2009-11-01
Frankenstein anyone ?
Everything is moving in paralell...Nothing according to plan but in acceleration. The studio is becoming a bigger entity and is in constant change. Right now Mark Petterson is working on a truly magical idea for a video for Nanook of the Norths song "Little Guardian". The church organ (studio 3) has been transformed into a new and better world with weird mechanical creatures and empty streets filled with promise and character. I have seen preliminary shots and they look great. It will soon appear at a Youtube channel near you. Mark is an amazing artist and I think you´ll agree when you see his work.
Soundwise Me and Matti are working feverishly on the Music for Bröderna Lejonhjärta. Den girige at Dramaten has been received at rave reviews...! All smiles.
As some of you might know my autumn has been filled with remarkable and inspirational travels around the globe. First Iceland and then last week I was in Hong Kong. Details from these trips are constantly slipping through in my videos on youtube and in my music. But both trips were really life altering...In a good way.
Now playing : Radiohead - Hunting Bears
http://www.youtube.com/user/RothHandle
Everything is moving in paralell...Nothing according to plan but in acceleration. The studio is becoming a bigger entity and is in constant change. Right now Mark Petterson is working on a truly magical idea for a video for Nanook of the Norths song "Little Guardian". The church organ (studio 3) has been transformed into a new and better world with weird mechanical creatures and empty streets filled with promise and character. I have seen preliminary shots and they look great. It will soon appear at a Youtube channel near you. Mark is an amazing artist and I think you´ll agree when you see his work.
Soundwise Me and Matti are working feverishly on the Music for Bröderna Lejonhjärta. Den girige at Dramaten has been received at rave reviews...! All smiles.
As some of you might know my autumn has been filled with remarkable and inspirational travels around the globe. First Iceland and then last week I was in Hong Kong. Details from these trips are constantly slipping through in my videos on youtube and in my music. But both trips were really life altering...In a good way.
Now playing : Radiohead - Hunting Bears
http://www.youtube.com/user/RothHandle
2009-10-03
Open house at Roth Händle and second non 40th birthday party.
Have you always wanted to compare Stylophones ?
Have you always wanted to play the french horn disc for the Vako Orchestron ?
Have you always wanted to play the Aqua Board game ?
Today at three o clock I am opening the doors to Roth Händle for the public.
A chance to try stuff out, have a sinister cup of coffee and meet people.
At seven Ill be making pancakes and serving champagne.
After some mingling well be moving upstairs to Miss yans for more music and live bands.
The line up is...
Gösta Berlings saga
Harry C
Charlee Porter
Cirrus Winery
If you are curious about all of this give me a call at 0735 110 744
Or email me at rothhandlestudios@gmail.com
Have you always wanted to compare Stylophones ?
Have you always wanted to play the french horn disc for the Vako Orchestron ?
Have you always wanted to play the Aqua Board game ?
Today at three o clock I am opening the doors to Roth Händle for the public.
A chance to try stuff out, have a sinister cup of coffee and meet people.
At seven Ill be making pancakes and serving champagne.
After some mingling well be moving upstairs to Miss yans for more music and live bands.
The line up is...
Gösta Berlings saga
Harry C
Charlee Porter
Cirrus Winery
If you are curious about all of this give me a call at 0735 110 744
Or email me at rothhandlestudios@gmail.com
2009-09-06
Hey hey,
It’s been a real long time since I wrote anything here…With a bit of luck that just might change. When it comes to the info stream from the studio I tend to keep it at a level where the easiest and simplest solution wins…Therefore writing two lines on Facebook is very convenient and then posting some films on Youtube you get sort of a sketchy picture of what is going on…
Another really big thing is of course the fact that I have been on paternity leave with my son Vincent who is just a bit over one year old now. This didn’t stop in trying to get stuff done the spring and I have been bouncing all over the place just trying to salvage what I can…A lot of plate spinning and miniature fires…
But now I am back in full form which feels wonderful and very exciting.
Some short headlines…Stains of information.
Open House and second non 40th birthday party.
I will be hosting an open house at the studio on the 3rd of October. Havent decided a time yet. After the open house there will be sparkling wine and pancakes on the parking lot…later on that evening there will be live bands and drinks at Miss Yans. It will all make sense.
Nanook of the North
Has just finished the recording of the first track for the new album, Little guardian. It will be mixed by Alar Suurna on the 16th of September.
