A hairy tale of New York

PATTI SMITH - JUST KIDS

(2010)

Inledningsvis formulerar en ung Patti Smith en rädsla, inte över att behöva utstå de prövningar som ett konstnärsliv kan medföra, utan för att inte ha själva kallet. Detta blir en programförklaring i den nyligen polarprisvinnande Smiths självbiografiska roman som handlar lika mycket om hennes liv med Robert Mapplethorpe som om den tålmodiga utblomningen av sitt eget konstnärskap. Just prövningar är ett kännbart återkommande tema genom boken, såväl under skildringen av de inledande svältande åren i New York som av det mångbottnade förhållandet till konstnären Mapplethorpe. Genom Smiths mycket observanta och närvarande språk befästs en skarp bild av staden under slutet av 60-talet till mitten av 70-talet, denna populärkulturens guldålder som skapat mycket av dagens New York-romantik. En av "Just Kids" stora behållningar är sättet som Smith framställer sig själv på, lika mycket som en betraktare som en del av stadens kulturella elit, till lika stora delar en beundrare som en utövare.

- Thomas Jonsson

Radioaktiv poppärla

M. Ward - Transistor Radio (2005)

M. Ward brukar nämnas som en nyckelpersonerna i den alternativa amerikanska folkgenren jämsides med musiker som t ex Cat Power, Bonnie "Prince" Billy och Jason Molina. Efter att ha nått en betydande kultstatus på independentscenen med en rad kritikerrosade släpp toppade portlandmusikern Matt Ward sin patenterade ljudkollageproduktion med sitt fjärde soloalbum, den varma, akustiskt aviga skivan Transistor Radio. Som många vet övergick han därefter till mer bandarrangerade soloalbum, samt de mer eller mindre ofokuserade samarbetsutflykterna She&Him och Monsters of Folk (som otroligt nog ibland verkar få mer uppmärksamhet än hans egna album).

Har man följt indie/folk-musikern M. Wards katalog både före och efter Transistor Radio vet man att han alltid har fantastiska låtar i rockärmen och ständigt en extra dimension redo att delge lyssnarna. Frågan är dock om inte just Transistor Radio är albumet där han mest kommer till sin fulla rätt. Karln har fullkomligt proppat in idéer, melodier, referenser och ljudkollage på det här sexton spår långa mästerverket. Det är tydligt märkbart att hela skivan är en hyllning till de oberoende radiostationernas guldålder på 50- och 60-talet. Detta inte bara på grund av det Beach Boys-aktiga plingandet i "Fuel for Fire" eller den raffinerade melodiplankningen av The Beatles "Here Comes The Sun" i outrot av hans egna "Here Comes The Sun Again". Inte heller de många textmässiga referenserna till sjutumssinglar, radiokampanjer och wall of sound, utan framförallt i M Wards egna och unika släpigt värmande ton som ljuder genom både hans röst och gitarrspel, som tar med oss på ett svindlande ljudlandskap. Bland spåren märks den olidligt vackra balladen och livefavoriten "Lullaby + Exile", den Jerry Lee Lewis-stompiga "Big Boat" och den självreflekterande turnéobservationen "Paul's song" där namnet i titeln möjligen refererar till Paul Brainards (Richmond Fontaine) sockersöta pedal steel som väver in låten.

Transistor Radio var en tydlig vattendelare i M. Wards karriär. Efter att tidigare ha befunnit sig främst i den akustiska indiepopscenen, tog han med Transistor Radio ett tydligt steg mot en mer folklig och traditionell terräng. Det var en riktning som fortsatte med de nästföljande albumen. Även om M. Ward aldrig fastnat i något träskigt gubbigt så var det just Transistor Radio - där en stor del av hans vitala indie-nycker fortfarande fanns närvarande - som på ett imponerande sätt belyste hans fulla spännvidd. Från "One life away" som låter som hämtat från Alan Lomax inspelningar, till den akustiska poppärlan "Hi-Fi" och texmex-hasande innerliga "Fuel For Fire".

