acoustic | monophon

Medieval recording weekend with Pøbel

Here are some impressions from a great weekend in April 2024, when Pøbel came to record their second album, which is going to be released next year. We used our mobile recording equipment to capture the quartet (with guests) at Malmö latinskola.

Pøbel is a band that plays captivating and danceable medieval music performed on a multitude of instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, vielle, bagpipes, lute, shawm and various medieval drums. Bringing authentic instruments, tunes and costumes on to the stage Pøbel is not only a qualified guess on how a renowned “dance band” might have looked like in the late 1400s – it is also one of most busy and ambitious medieval bands in Denmark today!

”Pøbel” is an old Scandinavian word for ”mob” or ”crowd” and as the name suggests, the approach to the music is that of the common man i.e. the music that ordinary people could have experienced at the faire or at other festive occasions around medieval Europe.

The involved musicians are all very active in the contemporary Scandinavian folk music scene and with Pøbel like to take the medieval troubadour songs, hymns and anthems and transform them into instrumental dance music based on the idea that art music has influenced folk music anywhere throughout history. The result is a kind of ”medieval folk music” which seems both authentic and timeless. It’s basically early music for modern ears!

The members of Pøbel are: Thor Ahlgren: various bagpipes, lafta, recorders & vocals. Mads Kjøller-Henningsen: hurdy-gurdies, whistles, shawms, swedish bagpipes & vocals. Lasse Væver Jacobsen: medieval fiddles/vielles, keyed fiddle (Moraharpa) & vocals. Magnus Heebøll: davul, tambourine, lafta, jaws harps & vocals.

Guest appearances: Søren Vinther Røgen: Mora-oud & Cittern. Mia Guldhammer: Lead vocal. Malte Zeberg: Double bass. Frida Höfling: Swedish cowhorn. Morten Fredberg: Grumpy Innkeeper.

The album was recorded during this weekend, a few overdubs were added later on (mostly recorded by the musicians themselves), and was mixed by Per Tidstrand and with a lot of participation by all of the band members.

Check out https://poebel.dk , https://www.instagram.com/poebeldk/ and https://www.facebook.com/Poebelmusik for more.

New release: Anna Fält “Sauna” & “Puun loitsu”

We are proud to bring you Anna Fält with her first two singles “Sauna” and “Puun loitsu”. Available for download and streaming on all the usual services like iTunes / Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, etc. now!

Anna Fält – Sauna. monophon ©2018 (MPHSGL002)

Anna Fält talks about her music and the project:

“This is the first single called SAUNA and it is an old sauna spell text I wrote music to years ago when composing to the dance performance ¡RÅ!. The new piece is is a modified version of the original I made last fall to a special gig at my favorite sauna, Ribersborgs Kallbadhus in Malmö.”

“The other single, PUUN LOITSU, is based on the ancient singing traditions of the so called Finnskogarna in Sweden, forrests that were colonized by the mysterious Forrest Finns. This is a spell for a tree and it is one of the first songs I composed to my solo performance Finnskogarnas magi. It is also the only song on the upcoming album where we took advantage of studio technics and recorded several tracks so that the recorded version differs from the live one. Otherwise the whole album is all about one voice, a cappella solo singing, stripped, minimalistic and simple. Just the way I like it.”

“March 2015 I received two grants to start working with a project in which I am studying the ancient singing traditions collected from the so called “Finnish forests” in Sweden (and a bit behind the border in Norway). These forests were unsettled until about 1600’s when thousands of Finns came and started burning down the forests, making them into fields with their special technique. Still in 1960’s there were a few people who could the old songs and traditions and spoke Finnish; they had preserved the dialect and traditional songs that had vanished in Finland.

So far I’ve been in Värmland, middle of Western-Sweden where the Swedish “Finnskogarna” still have old houses left and a culture centre/museum in Lekvattnet. I’ve visited several old “Finnish houses” and I also got the possibility to travel to Norway to sing at the annual Finnskogdagene festival 2015. After this I’ve been back in these places several times.

Anna Fält – Puun Loitsu. monophon ©2018 (MPHSGL003)

The opening night of my solo performance “Finnskogarnas magi” was Thursday (a magical day of the week in the Forest Finns old tradition!) 19/11.2015 in Stockholm, Sweden. The next show was also in Stockholm at Teater Slava Friday 9/12 and the first show in Finland was 17/12 .

Finnskogarnas Magi is an on-going project, which will continue it’s journey. Summer 2016 I performed at Sommelo Folk Music Festival and gave a lecture about this tradition. The seminars, lectures and research work will continue alongside the upcoming performances. 2017 I gave a workshop on these songs at Urkult festival in Sweden and performed Finnskogarnas magi for the 5th time, of course on a Thursday… I’ve had several solo concerts with this material, for example at the Faroe Islands and Iceland.”

For more information please visit www.annafalt.com

Album Credits:
Anna Fält, vocals. Graphics by Emma Fält.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Per Tidstrand.

