P, C & C in a Rox-Plumber-Box (II): Recordings at AGM

Per Gessle has left a new message on official Son Of A Plumber website where he comments about the recording of the new Roxette songs, which will included in the greatest hits Roxette will release this fall as part of the band’s 20th Anniversary celebration. Three members of Mazarinerna and Son of a Plumber are involved again: Christoffer Lundquist, Clarence Öfwerman and Jens Jansson. Helena Josefsson won't take part this time.

Christoffer Lundquist's studio has been very busy lately. You can watch the recordings of another band, The Men, with Chris as producer. Read Anders Mildner's words below.

Camera Obscura, a band from Glasgow, Scotland, have released their fourth album "Let's get out of this country" this month. "Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken" is the first single. The album was recorded in several studios since September 2005, including the AGM Studios. Christoffer Lundquist features as audio mixer, but this time the producer is Jari Haapalainen.

LJdM

Marie Fredriksson and I (together with Christoffer, Clarence and Jens) spent a couple of days (and nights) in the Aerosol Grey Machine-studio recently recording two new tracks for the upcoming Rox hits-collection. It really sounds fantastic! Marie is in good shape, Christoffer is laughing all the time and Clarence has grown a beard! I’ll let you know the song titles shortly. I know you’re curious, my neighbour is…. Also, we did a great photoshoot with our old pal Jonas Linell the other day in a bowling alley. Strike!

It was in fact wonderful, and emotional of course, but also (hehehe) it took about like an hour, and then we’re back in the groove. It was the same jokes, the same… everything was like the same. So even though time has gone by, it feels as if time has stood still for a bit so… It’s not like it was before because, you know, Marie is somewhat a changed person, for all that she’s gone through. But nevertheless, she still sings very well and, you know, it’s just been a pleasure to be able to record these songs. If you had asked me like two years ago if this would ever happen, I would definitely would never believed it to have happened. I’m really pleased that we actually could do it.

It was great to work with Marie again! We had three fantastic days down in Skåne and we are very happy with the result. Everything was very easy, Clarence played keyboards, Marie prepared some coffee and Christoffer and I played hockey. I won.

Per Gessle

Maximum Swedish modband The Men in the recording studio Aerosol with producer Christoffer Lunquist recording tracks for Return - that will be released by Playground Music Scandinavia in sept 2006.

Our good friends The Men have released a new single called ”If I Can’t have You”, recorded by Christoffer at AGM Studios. If you let The Men describe their band, it sounds like this:

”The Men is a MAXIMUM R&B outfit from Lund, Sweden, and something of a small “supergroup” since they formed out of four already established Swedish garage bands, The Sinners, The Girls, Thee Expression and Colubrids. They got together a few years ago to form the ultimate live-band; explosive, stylish, tight, groovy, cool and fun (No shoegazers!) – a band the members themselves would love to see.”

Listen to their cool new song. They played this song twice when we had our one year party in Malmö in May. We loved it.

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

P, C & C in a Rox-Plumber-Box (I): The Rox Medley and Junk TV Opera

Per Gessle, Clarence Öfwerman and Christoffer Lundquist (P, C & C) will be involved in the recordings of two new Roxette's songs at AGM Studios in June together with Marie Fredriksson. According to drummer Jens Jansson, the recordings has begun actually.

Per Gessle speaks about this project last weeks during SOAP European promo. The Plumber’s son opened his own MySpace page today: Gessle’s space. It will be a complement to the other sites, like SonofaPlumber.com. MySpace apparently has over 80 million members and is a must for today’s musicians that want to be seen, according to TDR’s sources.

In all quietness and secrecy a new single by Roxette will be released June 15. This single is called “The Rox Medley” and consists of a medley, newly remixed by Clarence Öfwerman, Christoffer Lundquist and Jimmy Monell (Shooting Star) at Christoffer’s studio the Aerosol Grey Machine. The songs included in the medley are “The Look,” “Joyride,” “Listen to Your Heart,” “Dangerous,” “It Must Have Been Love” and “Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave).” This is, however, a radio release only, and according to the info sheet distributed with the promo CD, something to start the Rox20 celebration with. The record’s call number is CDPRO 4392. This track will be publicly available as the B-side of the new single this fall.