Vi som haft den stora äran att se mannen livs levande på scen vet att vi har att göra med en av popvärldens mest egensinniga och flinkaste gitarrister. På albumen låter han däremot bara det göras som tjänar låtarna bäst. Detta gäller även när han får fritt spelrum på skivans hela tre instrumentala låtar; den surf-twangiga "Regeneration #1" samt de två tolkningarna på klassisk gitarr som ramar in albumet.

M. Ward är inte bara en briljant musiker och låtskrivare, han är dessutom en mångsidig lyriker av rang. Personligen tycker jag han är som allra bäst och gripande när han har en räv bakom örat. Detta gäller såväl spexiga "Big Boat" (He says he's got a fast boat / talking 'bout light speed / get your oars back in the water, kid ...//... It's just a ferry boat / no faster than a gold fish" som den popnaiva "I'll be yr bird" (I'll sing statistics, & hide the truth, I'll tell your dad anything that you want me to, I'll hide your locket under the dirt, I'll be your bird.) Det gläder mig också att lägga märke till nickningar till stora alternativhjältar inom genren. Den alltför tidigt bortgångne Vic Chesnutt namndroppas kvickt i tidigare nämnda "I'll be your bird" och Daniel Johnston parafraseras med raden "Love will get you in the end" i skivans förmodligen allra bästa spår "Lullaby + Exile". En mening, som visserligen är lika unik i en popsång som reklamavbrott är i en tv4-produktion, men om man känner till Wards vurmande för Johnston med flera släppta covers på skiva så vet man nog att den syftar på Texas mest udda fågels största hit "True Love Will Find You in The End".

Transistor Radio är som Roy Orbisons och Phil Spectors mest aviga och krumbuktande popdröm och är ett album som så väl förtjänar att bli erkänt som ett av pophistoriens starkaste. Man kan bara ana att tiden som går kommer att tjäna det väl. Detta är nämligen ett album av yttersta toppklass, som möjligen med undantag för den lite väl endimensionella "Four Hours in Washington" lyckas hålla sig fläckfritt från dalar. Skivan visar inte bara på möjligheterna som kan göras i en akustisk genre som ofta håller på att halta, utan hur popidealen som sattes upp på 50- och 60-talet kan låta mer nutida och angelägna än någonsin.

- Thomas Jonsson

M. Ward reveals new song "Hold Time" on his website

As you might have found already, the title track from M Ward's forthcoming and much awaited sixth album "Hold Time" is available on his website. By clicking on the featured tv set's switch, it changes from the video of 2006's "Chinese Translation" to the new song. Enjoy! This will doubtlessly be one of the best albums of 2009.

A talk with Emma Adbåge

I got to know the illustrator and author Emma Adbåge back in 2006 and I can't in word describe how much I like the things she does nor how much I appreciate discussing creative issues and such with her. I could start a blog solely for writing about her. I don't have to though since she's got one of her own. Her very recommended blog (in english) with sketches, photos, art/book/music-references and more (where I also borrowed the photos and sketches for this post).

Since 2001, she's been very productive with four own children's books and countless collaborations and illustrations. This year she had three very nice books out, first her own "Jag var superhjälte säger vi", plus the illustrated short story "Limited Edition", available in the anthology "Samtidigt". She also illustrated the book "De ovanligaste barnen i världen", written by Inger Edelfeldt.




Currently residing in Mjölby, I know that she has just finished new material and some details have just begun to leak out on the big Swedish book sites. I wanted to make an interview with her and I'm very proud to have her aboard on my blog now.


Emma, you seem to have been furiously productive 2008 with the new two books that are put out. They're amazing. What can you tell about the future, if you're allowed to talk about it? (I just found this on Bokus).

Thanks! Both of them were made last year though (you know, there is so much work between me and the book stores) - so let’s say that I was furiously productive 2007!
-Seriously speaking, among other things, I have been working with two children's books this year as well so, OK. Your link mentions one of them: “Vi hittar Smulbert” (“Finding Smulbert”). The other one, which I’m just about to finish the cover for, is called “Fylla år” (which is hard to translate into English but I will call it “The birthday book”). Both of them are my own – both text and illustrations.

