AK-Momo are a musical duo from Stockholm, Sweden. They met through mutual friends at a bar in central Stockholm. Olsson invited Malmborg to his studio for a visit. The group consists of Anna Karin ('AK') von Malmborg (vocals, Optigan and whistling) and Mattias Olsson (Optigan, Mellotron and Orchestron). The band formed in July 2003 and recorded the basis for their debut album Return to NY in six afternoons writing two songs every time.[ citation needed ] The music is based around the sounds in the Roth Händle studio. After the initial six afternoons, Olsson recorded additional overdubs with the Mellotrons, Optigans and Orchestrons and mixed the album. [1]
They have been compared to Portishead for their use of vintage synth instruments (and most undoubtedly for letting their inner John Barry out of the proverbial cage), Kate Bush for the vocals and Felt Mountain era Goldfrapp.
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. As the key is released, the tape is retracted by a spring to its initial position. Different portions of the tape can be played to access different sounds.
The Optigan is an electronic keyboard instrument designed for the consumer market. The name stems from the instrument's reliance on pre-recorded optical soundtracks to reproduce sound. Later versions were sold under the name Orchestron.
Radio-Activity is the fifth studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk, released in October 1975. The band's first entirely electronic album is also a concept album organized around the themes of radioactive decay and radio communication. All releases of the album were bilingual, with lyrics in both English and German. The album was accompanied by single release of the title track, which was successful in France and Belgium.
The Chamberlin is an electro-mechanical keyboard instrument that was a precursor to the Mellotron. It was developed and patented by the American inventor Harry Chamberlin from 1949 to 1956, when the first model was introduced. There are several models and versions of the Chamberlin. While most are keyboard-based, there were also early drum machines produced and sold. Some of these drum patterns feature the work of Chamberlin's son Richard.
Änglagård is a Swedish progressive rock band, with influences including King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Trettioåriga Kriget, Schicke Führs Fröhling, and Van der Graaf Generator. The band was established in 1991 by Tord Lindman and Johan Högberg, and broke up in 1994. They briefly reformed in 2002–2003, and have been active again since 2009. They combine vintage analog sounds with a modern classical approach to composing and arranging. To date, they have released three studio albums and three live recordings to great acclaim from the progressive rock community.
The Vako Orchestron is a keyboard instrument made in the 1970s, that produces its sound through electronic amplification of sounds pre-recorded on an optical disc. It is the professional version of the Mattel Optigan, an earlier and lower-priced model intended for amateur musicians.
Fly to the Rainbow is the second studio album by the German hard rock band Scorpions. It was released on 1 November 1974 through RCA Records. This was the band's first release with guitarist Uli Jon Roth and bassist Francis Buchholz, and the only one to include drummer Jürgen Rosenthal.
The Soundtrack of Our Lives, often abbreviated T.S.O.O.L., was a Swedish rock band that formed in Gothenburg in 1995 and disbanded in 2012. The band's style draws heavily from sixties and seventies rock and punk, such as Rolling Stones and Iggy and the Stooges. Psychedelic rock is another strong influence for the band, and psychedelic and mystical references are also prominent in the band's lyrics and aesthetics. The abbreviation 'OEOC', which features on all their albums, refers to the phrase "as above, so below" from Hermeticism.
Beauty Has Grace is the Christian singer Jaci Velasquez' fifth studio album. It marks a departure in style from her previous albums, having been recorded in London, England, with Martin Terefe. She co-wrote six of the ten album tracks.
It's a Wonderful Life is the third studio album by American musical act Sparklehorse, released in the UK on June 11, 2001 and in the US on August 28, 2001 by record label Capitol/EMI. The album features appearances by Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, John Parish, Nina Persson and Dave Fridmann.
Callisto is a post-metal band from Turku, Finland.
Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain is the fourth and final album by Sparklehorse before Mark Linkous' death in 2010. It was released on September 25, 2006 by Astralwerks Records.
Stardust We Are is the third studio album by the progressive rock band The Flower Kings, which was released in 1997. It is the band's first double-CD studio album and includes the epic composition and title track, "Stardust We Are," which has since become one of the band's signature songs.
Mattias Olsson started his career as a classical percussionist playing in orchestras and big bands on Ekerö outside of Stockholm. As a sideline to recording and producing bands Mattias Olsson writes articles (music-related) for several Swedish magazines.
Thud is the first studio album by American rock artist Kevin Gilbert. It was released in 1995. The album was his last release before his accidental death in 1996.
Deep Insight is a rock band from Helsinki, Finland. The band was formed in early 2002 by childhood friends Jukka (vocals) and Johannes (guitar). They were later joined by Miska (bass) and Ville (drums). Their music is a mixture of American and emo rock, with Scandinavian influences. As of 2008 they had played more than 400 shows in 20 countries. The single Hurricane Season reached number one on the Finnish Singles Chart in 2005, retaining its position for six weeks.
A Camp is the debut album by A Camp, the side project of Nina Persson, vocalist for the popular Swedish indie/pop band The Cardigans. It was released on 20 August 2001. The album garnered critical acclaim from music critics. It produced two singles, "I Can Buy You" and "Song for the Leftovers". The album reached No. 87 on the UK Albums Chart.
Oooh La La! is the ninth and most recent studio album by Crash Test Dummies, released 11 May 2010 on Deep Fried Records, distributed by MRI Records. The songs on the album are inspired by the Optigan and Omnichord toy instruments.
Sweet 75 is the only studio album by alternative rock band Sweet 75, released on August 26, 1997, through DGC.
Quickies is the twelfth studio album by The Magnetic Fields. The album consists of 28 songs, each of which is between 0:17 and 2:35 in length. For the album's conceit, Magnetic Fields singer and songwriter Stephin Merritt was influenced by the short fiction of Lydia Davis and the writing of his own book of Scrabble poetry.