Category: Releases

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Robert Johnson on the new album with Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, ‘Surf på svenska’

Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks: Surf på svenska


Today sees the release of ‘Surf på svenska’ (Surf in Swedish), the new album by Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks. The leading exponent of distorted, guitar-based surf rock continues to surprise. Here, Robert Johnson talks about the album himself.

It has always been a question of when rather than if. Around the time of ‘Aloha from Havana’, Per Thorsell even designed a cover for ‘Surf på svenska’, which was called ‘Aloha from Hälsingland’ at the time. That was in 1997. The project never got further than the cover, which we translated literally into Swedish. However, Thomas Öberg and Jonas Jonasson from Bob Hund then came up with other ideas and the original plan was forgotten.

It would take 20 years before the idea resurfaced. At that time, I was a big fan of Tonbruket and went to all their gigs. Johan Lindström from Tonbruket was working on his newly formed septet and wanted some feedback. Strange, in hindsight. I spent a whole day in his studio listening to music and taking files home with me. I also helped out with a couple of tracks. I remember us knocking over SJ stools in the entrance hall of the studio. I told Johan that I thought his titles were weak and gave him lots of suggestions, such as ‘Lugnets Industriområde’ (The Lugnet Industrial Area), ‘Ålkistan’ (The Eel Chest) and ‘Kräftriket’ (The Crayfish Kingdom). I remember him seeming to agree, but when the album finally came out, the songs had ordinary titles and there was no mention of my help. I didn’t care that much though. I had got to see my favourite guitarist in action. That was enough.

Then, Johan played on one of my records, so we were even.

Instead, I contacted Martin Hederos from the same band to ask if he would be interested in playing what I had seen. He was cautiously positive, but he already had a thousand projects in the pipeline, so it didn’t go beyond being a fun idea.

Another year passed before I approached Mattias Bärjed from The Soundtrack of Our Lives. It took him a year to respond, and he gave me the same answer as Martin. I also realised that it would be time-consuming and costly, and that he lives on Gotland, which would make logistics complicated. Much as I love his film music for Mikael Marcimain’s films, I decided not to pursue it.

It was now 2024, and I decided to make the album myself. I only had two requirements. 1. It would not feature any guitars. 2. It would feature the accordion. This was a difficult starting point, given that I’m a guitarist and I definitely can’t play the accordion. But I love the accordion. I love folk music, and Jan Johansson’s ‘Jazz på svenska’ is the best album ever produced in this country. No one else comes close.

It all started with the titles. Then came the music. I knew it was going to be beautiful. And it turned out that way. I devoted more time to this album than I would like to publicly admit. More than to any other project I have worked on. I worked hard, received help, and resorted to both traditional tricks and modern technology. In other words, I did everything that other musicians have time for, or that record companies are willing to pay for, at Atlantis Studio. I care as little about moralising as I do about deliberately playing the wrong notes on records and releasing versions that no sane person would keep. I have images and sounds of songs in my head twenty-four hours a day. They don’t sound or look like other musicians’ songs. How do I know that? I just know. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything that sounds like my music. Never have. I’ll never hear anything like it either. No awards. No money. Just the occasional good review. Nothing more. I’ve had to explain this to everyone except Magnus Nilsson at my record label, Fanfar! I think he trusts my musical judgement. But I’m not sure. So I’ll keep making records until he tells me to stop. Then I’ll stop. Then I’ll just box.

It’s Magnus who wants this to be a Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks album. I don’t get involved in things like that. I love this music, but I’ll never perform it live. It’s just not that kind of music. In fact, I don’t think you can even drive to it. You might be able to listen to it on headphones during endless train and plane journeys though. I don’t do that either.

Beautiful.

Listen to and download “Surf på svenska” at Bandcamp.

The Yngsjö Murder

‘Yngsjömordet’ is about the last woman to be executed in Sweden. A fantastic 1960s film starring Gunnel Lindblom, Gösta Ekman and Christina Schollin. No, ‘Skånska mord’ with Ernst-Hugo Järegård is not better.

Tattooed Johansson

A little gangster romanticism is nothing new; it has always existed, and I have read countless stories about Salaligan (The Sala Gang) and dynamitards. The Swedish title is ‘Tatuerade Johansson’.