“Finding Smulbert” is a quiet story about two siblings at the beach, a hot summer's day. They get up early, squarrel in the backseat and do all that beach-stuff, like pretending they’re dolphins and having packed lunch on a blanket. Then, they find this bug and call him “Smulbert”. Smulbert gets a big castle made out of sand and they bathe him - to death!
The summary: play, picnic and death and joy

The other one – “the Birthday book” – is more like a philosophical book about having birthdays. Why do we (in Sweden) call it “fylla år” …like “fill the years”? -With what? And isn’t it unfair that while some of us can have like hundreds of birthdays in a lifetime, the dragonfly, for example, only lives for a couple of days (NO BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!)! Both books are expected to be out in the stores 2009 (“Vi hitter Smulbert” – Eriksson & Lindgren AB & “Fylla År” – Alfabeta Bokförlag).


Apart from the children's books, you also do comics for a more grownup audience. Is comic the correct term? You had an illustrated short story, "Limited Edition" published recently in the anthology Samtidigt. Which is brillant, funny but very moving too. Is this something you're planning to do more in the future?

Oh, interesting that you question the word “comic”, 'cause I really hate using that word. “Cartoon” as well. It makes me think of comic strips. Stuff that makes one laugh (not me though, I’m whining!). It can be so much more than just those funny strips that you can read in your daily paper. “An illustrated short story” feels more correct so let’s use that term.

Now I will answering your question: THANK YOU. And yes, definitely. I’m working on a couple of stories when I got some time left. I really like to tell a story that way – you can get so much out of an illustration instead of trying to explain it all in just words – an amazing tool! Maybe in the same way that you use the music to your lyrics? -I wish that more grown-ups weren’t so afraid of the “comic”-genre, cause like I said, there is so much more than just a punch line and then it’s over.


I read the Tove Jansson biography "Ord, bild, tanke" and was reminded of your stuff. Mostly because both of you do illustrations where you first get an instant impression and then after a while discover tons of details in the background. Does Tove Jansson inspire you?

Yes, oh yes. Her work really is amazing! I don’t think you can see it in my work, but there is a difference between “inspired” and “influenced”? She inspires me in the same way that a great movie can inspire me, or a great song or a book. Or a person who is really good at something - that amazes me and gives me the inspiration to create, to use colours and to tell stories. She does that for me, Tove, she gives me that inspiration, definitely.


More, what are you inspired most by? Other illustrations or something else? Would also love to hear what other artists you like.

There are many things that inspire me; music, movies, friends and books. You know, the common things. And to spend time with children and look into their world - they are so uncomplicated and open minded, unaffected! And of course - other childrens books and artists. I just told you about Tove Jansson, so I can do some fine namedropping of artists that makes me feel inspired and elated: Nigel Peake, Carson Ellis, the Swedish illustrator/autor Eva Lindström, Owe Gustavson, Stina Wirsén, the fantastic ! Jockum Nordström and the genious David Shrigley of course - I love his humour and simplicity, so relieving! I also have to mention another person that inspires me: the Swedish actor Gösta Ekman, what a man huh!

-except other illustrators and artists I collect inspiration from other stuff: this summer I got introduced for real, to the work by Bauhaus. Me and my man visited Bauhaus archive in Berlin. He already loved the Bauhaus works and took me there. It was the best, I fell in love with the Bauhaus-stuff for real. The colours and the shapes. Wow!

If I’m allowed to name one more thing that ispires me (I can make a long long list that never ends) I wanna tell you that I actually get inspired by ugly things, and stuff that makes me say: “EEH? Ha ha!? What the hell!?” Like strange fashion trends, home styling and ugly party photos. A giant source of ideas!



What's your favorite book + cd album of 2008

Book: Since I do read a lot of childrens books I will choose “Nu är vi gorillor låssas vi!” (“Let’s pretend we’re gorillas!”) by The Great Swedish author Barbro Lindgren. IT’S AWESOME. I laughed and got all warmed up when I read it. Really fell in love and Barbro is also one of my biggest idols. If I would choose one novel this past year it would be the actor Jonas Karlsson’s debut “Det andra målet”. If I have to choose ONE except your music dear friend… - Fleet foxes, the self titled debut (?) !


