Jerusalem, om Franz Schuberts kamp för livet och konsten i 1800-talets Wien - men också vardagliga och lekfulla texter om att simma i Vinterviken, om en hund på Palestinas västbank, om en norrländsk musikfestival; och politiska låtar om nazisthotet och om dagens arbetarkamp i tunnelbanan.

Musikaliskt har Jan genom åren rört sig i olika riktningar - latinamerikansk sång, fransk cabaretvisa, Bertolt Brecht - men här återvänder han till sina rötter med en grupp nya och aktuella sångberättelser.