Antkowiak (Pol)
The album has just been finished and the overall feel is very enthusiastic. We will be mastering it over the next few weeks and than we will looking for collaborators in Poland for the release..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyCN4ZqDRQo
Bröderna Lejonhjärta
Me and Matti Bye are working on music for a theatre production of Astrid Lindgrens classic tale Bröderna Lejonhjärta. The music is wild and adventurous. Loads of Optigan and autokomp organs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5mV4_R3mVQ
Victoria Moralez
I am currently working on a second song for this Swedish artist. I had recorded one version but it really didn’t stick and possibly weighed the track down so now I am investigating other sonic possibilities.
Wendy McNeill
was in the studio a couple of Saturdays ago and we recorded more material for the Canadian dance production she has been working on. The process was a s usual very energetic sponataneous and fun. As usual the results were very different and special sounding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sGXI3fgH0I
Akaba
Will be finishing her album over the fall…The first song to be finished is called Take the world and will be mixed in U.K by a very good friend and great producer/engineer.
Paul Sumner (U.K)
Whom I recorded two songs with just prior to Christmas will get a full horn treatment for the choruses. The discs are in the mail.
The Aristocrats (U.S/Swe/Ita)
Will continue playing gigs throughout the year parallel to the recording of our debut “band” album. We will return to both Kornhult and Finland these next couple of weeks…The album will be recorded at Decibel studios with possible Roth Handle meddlings…
Micka Luna (Spa)
Is a very talented spanish composer. We will start working on an album this September…First in a sending of files way and than more hands on as the autumn develops.
Equipment whereabouts.
New stuff…Buckets of new easy listening LPs, Casio SK-1, Yamaha SY-1, 60s Premier Vibraphone, Roland SH-2000, Bi-n-tic filter (motm), Wasp filter (euro), Multimode filter (euro), Tap tempo clock (euro). The Persephone is on tour with Jay Jay Johanson, The euro rack is being assembled and given some love by the best synth engineer in Sweden.. Korg MS-20 and Delta being repaired as well as the Hammond solovox and clavioline.
My car
Will according to my mechanic be finished tonight. He has been saying that for a year now.
I am not a violent man…yet.
It’s been a real long time since I wrote anything here…With a bit of luck that just might change. When it comes to the info stream from the studio I tend to keep it at a level where the easiest and simplest solution wins…Therefore writing two lines on Facebook is very convenient and then posting some films on Youtube you get sort of a sketchy picture of what is going on…
Another really big thing is of course the fact that I have been on paternity leave with my son Vincent who is just a bit over one year old now. This didn’t stop in trying to get stuff done the spring and I have been bouncing all over the place just trying to salvage what I can…A lot of plate spinning and miniature fires…
But now I am back in full form which feels wonderful and very exciting.
Some short headlines…Stains of information.
Open House and second non 40th birthday party.
I will be hosting an open house at the studio on the 3rd of October. Havent decided a time yet. After the open house there will be sparkling wine and pancakes on the parking lot…later on that evening there will be live bands and drinks at Miss Yans. It will all make sense.
Nanook of the North
Has just finished the recording of the first track for the new album, Little guardian. It will be mixed by Alar Suurna on the 16th of September.
Antkowiak (Pol)
The album has just been finished and the overall feel is very enthusiastic. We will be mastering it over the next few weeks and than we will looking for collaborators in Poland for the release..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyCN4ZqDRQo
Bröderna Lejonhjärta
Me and Matti Bye are working on music for a theatre production of Astrid Lindgrens classic tale Bröderna Lejonhjärta. The music is wild and adventurous. Loads of Optigan and autokomp organs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5mV4_R3mVQ
Victoria Moralez
I am currently working on a second song for this Swedish artist. I had recorded one version but it really didn’t stick and possibly weighed the track down so now I am investigating other sonic possibilities.
Wendy McNeill
was in the studio a couple of Saturdays ago and we recorded more material for the Canadian dance production she has been working on. The process was a s usual very energetic sponataneous and fun. As usual the results were very different and special sounding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sGXI3fgH0I
Akaba
Will be finishing her album over the fall…The first song to be finished is called Take the world and will be mixed in U.K by a very good friend and great producer/engineer.
Paul Sumner (U.K)
Whom I recorded two songs with just prior to Christmas will get a full horn treatment for the choruses. The discs are in the mail.
The Aristocrats (U.S/Swe/Ita)
Will continue playing gigs throughout the year parallel to the recording of our debut “band” album. We will return to both Kornhult and Finland these next couple of weeks…The album will be recorded at Decibel studios with possible Roth Handle meddlings…
Micka Luna (Spa)
Is a very talented spanish composer. We will start working on an album this September…First in a sending of files way and than more hands on as the autumn develops.
