Kjell Höglund (b. 1945) is a Swedish singer-songwriter who gained prominence in the 1970s. In Sweden, Höglund is renowned for his unique blend of realism, absurdism, and surrealism. In 1992, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop. Höglund has a dedicated, cult-like following in his home country, often compared to that of Bob Dylan, an artist he frequently cites as an inspiration. He withdrew entirely from music in 2006, further enhancing his mythical status.
Designed by Lundgren+Lindqvist, ’Desertören’ by Kjell Höglund is a concertina publication that presents, for the first time in a book, the complete lyrics to Höglund’s legendary 17-minute song ’Desertören’ (’The Deserter’). Written in 1978, the song quickly became a pacifist anthem, especially among the politically left-leaning youth of the time.
The recto side of the publication’s ten panels spells out the title in condensed, capital letters, with letterforms mimicking a group of soldiers lining up in formation, as if following their general’s command: “At attention!” On the verso side, a foreword by well-known author and cultural figure Kalle Lind (b. 1975) precedes Höglund’s lyrics.
The publication is wrapped with a girdle that reads ’EJ’ (meaning ’NOT’ in Swedish), and when it overlaps the final “N” in the capitalized ’DESERTÖREN,’ it forms the word ’NEJ’ (’NO’ in Swedish), an impactful typographic illustration of Höglund’s uncompromising stance. The publication is printed on eggshell-toned Munken paper, using a metallic blue Pantone color, popularly known as ’Gun Metal.’ Anyone familiar with offset printing techniques will recognize the challenge of printing a metallic Pantone color on uncoated paper. Extensive time was spent mixing the color to achieve the best possible result on this material.
The book was published by Farozonen Förlag in Stockholm.
The song ‘Desertören’ by Kjell Höglund can be found on all major streaming platforms, and is included on the artist’s album ‘Doktor Jekylls Testamente’ (Alternativ Stockholm, 1979). The book can be ordered from the publisher; Farozonen Förlag.