That stray cat we met this summer. Have you figure out if he got a home or not?

That poor thing. I’m sorry to say that I do see him around sometimes – but I still do not know if he’s got an own apartment… But I can tell that he has two cat friends hangin’ around and he looks quite strong and healthy. -I will sure look after him now when it gets colder.

According to the accordionist

My friend Kristoffer Hedberg recently released his second album "Ett helt vanligt ögonblick" consisting of Swedish-spoken acousticdriven pop and troubadourism. The album features guest appearances by big names in the Swedish pop genre such as Peter LeMarc and Lasse Lindh. I was happy to get invited to contribute with something and I chosed the accordion which I play on the song "I haven't felt the heat". Kristoffer is currently promoting his album but also reveals that he has a followup-album in mind already that he hope to get out before the end of 2009.


So Kristoffer, how would you describe me as an accordion-player?

I would describe you as an exquisite accordion player. With a huge amount of fragile feelings in his style of playing. You gave the tune "I haven't felt the heat (älskar, äskar inte)" a french touch. If you imagine yourself at an amusement park i France during the 1920s, if you do that you know which feeling I mean.




Cheers mate, it was a pleasure. What's your thoughts about the new album of yours? Can you tell me a little about the topic and musicians?

I'm very pleased that I've finally got the album out. After almost two years of hard work. There's been a few bumps on the road such as a hard drive failure etc. I think that musically I've taken a further step since the debut in 2006. The arrangements are bigger and better. It's called "ett helt vanligt ögonblick" ("a regular moment", maybe that's a bad translation), my attempt was to catch all these moments that all the time passes us by and collect them and put them in to a prison called "ett helt vanligt ögonblick". I don't know if these moments enjoy to be locked into this CD but that's another question. When you read this text a moment has passed, when you listen to the CD a moment has passed, when you write songs you try to catch the moment, simple as that.
.

The Wolf is in

A couple of weeks ago, I got in touch with the Gothenburg musician Anna Von Hausswolf who is doing very sincere and minimalistic piano based music. I also notice one of my favs Joan as a Policewoman writing a very raving comment on Anna's myspace-profile so I had to have a chat with her. Also, of course hear her music such as the lovely song "singing from the grave" there. Apparently more songs are on their way too, why a revisit soon is strongly recommended.

* Anna, thanks for the cd you sent me. I think it's really nice. How long have you been doing this kind of music and how would describe it?

-I think I've been doing this kind of music since I was a child, but it ain't until now that I find myself comfortable with it. I would describe my music as a very dramatic expression which is changing depending on my mood. It is warm and cold, intense and soft. I like to express myself in many ways, so I think variation is a key.

* I heard you've made a show in Frankfurt recently, and now you made a concert in Gothenburg's house of Bamboo - Kontiki. How was it?

-The concert in Frankfurt took place at Städelschule, the academy of art, and it was arranged by my sister( who is a student there). It was a big hall with a lot of candles, and I didn't need a microphone because the acoustic was fantastic(the audience as well)!!But my most important gig was the one here in Gothenburg at the small tiny house of bamboo-Kontiki. That was my first solo concert where I could perform to my closest friends. They really make me want to play more.

* What's your favorite album of 2008?

-My favourite album of the year 2008 must be Fleet Foxes “Fleet foxes”. Their music is magic, and I just love them!

* And which are your nearest plans for the future musically?

-I want to continue to experiment with my sound and my voice. I want to write more music, work with good musicians, and make a lot of concerts.

Top of the pop

My list for 2008 best cds, concerts, movie. Still be a matter to change during the last month. But here's my go for now.

BEST ALBUMS



1. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
Fantastic debut of this Brisol duo. Produced by a member from one of my favorite bands Mogwai. A perfect blend between raging noise, tribal shouts and some more easy accecible elements. Released early this year, and my absolute favorite.




