Notes (Album) by Johan Agebjörn
"An intensely chilly - at times breezy - listen, captivating almost beyond belief" DJ Mag (9/10)
"Notes is a more subdued but no less spellbinding affair, a mainly instrumental and drumless set written using a basic Casio MT-52 electric piano that adds extra sweetness to melodious pieces such as "The Right To Play" and "Will They Forgive Us", which twinkle and twirl like Yann Tiersen's Amélie score" Uncut (8/10)
"Truly a thing of wonder. A ray of winter sunshine" Daily Star (4/5)
Tracklist
Videos
Credits
released February 8, 2015
The starting point for the album was the electric piano sound of the Casio MT-52, a cheap keyboard from the early 80s that was mostly used on an amateur level. It's used (together with other sounds) on almost every track on the album.
I was making a remix (for Jam & Spoon) and I needed a cheap electric piano sound. I settled for the the piano sound of the Casio, and then I fell in love with it. It inspired me to start working in a different style, mostly without the kind of drum, bass and pad sounds I normally use. For some reason it turned out to be the perfect sound to express feelings I had inside me that I wanted to turn into music. There's some kind of unintended sadness, simplicity and authenticity in that sound.
Most of the tracks are without drums. At the time I felt that drums were mostly in the way, taking attention from details of the harmonies in the music, especially when there are a lot of notes (e.g. in arpeggios). Often I've had long drumless intros on my productions, for that reason, and since this is not at all intended to be dance music, I (in most cases) decided to let the harmonies stand for themselves. It sounds more naked and clear, though on some tracks I used some drums to obtain some more energy and motion.
The album includes collaborations with Sally Shapiro, Loney Dear and Young Galaxy (as well as a remix for Brain Machine that fits to the album's style). Some songs sounded like instrumental versions of pop songs, so I decided to have vocals on them. It was of course natural to ask Sally on two tracks. Loney Dear and Young Galaxy are both making dreamy music with great expression, so I thought they would both be exciting collaborators on this album, and I'm honored they wanted to sing on my productions.
1. The Right To Play
(J. Agebjörn)
2. Spin My Head Through Times
(J. Agebjörn/Ann-Katrin Häger)
Poetry read by Lily Rack.
3. The Boy Who Thought It Was A Good Idea To Cry
(J. Agebjörn)
Vocals by Sally Shapiro.
4. Malala's Dream
(J. Agebjörn)
5. The Leftovers (with Loney Dear)
(J. Agebjörn/Roger Gunnarsson/Emil Svanängen)
Vocals by Loney Dear.
6. You Passed Through (with Young Galaxy)
(J. Agebjörn/Catherine McCandless/Stephen Ramsay)
Vocals by Catherine McCandless.
7. Careful (with Sally Shapiro)
(J. Agebjörn)
Vocals by Sally Shapiro.
8. Will They Forgive Us
(J. Agebjörn)
9. Alpha Beta Gamma (with Brain Machine - Johan Agebjörn Remix Edit)
(Jon Tye/Guido Zen)
Original track by Brain Machine. Remixed by Johan Agebjörn. With kind permission by Titan's Halo Records.
10. It Was Never A Challenge To Love You
(J. Agebjörn)
Vocals by Myleen Offrell.
11. The Best Thing (with Sally Shapiro)
(Austin Garrick)
Originally performed by Electric Youth. Vocals by Sally Shapiro.
12. On Golden Wings I Fly
(J. Agebjörn/Ann-Katrin Häger)
Poetry read by Lily Rack.
All tracks performed and produced by Johan Agebjörn, additional musicians appearing as noted. Mastered by Jon Brooks. Originally released on Paper Bag Records.
The starting point for the album was the electric piano sound of the Casio MT-52, a cheap keyboard from the early 80s that was mostly used on an amateur level. It's used (together with other sounds) on almost every track on the album.
I was making a remix (for Jam & Spoon) and I needed a cheap electric piano sound. I settled for the the piano sound of the Casio, and then I fell in love with it. It inspired me to start working in a different style, mostly without the kind of drum, bass and pad sounds I normally use. For some reason it turned out to be the perfect sound to express feelings I had inside me that I wanted to turn into music. There's some kind of unintended sadness, simplicity and authenticity in that sound.
Most of the tracks are without drums. At the time I felt that drums were mostly in the way, taking attention from details of the harmonies in the music, especially when there are a lot of notes (e.g. in arpeggios). Often I've had long drumless intros on my productions, for that reason, and since this is not at all intended to be dance music, I (in most cases) decided to let the harmonies stand for themselves. It sounds more naked and clear, though on some tracks I used some drums to obtain some more energy and motion.
The album includes collaborations with Sally Shapiro, Loney Dear and Young Galaxy (as well as a remix for Brain Machine that fits to the album's style). Some songs sounded like instrumental versions of pop songs, so I decided to have vocals on them. It was of course natural to ask Sally on two tracks. Loney Dear and Young Galaxy are both making dreamy music with great expression, so I thought they would both be exciting collaborators on this album, and I'm honored they wanted to sing on my productions.
1. The Right To Play
(J. Agebjörn)
2. Spin My Head Through Times
(J. Agebjörn/Ann-Katrin Häger)
Poetry read by Lily Rack.
3. The Boy Who Thought It Was A Good Idea To Cry
(J. Agebjörn)
Vocals by Sally Shapiro.
4. Malala's Dream
(J. Agebjörn)
5. The Leftovers (with Loney Dear)
(J. Agebjörn/Roger Gunnarsson/Emil Svanängen)
Vocals by Loney Dear.
6. You Passed Through (with Young Galaxy)
(J. Agebjörn/Catherine McCandless/Stephen Ramsay)
Vocals by Catherine McCandless.
7. Careful (with Sally Shapiro)
(J. Agebjörn)
Vocals by Sally Shapiro.
8. Will They Forgive Us
(J. Agebjörn)
9. Alpha Beta Gamma (with Brain Machine - Johan Agebjörn Remix Edit)
(Jon Tye/Guido Zen)
Original track by Brain Machine. Remixed by Johan Agebjörn. With kind permission by Titan's Halo Records.
10. It Was Never A Challenge To Love You
(J. Agebjörn)
Vocals by Myleen Offrell.
11. The Best Thing (with Sally Shapiro)
(Austin Garrick)
Originally performed by Electric Youth. Vocals by Sally Shapiro.
12. On Golden Wings I Fly
(J. Agebjörn/Ann-Katrin Häger)
Poetry read by Lily Rack.
All tracks performed and produced by Johan Agebjörn, additional musicians appearing as noted. Mastered by Jon Brooks. Originally released on Paper Bag Records.
License
All rights reserved.
I live in Lund, Sweden. I'm a psychologist. I'm a father. I make music from time to time.