Fleshquartet

Flesh Quartet originated in the mid-1980s as a string quartet whose original lineup consisted of Helldén, Lindgren, Högberg, and S. Öberg. After several years of limited engagements, the group secured a regular slot in 1987 as house orchestra for the television program Daily News. That year also produced the album Moondog Conducts Fläskkvartetten/Bracelli, recorded with the American composer Moondog and featuring bassist A. Öberg together with percussionist Lakatos. Ex-Cortex and Blue for Two vocalist Freddie Wadling joined for the album What's Your Pleasure, and although he never became a permanent member he emerged as the ensemble's central front figure; the record incorporated the soundtrack to Susanne Osten's film En Livsfarlig Film. The ensuing tour included appearances at New Music Seminar in New York and on the final televised broadcast of the Soviet Union. Long removed from conventional string-quartet format, the musicians now incorporated effects, contemporary rhythms, rock elements, and influences drawn from both oriental and Nordic folk traditions.

By 1990 the musicians maintained active involvement in parallel ventures such as Lucky People Center and PITT & the Dreamers, yet Flesh Quartet continued issuing an album annually or biennially. Wadling assumed a larger role on the 1990 release Goodbye Sweden and on Fläskkvartetten Featuring Freddie Wadling Med Västerås Symfonietta. For the subsequent record Flow the ensemble rendered its Swedish name into English as Flesh Quartet; the album enlisted Joackim Thåström of Imperiet and Peace Love and Pitbulls along with Stina Nordenstam, achieved the group's strongest commercial showing of the decade, and yielded the hit single "Walk." The largely instrumental Pärlor Från Svin appeared in 1995, while Fire Fire, issued the next year, granted Wadling unprecedented prominence amid a shift toward ambient textures that softened the earlier heavy rhythms and aggressive strings. Neneh Cherry enlisted the group for her 1996 hit "Seven Seconds."

Still credited as Fläskkvartetten, the band issued its first Swedish-language album, Jag Ger Vad Som Helst För Lite Solsken, in 1998; Thomas Öberg of Bob Hund supplied the lyrics, and Nina Persson of Cardigans joined Wadling for a duet on one track. Critical reception remained strong, and although commercial radio offered little exposure, state radio provided occasional airplay. The name reverted to its English form, after which the instrumental album Love Go appeared in 2000.