Album Review: Elefantgutten Musikk Og Eventyrfortelling Fra Tv Serien (1973)
Released in 1973 by Polydor, Elefantgutten Musikk Og Eventyrfortelling Fra Tv Serien is a curious gem from Norway that straddles the line between soundtrack and radioplay. This album, tied to a beloved TV series of its time, blends music composed by Charles Marawood with dramatic storytelling delivered by an ensemble cast including narrator Lasse Kolstad and voice actors like Einar Wenes and Linda Tørklep. With genres spanning Stage & Screen and Non-Music, it’s clear this isn’t your typical record—it’s more of an auditory experience.
The standout tracks for me are "Slavedriveren" and "Maismysteriet." “Slavedriveren” grabs you right away with its brooding tension. The instrumentation feels sparse yet deliberate, almost cinematic in how it builds atmosphere. You can practically picture the scene unfolding—a mix of mystery and unease. It sticks in your head not because it’s catchy but because it feels alive, like it’s whispering secrets only you can hear. Then there’s “Maismysteriet,” which takes a lighter tone but still keeps you hooked. The interplay between the narration and background score gives it a playful edge, as if inviting listeners into a world where anything could happen next.
What makes these tracks memorable isn’t just their sound; it’s how they transport you. Listening to them feels like stepping back into a simpler era when TV shows weren’t overloaded with CGI but relied on imagination—and albums like this one helped bring those stories off the screen and into living rooms.
Behind the scenes, folks like engineer Nils Kvam and producer duo Aase Mathisen and Johnny Sareussen deserve credit for crafting such a cohesive piece. And let’s not forget Bo Sölving’s layout work, which probably added charm to the physical release. Even the lacquer cut by “F” (whoever they were!) likely played a part in ensuring the audio quality stood the test of time—or at least survived decades before being rediscovered by collectors or curious listeners today.
If I’m honest, albums like this don’t come around much anymore. They’re relics of a different age, when entertainment required a bit more effort from everyone involved—you had to listen closely, imagine harder, pay attention. In our current era of streaming binges and TikTok snippets, something about Elefantgutten feels refreshingly old-school. Maybe too old-school for some, but hey, sometimes we need a reminder that good art doesn’t always scream for attention. Sometimes, it whispers instead.
And here’s the kicker—this album might’ve been intended for kids back in the day, but listening to it now, it feels oddly profound. Like maybe, just maybe, adults needed these little moments of wonder just as much then as we do now.