New release: 232 Strängar – Spunnet

We are proud to bring you 232 Strängar with their first album Spunnet. It will be released 2016 07 29 for download and streaming on all the usual services like iTunes / Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, etc.

DOWNLOAD: Visit iTunes Music Store or your favourite download store. 232 Strängar - Spunnet monophon MPHFL004, 2016. — 232 Strängar – Spunnet. monophon ©2016 (MPHFL004).

232 Strängar (which means 232 Strings) duo will take you on a journey from northern Sweden’s forests down to the open plains of Skåne, where the piano’s tone colours are woven together with the violin’s intricate harmonies and together create a different and exciting form of folk music today.

The music tells of emotions, highs and lows, shaped in beautiful waltzes, groovy schottis, melancholic polskas, where no one is left untouched. The duo’s penchant for improvisation and other genres such as jazz, creating interesting arrangements, delicate soundscapes and curious rhythm.

Although the number of musicians not more than two, the width of the music is great and the colours are many.

Frida Höfling & Emma Engström met at Skurups folk high school and have in recent years been performing at festivals, dance halls, churches, schools, nursing homes, cafes, jazz clubs and trains throughout Sweden.

Album credits:
Frida Höfling, violins and cow horn, Emma Engström, piano. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Johannes Lundberg at Studio Epidemin, Gothenburg.

Louisa Lyne & di Yiddishe Kapelye Mir Lebn Eybik

Here is a great and brand new video from Louisa Lyne & di Yiddishe Kapelye (Label: Maestro Music). We are proud to have been a small part in the project – the band recording was done by us in our studio I/O studios. They also recorded their first album Debyut with us.

MIR LEBN EYBIK – We’ll live forever – is a powerful song, originally from the ghetto in Vilna, with a message that’s once again current. With this song Louisa Lyne & di Yiddishe Kapelye call for humanity and respect in our dark time of growing xenophobia.

Text: Leyb Rozental Musik: trad./ Louisa Lyne / Edin Bahtijaragic Arr: Louisa Lyne & di Yiddishe Kapelye

www.louisalyne.se

New release: Orquesta Típica Tangarte – Rumores de orquesta

We are very proud to present the new album from Orquesta Típica Tangarte: Rumores de orquesta. It is available for download on iTunes and other download services 2012 10 10. Or order it here at www.monophon.se or www.tangarte.se

DOWNLOAD: Visit iTunes Music Store or or your favourite download store. SVERIGE: Beställ CD genom att maila till shop@monophon.se: SEK 150 inkl porto inom Sverige (betalning via Payson.se eller faktura, vänligen ange önskad betalningsmetod). INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Order CD by sending an email to shop@monophon.se: SEK 150 (approx. 15 € / 20 $) incl. international shipping (payment through PayPal - credit cards accepted). Orquesta Típica Tangarte - Rumores de orquesta monophon MPHCD002, 2012. — Orquesta Típica Tangarte – Rumores de orquesta. (monophon) MPHCD002, 2012. www.tangarte.se

We are very proud of this new album as it also features some very nice moments with visiting guests Juan Esteban Cuacci, piano, Cristian Zarate & Leonardo Sanchez, piano and guitar, and Mercedes Krapovickas, bandoneon together with the full orchestra and our vocalists Juan José Passo and Sofia Alvarez Tidstrand.

Orquesta Típica Tangarte is an Argentinean-Swedish tango orchestra, founded in 1999 in Malmö, Sweden. The orchestra’s music is the tango from Rio de la Plata, a repertoire with a great variety from the 1940’s and -50’s up to this date. Well-known composers like Villoldo, Canaro, Fresedo, Di Sarli, Troilo, Pugliese and Piazzolla, to mention a few, are part of this repertoire. The music is primarily played for dancing; for people to meet in the embrace of the tango and to be carried away by the music.

Orquesta Típica Tangarte – Rumores de orquesta credits:

Juan José Passo – vocals (# 2, 3, 8, 9, 16, 18) Sofia Álvarez Tidstrand – vocals (# 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 17) Juanjo Passo – bandoneon (all # except 17, 18) Mercedes Krapovickas – bandoneon (all # except 9, 10, 14, 17, 18) Lars Pilsgaard Hansen – bandoneon (# 4, 7, 13) Garik Binder – piano (all # except 9, 10, 14, 17, 18) Irina Binder – violin (all # except 17, 18) Hedda Heiskanen – violin (all # except 17, 18) Per Tidstrand – violoncello (all # except 17, 18) Viktor Auregård – double bass (all # except 17, 18)

with Special Guests: Cristian Zárate, piano (# 9, 10, 14), Leonardo Sánchez, guitar (# 9, 10, 14), Juan Esteban Cuacci, piano (# 17, 18)

Musical direction Juanjo Passo.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Per Tidstrand at I/O studios, Malmö, Sweden. Produced by Per Tidstrand.

Design by Per Tidstrand & “The Gramophone” Artwork by Marcela Troncoso.