By the way, Swedish people will be able to watch Brainpool's Opera, Junk, on TV, next June 8.

LJdM

There have been times when no one believed Marie was going to survive. She has been in a bad condition. Now she’s free of cancer and off her medications, but she has become a different person. That’s why it surprised me when Marie asked me on my birthday if there would be a need for new songs during Roxette’s 20th anniversary year. It solely depends on her, I’ve accepted it. The decisions are up to her. I’m up for anything – a tour, a new album – but I don’t expect anything. Every small step forward is good news to me.

We’re gonna do some new Roxette stuff in the summer and so I think there won’t be any Son of a Plumber shows, because I have to work on the new Roxette.

The RoxBox will be 3 CD’s, the core of Roxette’s music. It will have the most common songs as well as some hard to get songs like for instance “Happy Together.” And then we have the demo thing. And then we have a DVD thing, which is videos I think. We’re trying to get permission to release MTV Unplugged. It’s really hard, but I have people working on this, I’m not that involved. There are two songs we really loved, “See Me” and “Weight of the World,” which we didn’t include because we didn’t want to lose the tempo of the album by having these acoustic tracks, even though we loved them. So both of them are included here. So it shouldn’t have songs which are inferior to the others, it should have songs which are hard to get but really good.

The Rox Box includes a booklet about Roxette made by the best Swedish music journalist of all time, Jan Gradvall. He was our first choice.

I think touring with Roxette is a closed chapter. I don’t think Marie ever will tour again. I don’t think she will leave her family. But on the other hand I can’t speak for her, it’s really up to her, but I don’t think so, no.

Per Gessle

Today’s my birthday and I’m heading for the AGM studio to record with people born in the 50’s.

Jens Jansson - Junk Musik

On June 8, at 21.30, Swedish television Svt shows a documentary about Brainpool’s rock opera Junk. I haven’t seen it myself, but I’m told that we will be able to see everything: from the very first rehearsals to the big symphonic concert that launched the record. Exciting. In Dagens Nyheter, there is a quote from David Birde, where he says: ”We consume like pigs”.

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

Plumbers around Europe (IX): Junk, bad name, bad day

Christoffer Lundquist's record company is "Junk". Yes, it is really junk. You can read about it in their official website. Laugh and learn about selling records nowadays.

LJdM

What a day! If your company is named Junk, you might have guessed that this would happen. But I was somewhat surprised when I entered Junk office this morning and found that the whole place smelled like shit. No. I take that back. It smelled o-f shit. My fellow office friends were concerned too. They didn’t look happy at all. Neither did I, after a few minutes. Guys from the building came and opened all vents, everyone tried to find where the smell was coming from. After five hours, we still have no idea. It is almost impossible to work here today. I brewed lots of coffee and poured it into large plates, which I placed around the office. I thought: maybe it will smell like coffee instead. It didn’t work. I opened all the windows. It got cold and started to rain like hell. Now: I want you to feel sorry for me.

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

Honestly, I am SO amused by this story that I can’t even feel pity for you. Once I would start feeling pity, I would spoil all the fun and trust me, this story is simply too good for ending up in a commiseration ... Tip: coffee can’t beat shit. try one of John Peel’s “Perfumed Garden” radio shows from the pirate station Radio London back in the 60’s… You must have the cd’s somewhere…If you haven’t gotten them, then I will right feel pity for you. hahahaha…God, what a story!

Adela Toplean - A_T_ blog

It might be a dead mouse inside the wall (unless you have solid concrete walls?) that’s causing this. i had the same problem in the studio two years ago. After a week of following the decomposing mouse’s smell developing, my french artist and musicians and myself couldn’t stand it anymore. it was the worst ever, believe me. So I got a builder to tear down (!) the wall where we agreed the smell emanated from only to discover it was the wrong wall. it took three weeks for the smell to go away. It peaked over a TWO-WEEK PERIOD. Ask David, he has experienced the dead studio mouse smell himself. My thoughts go to you on a day like this, my friend.