2. Parken - Länge leve parken
I opened for Parken and my fav Swedish band Loney, Dear at a lovely day in Stockholm this summer and in cheer joy for discovering a great Swedish act who also sings in Swedish just takes me put Parkens debut album as number two on my list. Pelle, whom I interviewed here puts himself in the same garden as Håkan Hellström but with a slightly more hard chewed approach, with electronic backgrounds and saxophone. That, plus my favorite pop song of the year "Jag har varit vilsen lisa" and the cool sidekick Henric von Euler makes this a must-have.




3. James Yorkston - When the Haar rolls in
Irishmen James Yorkston's fourth album is as lovely as last year's Year of the leopard and 2003's debut "moving the gospel". His songs always go right into me and is actually very catchy and witty in all it's somberness. The cover art is also very great, for a ship fetischist such as me that alone is a reason to buy the album instead of nicking it from Pirate Bay. I've been humming a couple of weeks now on "Summer's not the same without you, I know it's a bitter old cliche...". James' albums always reach very high on my year-lists but I keep forgetting him when thinking about my favorite artists, got to be a change on that.



4. Bon Iver - For Emma, forever ago.
An aptly titled album and a very welldeserved hyped band. Acoustic and both quite experimental and psychedelic in all it's minimalism.



5. Cat Power - Jukebox
Cat Power's only getting better and better. This album is not as good as 2006's absolutely gorgeous The Greatest, but comes in awefully close. I went see a brilliant (if maybe a little too long) show at Berns Salonger in Stockholm in July. A very revealing and warm soul moment.




6. Mogwai - Hawk is howling
Probably my favorite band and the best show of the year. However, despite a really good album, it makes you more want to put on Young Teem, Come on Die Young or for that sake, their last album Mr. Beast. However, Mr Beast, the soundtrack to that Zidane movie and The Hawk is howling is a great come-back from their weak period (after Come on Die Young and some years ahead).



7. Lil Wayne - Da Carter III (deluxe edition)
Together with NAS my favorite hiphopalbum of this year. Very well achieved of him and the bonus disc with the deluxe edition features some of the best songs of this album.



8. Justus Köhncke - Safe and Sound
Slick and warm disco from Germany. Buy it and you will love it. The guitars from feuerland send chills down the spine. Perfect travelling music.




9. Fleet Foxes
You know all about them; akron/family meets My Morning Jacket in a delicate way. Actually this is a better My Morning Jacket album than the original's Evil Urges album. Brilliant.



10. St Thomas (box 4CD+1DVD+1BOOK)
This far down on the list, simply because it's in many matters a re-issue. The box set of the very missed St Thomas is a fantastic way to discover the norwegian cowboy who sadly passed away one year ago, aged 31. This box set captures his whole career, one cd with his best songs, one cd with outtakes and rarities, two cds with other artists doing cover versions of his songs (including Lambchop, Ai Phoenix and Grasshopper of Mercury Rev), one book and one dvd. The DVD is brilliant by the way with a lot of documentaries, live material and music videos. Stupidly cheap too and the whole gain goes to charity. A must-have.

+ Some good stuff from good friends



Björn Kleinhenz - Quietly Happy and Deep Insde
Viarosa - Send for The Sea

My friends and brothers, Björn and Richard, did really good albums with their projects this year. Richard is btw supporting Leonard Cohen in the O2 Millenium dome within days.

+ well done of Nas, The Kills, Flying Lotus, Justus Köhncke, Lindstrom and more.


BEST SHOWS:
1. Mogwai, Mejeriet, Lund Nov'08
2. Efterklang, Arvikafestivalen Jul'08
3. The Havenots, Leicester Oct'08
4. Parken/Loney, Dear, Trädgården, Stockholm Jun'08
5. The National (+Efterklang), Vega, Copenhagen Sep'08
6. Cat Power, Berns Salonger, Stockholm Jul'08
(I still at least have Damien Jurado, Parken and probably Lambchop to catch
before the year is over)

BEST MOVIE:
La graine et le mulet
I know this french movie is from 2007, but it was up on the cinemas in Sweden this year. A fantastic slow told story about food, love and dreams. It's brilliant and it would be a must-see to everyone who likes John Cassavetes Opening Night and a Woman under the influence.

Låt den rätte komma in
Best Swedish movie since... maybe forever. Vampire based love drama. Fantastic.