So, how does "Apan" sound, exactly? Like a mid-fi John Carpenter soundtrack with the odd bit of SunnO))) thrown in. There's not much else to be said, really. It's not as good as either, but it's a damn fine marriage that works and that holds attention for the duration of the album. This is Stockholm-based Erik Enocksson's third foray into the world of soundtracks, this time for the 2009 flick "Apan", directed by Jesper Ganslandt and, despite the fact that it's a contemporary film, the music is unashamedly ensconced in the low-to-mid budget horror of the '70s and '80s. Its adherence to that aesthetic ensures that it is both eerie and unsettling, much like Carpenter's early works and quite unlike Erik's previous efforts. There's something quite odd about this, too, which is as much down to the production as the composition. Original? No. Entertaining? Absolutely. - John Norby
New music from Swedish artist/composer Erik Enocksson from his new LP "Apan", just released via . Very different from what came before, but not in a bad way, not at all.
The always-interesting has just released a new DVD collaboration from artist Erik Enocksson and director Jesper Ganslandt called "Skinnskatteberg" featuring Eric performing a special concert deep in the Västmanlandia woods. Full info and ordering details: http://www.kningdisk.com/index_skinnskatteberg.htm
Synth: Code 64 - Trialogue () Cryo - Hidden Aggression () Page - Nu () Social Ambitions - Almost gone ()
Hardrock/Metal: Ghost - Opus Eponymous () Watain - Lawless Darkness () Khoma - A final storm () Dark Tranquility - We are the void ()
Rhythm: Haci Tekbilek - Türlü () Helt Off - Marknadens Soldat () Million Stylez - Everyday () Serengeti - Standing Steady ()
Jazz: Elin Larsson Group - Live and Alive () Lekverk - Everyday () NEO (Nässjö Extreme Orchestra) - NEO () The Country - The Country ()
Punk/Hardcore Antipati - Frågor som rör det allmänna () Hårda Tider - Gatan Kallar () Old Fashioned Ideas - We're in this shit together () The Baboon Show - Punk Rock harbour ()
Hip-Hop: Academics - Tare Lugnt 4 () Carlito - Guldburen () PH3 - Löser ett fall () Zacke - Visst är det vackert ()
Rock: Bad Hands - Take The Money And Run () Dundertåget - Dom feta åren är förbi () Pascal - Orkanen närmar sig () The Bear Quartet - Monty Python ()
Folk/Visa: Anders Svensson, Magnus Gustafsson, Susanne Gustafsson, Anders Löfberg, Jörgen Svensson - Bålgetingen, Låtar efter August Strömberg () Mats Edén, Daniel Sandén-Warg, Leif Stinnerbom, Magnus Stinnerbom - Anno 2010 () OK Star Orchestra - Sound Classique () Ola Magnell - Rolös ()
Experimental: Ombudsman - And His Father Was A Great Machine () Erik Enocksson - Man tänker sitt () Leif Jordansson - The Comet / The Doll Maker () New Tango Orquesta - Vesper ()
Singer/Songwriter: I'm Kingfisher - Arctic () Daniel Norgren - Horrifying Death Eating Blood Spider () The Tarantula Waltz - Did Not Leave To Find But To Forget, To Leave Behind () The Tallest Man On Earth - Wild Hunt ()
Best live act: Anna Von Hausswolff The Tallest Man On Earth Masshysteri Robyn
Best unsigned act (in collaboration w/P3 Lab): Alice B Katakomb Ascend Broken Boys
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on February 4 at Nalen in Stockholm. More info: http://www.manifestgalan.se/
If you didn't manage to grab a copy of the excellent and long-sold out compilation #2 featuring Erik Enocksson, ASS, Detektivbyrån and Gösta Berlings Saga, the latter group is now offering their two contributions to the collection as a free download: http://www.gostaberlingssaga.se/gbs2/2010/04/from-obscurity-to-free-download/
As for the other GNR comps, I've still got a few copies and they are all very recommended!
is a new label founded by Håkan Jonson and Erik Enocksson with a focus on putting out limited edition vinyl records and books. Their first release will be "Misantropi för nybörjare" ("Misanthropy for beginners") by Chicagojazzen (aka Erik Karlsson of Skellefteå, Sweden), an record they describe as "37 minutes worth of instrumental pop, neatly tucked into a bed of tape-hiss and crooked arrangements owing as much to Norwegian second wave black metal and American Eastcoast hiphop as to late '80s Brittish shoegaze." The official release date is April 30 and said LP will be available limited to 250 copies on 140g white vinyl. Release #2 will be "Den vita staden", a poem by Jessica Andersson with an expected release later this coming spring. More here: http://www.irrlicht.se/
Norwegian drone artist Svarte Greiner will be doing a split 7" with Sweden's Lakes of Grass and Gold (aka Erik Enocksson) on in the not-so-distant future.