Christoffer Lundquist - Junk Musik

Poor poor you. Dead mouse smell is no good…

David Birde - Junk Musik

That’s actually what one of the guys from the building said: “this might be a dead mouse”. wow. this doesn’t feel so good…. Getting the house owner to tear down a wall sounds like project that will take a looooong time… PS: What did the rat-session sound like?

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

Learn from A_T_:s wise words: Coffee can’t beat shit!

Jens Jansson - Junk Musik

Could be a brilliant opportunity to take up cigar-smoking. Mixing business with pleasure…

Magnus Börjeson - Junk Musik

OK, I am not a specialist in mice-caught-in-junk-walls, but shouldn’t he (the dead Micky I mean) get dry in a few days and stop spreading shitty smells within such a graceful place as Junk office probably is? … are you guys serious with breaking the wall (possibly the wrong one …)? I think there was a mouse in the Berlin wall, that’s why Reagan shout at Gorbachev “TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!” This Junk happening is just a little bit of history repeating…

Adela Toplean - A_T_ blog

And the Pink Floyd epic The Wall is of course about a mouse. Roger Waters blames his mother, his wife, his teacher, himself but all in all it was just another mouse in the wall…

David Birde - Junk Musik

I just got home after a Skåne-holiday, so this is just a quick one – but interesting. More than half of EMI:s profit now comes from downloads. At our Junk meeting last week, we found out that we too had sold more downloads than we thought. We wouldn’t complain if we reached EMI levels, though.

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

That’s a surprise indeed….but a nice one. Personally i love itunes Music Store. But they MUST get rid of the thing that stops you from copying yuor downloads to more than five hard drives. In ten years I’ll have to buy all my music again considering how often i change computers. And that’s an outrage of course. Well ... I can chose to unregister my songs when you change computer. Still…it’s technical, complicated and feels just cheap. Like the situation with DVD regions. The business are going about this the wrong way i think. And I’m not at all a defender of the piracy situation, i think that’s all wrong - but understandable nevertheless.

Christoffer Lundquist - Junk Musik

The big question that every company should ask itself from now on: Why should my customers pay for something that does less? Before, every product was aiming for MORE: extended cd:s, more functions, more information. Today, every product aims for LESS: more copyright protection etc. This is something the customers won’t buy. Why should they pay for things than can perform less? Everyone expect things to move forward.

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

If anders is right, then I might say that we could soon expect (or are we already witnessing it?) a sort of muffled, weird and silent conflict between artists and their own record companies…The first one is still “more”-oriented, whilst the last one is definitely focused on “less”. Some of the copy-protected discs have a low-quality sound (i.e. strange noises when you expect least) which is an “artistic damage” after all that the record company doesn’t see as an immediate danger; I’d like to believe that the artist cares about how his music sounds in my stereo, it’s about the overall impression that the album leaves on me after all… In my opinion it’s not only about what the customers are willing (or not willing) to buy, but also about the concrete music that the artist himself had been agreed upon (against or according to his will). The customer will always feel that the artist is answerable for a lame quality of the item because the customer ONLY cares about the music written on that cd and sees any alteration or restriction as being a harm done to the music he wants to listen to. As for me, I still feel that a product with too many “less”’s looks negative. And it throws a certain displeasing light on that particular artist.

Adela Toplean - A_T_ blog

I think that conflict already exists (between artists & record companies), but i haven’t noticed a reduced sound quality. One thing you have to keep in mind though, is that the itunes solution (with five licenses) was the ONLY way that apple could get the big five to agree with downloads AT ALL, so in the long run, it might be looked upon as a step forward anyway.

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

Plumbers around Europe (VIII): SOAP single and Junk book

Per Gessle has been visiting Holland and Germany this month as part of his “Son Of A Plumber” promotion tour through Europe. A new Son of a Plumber single, “I Like It Like That,” will be released in Sweden on May 24. The B-side is, as previously reported, the second installment of the series “Plumber in Progress.” Anyway, the new plans for Roxette do not help the SOAP project, that is going to be put on ice.

Other news: Christoffer Lundquist and Anders Mildner, from Junk Musik, are going to write a book about music.

LJdM

Promo is not become a routine, but in a way, every interview is like the other one. I remember the days that we were doing this every day for months and months – it’s not like that anymore, it’s fine. But it’s also an album – a project – that needs to be described, you have to sort of talk about it a bit and tell what’s behind it. If I could do a big talk show on TV, that would be easier.