Equipment whereabouts.
New stuff…Buckets of new easy listening LPs, Casio SK-1, Yamaha SY-1, 60s Premier Vibraphone, Roland SH-2000, Bi-n-tic filter (motm), Wasp filter (euro), Multimode filter (euro), Tap tempo clock (euro). The Persephone is on tour with Jay Jay Johanson, The euro rack is being assembled and given some love by the best synth engineer in Sweden.. Korg MS-20 and Delta being repaired as well as the Hammond solovox and clavioline.
My car
Will according to my mechanic be finished tonight. He has been saying that for a year now.
I am not a violent man…yet.
2009-05-26
Christmas time is here again.
Today I posted mix number eight I think for the Antkowiak album. David is editing the horn section for track number nine and Hopefully I will be up and running with a mix fairly soon. The track is called Under and it was the first track me and Kryz recorded. This afternoon I listened back to the tracks and the album feels really great varied and interesting. Kryz voice sounds great and I think the album will move on to do great things. A lot of analog keyboards, mellotrons and moogs. Drum machines battling effect pedals.
A couple of weeks back Elephant & castle got a grant to release our debut album as a book with Martinas amazing Cirkus photos. This will without doubt be one of the most extravagant releases I have ever been involved with. We are also investigating the possibilities of releasing a normal CD version parallel with the book.
Änglagård have been working on some new recordings. It has been a very long journey and the whole band has been involved in various stages. Naturally never at the same time thanks to modern technology. Ideas are brewing and stirring. Alar Suurna ( probably the best mixer in Sweden) will be cleaning up and disciplining the sounds in its final stages.
Nanook of the North will also be starting some mixes for the new album. The first track to be sorted out is the Little guardian. Harps, clarinets, french horns and Orchestrons. Everyone wins.
Lately I have also been working on some wonderful tracks by Swedish artist Victoria Moralez. The musical meeting so far has been nothing short of amazing and I think we are both looking forward to see how it all ends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvCxKmuiBcI
The neverending tour of The Aristocrats continues with more and more gigs being added on. The band is really growing tighter and closer for every gig. A lot of fun and a very organic and breathing band structure...My intern David made some films from one of last weeks gigs...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBPFYDTntaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVuhRFr5pV8
The Aristocrats will be entering the studio in June to start recordings for a new album.
Tomorrow night we will be playing at the bar at Södra Teatern together with Lacrosse...
Now playing: Antkowiaks - Under
Today I posted mix number eight I think for the Antkowiak album. David is editing the horn section for track number nine and Hopefully I will be up and running with a mix fairly soon. The track is called Under and it was the first track me and Kryz recorded. This afternoon I listened back to the tracks and the album feels really great varied and interesting. Kryz voice sounds great and I think the album will move on to do great things. A lot of analog keyboards, mellotrons and moogs. Drum machines battling effect pedals.
A couple of weeks back Elephant & castle got a grant to release our debut album as a book with Martinas amazing Cirkus photos. This will without doubt be one of the most extravagant releases I have ever been involved with. We are also investigating the possibilities of releasing a normal CD version parallel with the book.
Änglagård have been working on some new recordings. It has been a very long journey and the whole band has been involved in various stages. Naturally never at the same time thanks to modern technology. Ideas are brewing and stirring. Alar Suurna ( probably the best mixer in Sweden) will be cleaning up and disciplining the sounds in its final stages.
Nanook of the North will also be starting some mixes for the new album. The first track to be sorted out is the Little guardian. Harps, clarinets, french horns and Orchestrons. Everyone wins.
Lately I have also been working on some wonderful tracks by Swedish artist Victoria Moralez. The musical meeting so far has been nothing short of amazing and I think we are both looking forward to see how it all ends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvCxKmuiBcI
The neverending tour of The Aristocrats continues with more and more gigs being added on. The band is really growing tighter and closer for every gig. A lot of fun and a very organic and breathing band structure...My intern David made some films from one of last weeks gigs...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBPFYDTntaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVuhRFr5pV8
The Aristocrats will be entering the studio in June to start recordings for a new album.
Tomorrow night we will be playing at the bar at Södra Teatern together with Lacrosse...