The Lugnet industrial area

‘Lugnets industriområde’. Before Hammarby Sjöstad, people used to go to underground clubs in Lugnet. Motorcycle clubs held parties there, and people played pool for money. Me included.

The glimmer of Handsome Bengtsson

‘Bildsköne Bengtssons glimt’. See ‘Tattooed Johansson’ above.

Alkeby in Dragonhagen

Dragonhagen was a dance hall in Brottby, Roslagen. I once met Djurgården’s goalkeeper Björn Alkeby there in the early 70s. He was bigger than any musician I had ever met.

Säter’s permanent pavilion

In Stockholm, we had ‘Beckis’, or the formal Beckomberga Hospital. In Dalarna, it was Säter with its ‘Säters fasta paviljong’, where the notorious Lars-Inge Svartenbrandt and others ended up. I think the name is mainly so eerie.

Sup i Ålkistan

A drink in the eel box… On the way from Brunnsviken to the Stockholm archipelago, boat owners would stop for a drink. It’s unclear why.

Sista vilan i Jomala kyrka

The final resting place is in Jomala Church. On my mother’s side, I have relatives from Åland. They are buried in Jomala Church. People from Åland are different. They are all sailors and don’t think it’s ever windy. Since reading ‘The Old Man and the Sea’, I have been afraid of the sea.

The Forsby-Köping cable car

‘Kalklinbanan Forsby-Köping’. That would have been a boy’s dream come true. The Forsby-Köping cable car was a cable car that suddenly appeared when driving to Gothenburg on the old E3 motorway. I would have done anything to ride in one of the baskets.

Kräftrikets förbannelse

The curse of the crayfish kingdom. I don’t actually know if there is a curse, but there should be!

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‘No Quietus’: The Mommyheads’ Most Hopeful Album About Death Yet

The Mommyheads: No Quietus

The Mommyheads confront mortality head-on with No Quietus — their 17th album and perhaps most vital work yet. Out 7 November 7 2025, this defiant, danceable record turns death into a celebration of life, blending prog-rock ambition with raw emotional honesty. It’s an album about endings that feels like a beginning.

The Mommyheads releases their 17th record on 7 November 2025. Entitled ‘No Quietus‘, the LP is Latin for ‘no death’. While avoiding the clichéd character narratives and fantastical story arcs of classic rock, this record does have a core theme that weaves its way through every pulsating rhythm and guitar strum. Death is the main protagonist on this sonic journey, and it is far more pleasing to the ears than one might imagine.

‘Triumph and Crash’ barrels in like a prog-rock funeral march for the current geopolitical situation and/or any fallen empire in its final days. In the track ‘Black Veins’, our protagonist reveals a sense of vulnerability that continues throughout. ‘Take these black veins and turn them blue; I gave all my oxygen to you’ is a heart-wrenching reflection on the co-dependency that develops in any relationship. The title track, ‘No Quietus’, sees the protagonist grappling with the possible final days of the most important person in his life. ‘I’m Your Apocalypse’ sees the band at their most rebellious and angst-ridden, channelling edgy, dissonant synths that rub and gyrate against a deep 7/8 groove. ‘Always Reaching’ juxtaposes heady lyrics with danceable grooves, achieving this flawlessly within a 4:40-minute song. By the end of side one, we are eased into a late-70s Bee Gees groove, with the lead protagonist asking us to consider where heaven and religion might fit into this grand narrative.

Side two continues this theme with songs such as ‘Finally Free’, ‘Strong’ and ‘It’s Only Life’.

We are carried along this path, hearing the dreaded concept of how to deal with the inevitable topic that we never seem to have enough time for. Yet here is a musical document that tackles this delicate concept from multiple points of view. Like a prize fighter looking for any weakness in his opponent’s body, ‘No Quietus’ examines the death of society, loved ones, egos, relationships, religious beliefs, and one’s identity through song. The end result is a unique and refreshing musical collage that will stand the test of time. This record might just be the most hopeful LP of this band’s career.

In this band’s long and successful career, releasing a concept album about death has never seemed so vital.

The Mommyheads: The Beast Is Back
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Ola Backström’s hidden treasure: Gråton.