All my life I’ve been ’accused’ of making commercial music. Though many people bought my records which received a lot of airplay, the press never was enthusiastic. Now a serious magazine like Rolling Stone gives nothing but praise. I can only laugh about that, since this is probably going to be my worst-selling record ever.

We’re gonna do some new Roxette stuff in the summer and so I think there won’t be any Son of a Plumber shows, because I have to work on the new Roxette. Don’t even know at this state if there will be a fourth single from the album. We might pass on that due to the upcoming Rox releases.

Per Gessle

It is the starting point of what will become a book. I have had this idea for some months now, but today was the first time that I met with Christoffer and talked about it (if you don’t count the time when I called him and asked ”Will you write a book with me?”) It’s going to be a book about audio: partly a guide how to record, partly a sound-philosophy. We have no idea how long time it will actually take to write this, but you will be able to follow the process and comment on our work & thoughts here at Junk.

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

Anders as writer of a book you could maybe have seen coming, but Christoffer… Hurray for you two! I will read it, promise.

Jens Jansson - Junk Musik

May I ask why the previous poster is so sceptical about my ability to be a writer? Maybe, once the book is done, he (Jens) will read it and pick up a couple of useful things. And thank me accordingly for it.

Christoffer Lundquist - Junk Musik

Not at all sceptical. Just amazed. You’re a man of so many talents and sometimes I forget that. Your book will be a milestone, I feel it. Best of luck!

Jens Jansson - Junk Musik

Christoffer Lundquist - the renaissance man. Keep your eyes open for his premiere art exhibition!

David Birde - Junk Musik

Once you do a rock opera, all doors are open. You should feel that too

Anders Mildner

Junk Musik

My opinion on Christoffer the-yet-to-be-writer: apart from a very comfortable sense of humour, he has a very non-itchy flowing way of being, singing and producing. And he’s easy in manner. And free from tension. And I assure you there are no other more important qualities to be required from a writer of specialized books! As for the “l’homme-à-tout-faire”-issue, that’s just how creativity goes: no preferential direction, it strikes whatever way and when you expect the least…just like the Holly Spirit hahaha. So good for you guys, I’m sure the book will be not only useful, but enjoyable as well…Who knows, maybe the Swedish Academy will be amazed by your revolutionary approach of sound and you’ll get a Nobel for literature; or for physics at least.

Adela Toplean - A_T_ blog

Sandy Mouche ... and poems for the unborn (V): NY Waiting and Spring 2006 Local Promo Gigs

The Sandy Mouche song "Spiderweb Suit" is featured in the film "New York Waiting" by Joachim Hedén. The film has its world premier and will compete at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The festival runs from april 27 to may 7.

" ... and poems for the unborn"
Local Promo Gigs:
Spring in Lund and Malmö


* Antivåldsdagarna 2006, Stora Scenen, Folkets Park, Malmö 2006 · 05 · 12




* Stora Scenen (= The Big Stage), Lundakarnevalen 2006, Lund 2006 · 05 · 21
"Wow this was really something! Four years ago we did our first gig in a tent at the carnival. And this year we entered the big stage in front of a very nice crowd. We thank everyone who came for their support!"

Pictures taken by Gustav Nilsson
Fotograf Anton Borgström

According to Ida Annie Kyllerman, from Skäne, SE: "Sandy Mouche was fucking good at Lundakarnevalen! It is the first time I see this band live and I was there to see The Ark, but Sandy Mouche were really good. By the way, the drummer, Per Blomgren, is handsome." Gustav Nilsson (aka gurra), from Gällivare, SE said: "Hej Sandy, I would say this was one of the best live performances so far. The song "Lucky White Dragon" was better then ever. I also liked the build up of rhythm trough the concert, with Helenas nice moves on the stage."

Yo everyone! The music is spreading and it is now decided that our latest album will be released in France and Italy.
By Martingale in France and by Edel in Italy.

We are very happy about this and we hope that we soon can jump on a plane and do some gigs over there. Hurray!