Now playing: Antkowiaks - Under
2009-05-08
Fresh Marching orders
Last night was spent in a slight confusing state doing more edits and more minor mixing on the track Merci by Krysztof Antkowiak. There is still some details on the vocals that needed to be attended too but otherwise it is getting there. Last night I added reversed electric guitar to the second verse. Tried some treatments on the brass section recorded by Ulf Åkerstedt but decided to kill the idea. I also added some field recordings to the end section, a rusty tire swing and my daughter Leia laughing and backwards. I think I will be doing two different endings on the track. One longer and more ambient and then one that just stops so there are alternatives when it comes to track listing. If we are tying the tracks together we will be using the long one…and if we are making it tight…we will use the stop one.
I am hoping to finish the track today.
New intern at the studio.
Throughout May David Svedmyr (from prog bands such as Piu and Cirrus Winery) will be at the studio working as an intern.
First Opium Cartel Review.
"Taking a departure from White Willow, Jacob Holm-Lupo has crafted a brilliant album in the name of "The Opium Cartel". Joining Holm-Lupo from White Willow is Lars Fredrik Froislie so you know you are in for some major mellotron! Night Blooms is a perfect album! Beautiful lyrics, beautiful voices and a very soft mellotron laden symphonic approach throughout. Vocals are both female and male and really has a black and white vibe to it matching and reflecting the cover art. Musically this is an ideal headphone art album with tons of great passages and subtle harmonies. You need to own this album right away so go order this puppy!"
Last night was spent in a slight confusing state doing more edits and more minor mixing on the track Merci by Krysztof Antkowiak. There is still some details on the vocals that needed to be attended too but otherwise it is getting there. Last night I added reversed electric guitar to the second verse. Tried some treatments on the brass section recorded by Ulf Åkerstedt but decided to kill the idea. I also added some field recordings to the end section, a rusty tire swing and my daughter Leia laughing and backwards. I think I will be doing two different endings on the track. One longer and more ambient and then one that just stops so there are alternatives when it comes to track listing. If we are tying the tracks together we will be using the long one…and if we are making it tight…we will use the stop one.
I am hoping to finish the track today.
New intern at the studio.
Throughout May David Svedmyr (from prog bands such as Piu and Cirrus Winery) will be at the studio working as an intern.
First Opium Cartel Review.
"Taking a departure from White Willow, Jacob Holm-Lupo has crafted a brilliant album in the name of "The Opium Cartel". Joining Holm-Lupo from White Willow is Lars Fredrik Froislie so you know you are in for some major mellotron! Night Blooms is a perfect album! Beautiful lyrics, beautiful voices and a very soft mellotron laden symphonic approach throughout. Vocals are both female and male and really has a black and white vibe to it matching and reflecting the cover art. Musically this is an ideal headphone art album with tons of great passages and subtle harmonies. You need to own this album right away so go order this puppy!"
-James Unger, Wonderful World of Progressive Rock
The second Opium cartel Review (or bio)
VÖ: 09.04.09 The Opium Cartel is a project put together by songwriter/guitarist/producer Jacob Holm-Lupo from seminal Norwegian art-rockers White Willow. With something of a split cult following, White Willow has influenced both the modern psych-folk scene (their 1995 debut, Ignis Fatuus" is considered one of the forerunners of the psych-folk revival) and the extreme metal scene (fans include Norway's Enslaved and Emperor, Engand's Cathedral and US group The Soil Bleeds Black). After 5 critically lauded albums ("one of the most significant progressive groups of the current era" (Billboard), "odes to early-1970s prog and 1960s West Coast psychedelics. A standout effort that reaps voluminous dividends upon repeated spins." (All About Jazz),
"the Norwegian band straddles cutting-edge metal and artsy progressive rock with spellbinding ease, simultaneously sounding eclectic and accessible." (popmatters.com)) and tours of Europe and North-America, Holm-Lupo has taken a hiatus from what is generally considered Scandinavias foremost art-rock group. Gathering up his favorite singers and musicians, notably Rachel Haden (The Rentals, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, Todd Rundgren), Tim Bowness (No-Man, Roger Eno, David Torn), Ketil Einarsen (Jaga Jazzist, Grasshopper), Rhys Marsh (Rhys Marsh & The Autumn Ghost, Anekdoten), Mattias Olsson (Ak-Momo, Pineforest Crunch, Änglagård), Sigrun Eng (Kaada) and Lars Fredrik Frøislie (In Lingua Mortua, Wobbler, Xploding Plastix), Jacob Holm-Lupo wanted to make a more eclectic and personal album. Made on a laptop in the comfort of the various contributors' homes, the album was made leisurely over an extended period. Most songs were built around original sketches recorded on dictaphones or minidiscs, and the end result is a patchwork of material sourced from different places and eras. Musically, this is partly a back-to-the-roots dip into the folk-rock that originally inspired Holm-Lupo (Mellow Candle, Fairport Convention, Trees), although the album touches on a variety of genres, from elec ronically impaired folk (Heavenman, Three Sleepers) via garagey power-pop (Honeybee) and art-pop (Skinnydip) to proggy excursions (Beach House). The album also features a cover of By this river from Brian Eno's album "Before and After Science", a common favorite of both Jacob, Rachel and Tim. Jacob also mentions Air, M83 and The Postal Service as influences. A common thread on the album is Mattias Olsson's sound-mangling and an abundance of wobbly, vintage keyboards like Mellotrons and Optigans. The album was mastered by Jens Petter Nilsen of Xploding Plastix, and the package is rounded off with illustrations by Japanese illustrator Mako and design by Trine+Kim.