Louisa Lyne & di Yiddishe Kapelye – Debyut

Louisa Lyne & di Yiddishe Kapelye (Label: Maestro Music) are releasing their album Debyut today. We are proud to have done the band recording in our studio I/O studios.

For more information please visit www.louisalyne.se

Louisa Lyne & di Yiddishe Kapelye – Debyut

”Yiddish. Darkness and sorrow, pleasure and joy!

With her first album, DEBYUT, singer Louisa Lyne breathes new life into songs and poetry that have lain forgotten for many years.

With enchanting emotion and warmth she and her music welcome us into a new world, where we are invited to share an evocative journey through the old and the new, through sadness and laughter – a musical experience that will linger long afterwards.

Louisa’s passion for language and music is revealed throughout this album, and DEBYUT is undoubtedly the start of something big.

A declaration of love!”

Download it at iTunes or listen to it on Spotify.

New release: Alligator Gumbo Lacassine Special

We are proud to present Alligator Gumbo and a new EP from monophon. It is available for download on iTunes and other download services 2012 08 10.

No longer available from us. Since Nov. 2014 distributed by Rootsy.nu Alligator Gumbo - Lacassine Special monophon MPHEP006, 2012. — Alligator Gumbo – Lacassine Special

Alligator Gumbo – unpolished and honest cajun music from the heart! Cajun music is a world heritage that was born and developed with the french immigrants in South Western Louisiana during the 19th century. Alligator Gumbo is a band with it’s roots in South Western Sweden, with their love for music from the South they have devoted themselves for the cajun tradition. With the right instruments and interpretations Alligator Gumbo invite for dancing but also something to enjoy for a seated audience. The lyrics are in ”Louisiana French” – passionate with thematics such as unanswered love, hard living, but of course also the joys of life.

The EP “Lacassine Special” contains seven great songs and it is available on iTunes, Amazon and a zillion of other stores, as well as Spotify or whatever your favourite streaming service might be.

Recorded & mixed by Per Tidstrand at I/O studios, Malmö, Sweden.

New release: Csaba & Jerry

We are proud to present Csaba & Jerry and a new EP from monophon. It is available for download on iTunes and other download services 2012 08 10.

DOWNLOAD: Visit iTunes Music Store or or your favourite download store. Csaba & Jerry - Csaba & Jerry monophon MPHEP005, 2012. — Csaba & Jerry – Csaba & Jerry

Csaba & Jerry is an acoustic duo from Malmö, Sweden. They write and perform honest and catchy pop songs in Swedish. Their vision is essentially to write that perfect pop song that everybody can relate to – one that says something important about your life. No hidden meanings or complex metaphors. Just songs hat describe the strange concept of day-to-day life.

This EP contains six songs and is available on Spotify, iTunes and other digital distributors.

www.csabajerry.se

Recorded & mixed by Per Tidstrand at I/O studios, Malmö, Sweden.

”MOVE ON” EP now available on CD

Beställ CD genom att maila till shop@monophon.se: SEK 59 inkl porto inom Sverige (betalning via Payson.se eller faktura, vänligen ange önskad betalningsmetod). INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Order CD by sending an email to shop@monophon.se: SEK 59 (approx. 6 € / 8 $) incl. international shipping (payment through PayPal - credit cards accepted). Emilia Alvarez - Move On monophon MPHEP004, 2011. — Emilia Alvarez – Move On EP (monophon). MPHEP004, 2011

We decided to make a limted edition of Emilia Alvarez EP “Move On” available on CD for all of us retro minded old school hipsters with a passion for plastic. It comes in a cardboard sleeve, though.

If you would like to have the CD just visit emiliaalvarez.bandcamp.com and follow the instructions. You will also receive a free download of the EP when you order the CD. Alternatively, just visit the releases section on this website.

To celebrate this we decided to have a little CD giveaway, where 10 lucky people will receive a signed CD. All you have to do is send an email to giveaway@emiliaalvarez.com with your name, delivery adress and emailadress. We will draw the winners on sunday, dec 11th.

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Emilia Alvarez ”Time for Change” single +”Move on” EP release friday July 15th!

Emilia Alvarez second single is “Time for Change” released 15 July 2011 and we have filmed a nice little video for that song. The song is intimate, thoughtful and laid back, and it tells a story that most of us will associate with, to get one’s act together and to get on with oneself. Unfortunately it’s not a very easy thing to do for all of us nowadays, especially many young women are struggling with this. So it is certainly a song with some importance besides being a beautiful song with lovely vocals, cello, acoustic guitar etc.

The EP “Move On” contains five great songs, all quite different but we are sure you will like them all. The single as well as the EP is available on iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp and a zillion of other stores, as well as Spotify or whatever your favourite streaming service might be.

Time for Change: Written by Emilia Alvarez & Sofia Alvarez Tidstrand. Emilia Alvarez vocals, Fredrik Silfverberg acoustic guitar, Per Tidstrand electric bass, violoncello, Minimoog V, drums. Recorded & mixed by Per Tidstrand at I/O studios, Malmö, Sweden. Produced by Per Tidstrand. Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, London, UK.