Updated: That was said by the Josefssons in the Sandy Mouche's website in May 2006. And the photograph is really taken in Paris some months later in the first promo trip to France.

The man in the photo is Jean-Philippe Béraud. He has a small discographic label MARTINGALE ( jp@martingale-music.com ) with their own web:

http://www.martingale-music.com/Label/SandyMouche/SandyMouche.php

Here you can buy the White Lucky Dragon album by Sandy Mouche for 2520 yen tax incl. It was released there on 2004.09.23. This Japanese version of Sandy Mouche's 2004 debut album includes two bonus tracks, 'Mother' & 'New York'. I have not listened to them.

Now "Mother" is also included in "RELAXY: pure acoustic sound" released in Japan (2006/05/24 - 2100 yen tax incl. ).

01. Linus Of Hollywood / Hot Child In The City
02. Bikeride / Wave
03. Kevin Tihista's Red Terror / O.K.
04. Pennebaker / I Feel I Could Do
05. Riviera / As Matters Stand
06. The Man / Tell The World
07. Of Montreal / City Bird
08. Mark Gardener (With Goldrush) / Rhapsody
09. Kim Fox / Welcome Back
10. Erk / Someone Like You
11. Seastone / The long way home
12. Sandy Mouche / Mother
13. Kaoru Ono Produced by Toshiaki Goto Vocal by Ikuko Harada / Aquarious

Sandy Mouche worked some time ago with two Japanese artists: Hideki Kaji and Fredo. The Japanese connection is still alive.

Mario (aka Sleepyhead) - LJdM

Helena Josefsson, backing singer at Tambourine Studios and Gula Studion (XVII): Air Bureau - Forever Love

Air Bureau is the musical brainchild of Niklas "Sunny Cide" Ehrlin and Henrik "Shiny Shooz" Larsson from Malmö in southern Sweden. Together with Patrik Skoog they started their careers in the hard-hitting techno act Headroom. They went around the world as DJs but felt after a good 50 releases on all the big labels like Planet Rhythm UK, Synewave NY etc that times were a-changin´. The Aircrash Bureau was first started as a side project, but soon got all of Niklas and Henriks attention and Patrik continued successfully as a solo artist (Agaric, we are records). Crawling up from the depths of debut single "Dont expect me (to forget you)" released on Stockholm records Universal and Skint/ Loaded, Niklas and Henrik decided to let their love for music in general, and funk and house in particular, take over and approach dance music in a more fearless way. Shortening their name to simply Air Bureau marked a new beginning and they started writing songs for an album, launching their own weekly club night Funkyard and sharing their much appreciated DJ sets at various clubs on the globe. Niklas is also co-owner of the local dance music store in Malmö called... Funkyard. The debut album "Forever Love" has been released in April 2006 (Sweden only so far...) and contains collaborations with both The Ark front man Ola Salo and Swedens foremost rapper, Timbuktu. On "Forever Love" Air Bureau hint at an exciting future steering a course towards a fresh dance hybrid of Basement Jaxx, Neptunes and Parliament/Funkadelic.

LJdM

We just released our debutalbum, "Forever Love" here in Sweden to start with. And to celebrate this we would like to share a track with all of you friends. This track, "Had it with you" is one that we´ve had in our live-shows for a while, but it never made it to the album. The vocals are performed by Helena Josefsson from the great band "Sandy Mouche", also from Sweden. All kinds of feedback are welcome! Just click this link to get hold of "Had it with you"!

Niklas Ehrlin & Henrik Larsson - Air Bureau

Go to www.airbureau.se and listen to Malmö-based house-group Air Bureau! There you can hear me sing on one bonustrack, Had it with you, but also Ola Salo of The Ark, Timbuktu and more on the album preview- all singing house!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

I've just listened to Air Bureau ...you really can sing everything, can't you??? How does it feel to have a totally unbelievable freedom of using your voice as a drainer for ten millions shades of emotions??!! I am almost pissed right now that there are still not enough people sensing for real how incredible your musical feeling is...and how strangely straight you bring it out... I left some kind of comment about sandy mouche on my last.fm account , as I feel I have to spread the word with my ridiculously little, trivial power. Helena, you should be seen as being the best.

"Just Emma", from Sandy Mouche's guestbook