Apart from The Opium Cartel and White Willow, Jacob Holm-Lupo plays guitar in experimental black metal group In Lingua Mortua along with Lars Fredrik Frøislie and Jørgen Munkeby (Shining), and works as a producer. He produced Wobbler's debut album and is currently working on Rachel Haden's first solo album
”Fine atmospheric pop. I'm reminded a bit of fellow Norwegian artrockers The 3rd and the Mortal, but it's probably a bit more akin to David Sylvian or Kate Bush as this style of prog/pop is far more weighted towards the pop side of things. Y'know, the kind of thing that appeals to 'serious' music types and high-minded critics without alienating the general listening audience. It's possible to geek out on it, but can be readily enjoyed by anyone as the the overall prettiness of the music is by far its strongest asset. " (itsatrap.com) "The Norwegian project The Opium Cartel, led by White Willow's Jacob Holm-Lupo, presents intoxicating, delicately fashioned folk-electronica. Beautiful compositions "Three Sleepers" and "Skinnydip" benefit from the exquisitely gentle vocals of cellist Sylvia Skjellestad. "Honeybee," a Lolita tale, surges with a rock sensibility." (Palo Alto Daily News)
2009-05-07
A slight tremble
Back in town again…Me and my wife Åsa just came back from spending four days in Paris…One of my favourite cities in the world. Remarkable food, great pastis and a great opportunity to visit our friends at Nokia and Stephan and Patrick from the wonderful band Blanc. Visiting the Louvre, High Mass at Notre Dame. Happy and refreshed. I slept eight hours a night for four days straight…I haven’t done that in about six years.
Last night was slightly odd and fun at the same time..As I am on paternity leave right now taking care of my son Vincent I am very sporadically in the studio which means odd hours at day and odd hours at night. Last night I showed up at around eight and worked until midnight on a track by Krysztof Antkowiak. It is a track I have been working on for some time.
Two Fridays ago I had the marvellous Ulf Åkerstedt in the studio recording trumpets for the choruses…but we also added some Yamaha GS-2 tremolo piano which sounds really really great. The Yamaha GS-2 is a very early FM synth that I have been using a fair deal lately. There is something very pristine about the sound that sort of appeals to me.
So yesterday I started finalizing the mix and making some big decisions concerning the track. Trying to make some sense of all the channels and trying to get the song across…This meant erasing some bits here and there…doing experimental sampling with Casio SK-1 and recording some guitar. All for the sake of clarity and understanding.
Now Reading: Alex James – A bit of a blur
Now Playing: Yes – Fragile
Explanation: About two weeks ago Änglagård had a small get together lacerated in Ricard and strong coffee where we listened to some musical Ideas and discussed the future. Why have a progressive rock band. What is relevant in the genre today? If we are supposed to reawaken Frankenstein I think it is important that he has got a new fresh hip haircut and some new dance moves. So in a effort to try to trace back to the bands old inspirations I have been listening to some old prog lately. Trying to avoid the horribleness of ELP and the squeakyness of Rush. A bit of Gentle Giant, some King Crimson around the edges.
Also..please understand that I don’t think/hope/expect the band will be venturing into any sort of electronic pathway or Warpness any time soon. There will not be any boogie woogie on this album either. The new material is very much old school stuff but it has a new harmonic edge. I just want it to have more dimensions and layers. Is that too much to ask ?