Kning Disk grows as a label and so do its artists. Maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention, but prior to "The valleys" I had never considered Rickard Jäverling to be a folk artist. After all, my first introduction to his work was through his split 7" with Oskar Schönning & Co. on Jezebel Recordings, a recording that I guess could be considered postrock, though I suppose the barebones label of "instrumental" would be sufficient. Beyond that, I see his name in the credits on many records I love (David Åhlén and Johan Heltne, to name two artists he has worked with), but who knows how that reflects on the man's own work? And now, on his new record? His music still drifts with gradual crescendos, but now there are vocals and, yes, even a few small nods to pop convention. On some of the tracks at least; the folk tag is less troubadour than historian. Anyhow, he's still at his best in pure composer mode and this particular track I've got for you today is an absolutely gorgeous collaboration with fellow musical traveller Andreas Söderström (ASS). The mood is crucial, it's what ties him to the other artists I mentioned above and what sets them apart from their peers. Pastoral like labelmate Erik Enocksson can be, but hazy as if filtered through the memory of a dream. It's in the way the notes quiver and, even before the waves and seagulls come in, I see an ocean.
Kning Disk has long been one of Sweden's best, most interesting labels; Erik Enocksson is one of Sweden's best, most fascinating artists. It's a perfect match. My first introduction to Mr. Enocksson was his beautiful soundtrack to "Farväl Falkenberg", a delicate pastoral work grounded in folk; his new album "Man tänker sitt" is a Latin-language choral piece, a dark lullaby that, if my meager translations are correct, aims to sooth the dreamer that there are no wolves, no owls, no bears to be afraid of. Though divided into individual tracks/movements, it really is a single, cohesive work, so by providing you this mere glimpse I only hope to entice you to hear the whole thing. This particular section establishes the theme which is then reprised for the second half: looped whispers and breaths, piano, a choir. Alone in the dark night. Awaiting sleep? Hard to tell, but all the more intriguing.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. TALK 1
02. Marit Bergman - Höstvisa
03. Viola - No connection
04. Brothers of End - Why
05. TALK 2
06. Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
07. The Bear Quartet - Carry your weight
08. Kornstad - Oslo
09. TALK 3
10. The Amazing - Is it likely
11. Erik Enocksson - Non lupi
12. [ingenting] - Dina händer är fulla av blommor
13. TALK 4
14. Sivert Høyem - Empty house
15. Rickard Jäverling - May & Lee
16. Isolation Years - Let's step aside
17. TALK 5
18. Elmo - Young love
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Paper - Out of it into it
02. TALK 1
03. David Åhlén - Spirit fall
04. Rickard Jäverling - The wedding ring
05. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - This room seems empty without you
06. Erik Enocksson - Non strigis
07. TALK 2
08. Pistol Disco - Organ and drum
09. Dear Euphoria - Pop pills
10. The Skull Defekts - Waving
11. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Radius
12. TALK 3
13. Björn Kleinhenz - HAZ 920
14. [ingenting] - Medan vi sov
15. Agent Side Grinder - Black vein
16. Johan Heltne - Hjärte. Instinkt. Principer.
17. TALK 4
18. Jesper Norda - We have the guts
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
It's a fact: the Great Northern Recordings compilation series does an amazing job of exploring new and exciting sounds coming out of the Swedish underground and the latest edition (#4) is no exception. Even better, more established names (such as Tape or Erik Enocksson, here performing as Lakes of Grass and Gold) are paired with up-and-comers like The Magic State and my friend (and IAT.MP3 artist) Johan Gustavsson aka Tsukimono. Artists at the top of their game test their mettle with ones who have a lot more to prove -- it's a great concept and one that's executed flawlessly, especially with the sublime black-on-black packaging that adorns this new volume. It's also a perfect door-opener for anyone new to the scene because a lot of these artists are extremely prolific, yet here anyone can dive in confidently knowing that the material will be Class A across the board. I love Johan dearly, I really do, but I think that even he would admit that some of his output is inconsistent, so let me demonstrate a sample of him at his best by offering one of his two (both excellent) contributions. I do this for two reasons; first, because I really do love this piece and second, it's just as worthy of listening as the other, "bigger" names. Tsukimono has played around with many audio sources over the years, from the found-sound clatter of "Van Venue Hotel" to the stretched-out strings of "Time canvas", but I have always been drawn to his guitar works as far back as when I first heard "Née". Of course, the instrument only serves as a base starting point here on "Mimilalanono"; much of the canvas is composed of shrapnel derived from the original source, reflected back onto itself until it becomes something new, shimmery and more bell-like than string. It's not just repetitious minimalism though, there is subtle dramatic structure as the piece slowly evolves and then returns back towards where it came. Johan told me he is not so fond of the title, but he should be proud of how it came out.
Erik Enocksson