Back in town again…Me and my wife Åsa just came back from spending four days in Paris…One of my favourite cities in the world. Remarkable food, great pastis and a great opportunity to visit our friends at Nokia and Stephan and Patrick from the wonderful band Blanc. Visiting the Louvre, High Mass at Notre Dame. Happy and refreshed. I slept eight hours a night for four days straight…I haven’t done that in about six years.
Last night was slightly odd and fun at the same time..As I am on paternity leave right now taking care of my son Vincent I am very sporadically in the studio which means odd hours at day and odd hours at night. Last night I showed up at around eight and worked until midnight on a track by Krysztof Antkowiak. It is a track I have been working on for some time.
Two Fridays ago I had the marvellous Ulf Åkerstedt in the studio recording trumpets for the choruses…but we also added some Yamaha GS-2 tremolo piano which sounds really really great. The Yamaha GS-2 is a very early FM synth that I have been using a fair deal lately. There is something very pristine about the sound that sort of appeals to me.
So yesterday I started finalizing the mix and making some big decisions concerning the track. Trying to make some sense of all the channels and trying to get the song across…This meant erasing some bits here and there…doing experimental sampling with Casio SK-1 and recording some guitar. All for the sake of clarity and understanding.
Now Reading: Alex James – A bit of a blur
Now Playing: Yes – Fragile
Explanation: About two weeks ago Änglagård had a small get together lacerated in Ricard and strong coffee where we listened to some musical Ideas and discussed the future. Why have a progressive rock band. What is relevant in the genre today? If we are supposed to reawaken Frankenstein I think it is important that he has got a new fresh hip haircut and some new dance moves. So in a effort to try to trace back to the bands old inspirations I have been listening to some old prog lately. Trying to avoid the horribleness of ELP and the squeakyness of Rush. A bit of Gentle Giant, some King Crimson around the edges.
Also..please understand that I don’t think/hope/expect the band will be venturing into any sort of electronic pathway or Warpness any time soon. There will not be any boogie woogie on this album either. The new material is very much old school stuff but it has a new harmonic edge. I just want it to have more dimensions and layers. Is that too much to ask ?
2009-03-17
They like us ! Even if we are a bit short.
Taken from the daily newsletter of the CMUnetwork in the U.K
REVIEWS Even if we are a bit short.
ALBUM REVIEW: AK Momo - Return To NY (Peacefrog)
This delightful debut album from Swedish duo Anna Karin and Mattias Olsson taps into the 60s in a way that the likes of Broadcast used to do, but whereas that group couched their art in a slightly clinical retro futurist sound, straight from the lab, 'Return To NY' has a more organic feel, with, in the album's gorgeous sampled string sounds, some of the best use of the mellotron since OMD's 'Architecture & Morality'. The high-pitched, slightly twee vocals of Karin also recall chanson and modern day noirish torch songs (think Portishead, Alison Goldfrapp or even Gamine), whilst there's a slight kookiness to the vocals which will go down well with fans of Kate Bush, Bat For Lashes and Joanna Newsom. Admirers of Saint Etienne's Scandinavian period may well find much to enjoy too. Sonically beguiling in its use of vintage electronics and radio crackle, 'Return To NY' is equally alluring in the fatalistic black white portraits the richly warming melodies and haunting vocals help paint. You could fault the running time (only 35 minutes seems criminally short), but little else - this is an intoxicating listen.
MS
Taken from the daily newsletter of the CMUnetwork in the U.K
REVIEWS Even if we are a bit short.
ALBUM REVIEW: AK Momo - Return To NY (Peacefrog)
This delightful debut album from Swedish duo Anna Karin and Mattias Olsson taps into the 60s in a way that the likes of Broadcast used to do, but whereas that group couched their art in a slightly clinical retro futurist sound, straight from the lab, 'Return To NY' has a more organic feel, with, in the album's gorgeous sampled string sounds, some of the best use of the mellotron since OMD's 'Architecture & Morality'. The high-pitched, slightly twee vocals of Karin also recall chanson and modern day noirish torch songs (think Portishead, Alison Goldfrapp or even Gamine), whilst there's a slight kookiness to the vocals which will go down well with fans of Kate Bush, Bat For Lashes and Joanna Newsom. Admirers of Saint Etienne's Scandinavian period may well find much to enjoy too. Sonically beguiling in its use of vintage electronics and radio crackle, 'Return To NY' is equally alluring in the fatalistic black white portraits the richly warming melodies and haunting vocals help paint. You could fault the running time (only 35 minutes seems criminally short), but little else - this is an intoxicating listen.
MS