Ola Backström

A selection of Ola Backström‘s posthumous recordings, ‘Gråton‘ is now available. Ola Backström (1953–2004) was something of a hidden gem in Swedish alternative popular music, yet simultaneously an important and idiosyncratic artist. Until now, his solo music has only reached a small circle of friends and family. Now, more people will have the opportunity to discover his work: songs that, in another era, could have become Swedish classics.

Backström was a guitarist in Dag Vag and Stockholm Norra and played on Torkel Rasmusson‘s solo albums. However, it was alone in his home studio that he created his most personal music. Armed with only a drum machine and a guitar, he explored sounds and feelings, free from any consideration of an audience or a market. The result is a collection of songs conveying both fragility and sharpness, humour and melancholy, and always displaying a curiosity about life.

‘Ola chose not to take the easy route. He found his own personal expression, emotional and ingenious,’ recalls Torkel Rasmusson. The recordings, found on overwritten cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes, were created purely for the sake of creation, amidst babysitting duties and everyday chores.

“Gråton” contains both finished songs and sketches, ranging from instrumental synthpop to absurd depictions of stage fright and everyday moments. This was an artist who never stopped searching, and whose music is now being heard twenty years after his death.

‘For Ola, art and music were a playful adventure, but also a very serious endeavour,’ says Torkel Rasmusson. ‘You can hear that in every note on this album.’

Ola Backström: Gråton

Ola Backström: Gråton

Gråton is the first and only solo album by artist Ola Backström (1953-2004). It is an unexpected album from the guitarist who helped start bands such as Dag Vag and Stockholm Norra in the 1970s. His own recordings show a Swedish path between Swedish prog and American, bright post-punk.

28,00 €
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With ‘Box Office Poison’, Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks continue to break down all resistance

Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks

For over thirty years, Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks have been world leaders in the surf rock genre. Over the years, they have become less puritanical yet more incisive. ‘Box Office Poison’ is a fascinating work from a band that just keeps evolving.

Depending on whom you ask, the band Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks came into being either in Solna or in Stockholm more than thirty years ago. But it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that it is frontman Robert Johnson who has been at the centre of most things over the years, and his creativity and dedication that have carved the band’s history in stone. Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks don’t follow other people’s trends or the whims of the times; they are stubbornness personified.

As a record label, of course we like the artists we release — who wouldn’t? — but one has to be amazed by an artist who is so stubbornly independent. And continues to develop. Finds new paths and breaks new ground. Even if it goes against the expectations of their fans and risks losing their loyal supporters’ love. For Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, there is no alternative. It’s their way or no way at all.

On ‘Box Office Poison’, Robert Johnson and the band’s former bassist take centre stage. The album sounds the way it does and the songs are constructed the way they are largely thanks to Tobias Einestad.

The result is impressive. Not least on vinyl. Rarely has pressed black vinyl crackled with such weight as on ‘Box Office Poison’. We have a vested interest in saying so, of course, but it’s still true. Bear in mind that there are only 300 copies of the vinyl. Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

This is a gift from the gods to all self-respecting rock DJs. ‘Box Office Poison’ is also a godsend for radio sports broadcasts. You know what I mean.

Buy the album today!

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Could this be a future Swedish classic? “2017–2022” with KC BABY

KC BABY: '2017-2022'

The duo KC BABY are releasing a summer single that packs big emotions into a condensed format. ‘2017-2022’ has the potential to become a Swedish classic.

When KC BABY formed in 2017, it was the result of two people’s intense shared passion for music. However, it was also a natural consequence of sound artist Kajsa Magnarsson and Bob Hund icon Conny Nimmersjö becoming a couple. When they parted ways five years later, they chose to maintain and develop their shared bond in the form of KC BABY.

The single ‘2017-2022’ is now being released from their second album, ‘Nästan perfekt’.

When a relationship ends, the reason is rarely clear-cut. In ‘2017–2022’ by KC BABY, Conny Nimmersjö sings his own lyrics. Jan Gradvall wrote in Dagens Industri: ‘In the clinical “2017–2022”, Conny Nimmersjö sings about a summer when they “suddenly were done with each other”, without a hint of bitterness.’ He gave the album a rating of four.

This is arguably the most powerful song ever written in the Swedish language about divorce. Additionally, the song has a memorable melody and arrangement. It is no exaggeration to suggest that ‘2017–2022’ will be considered a Swedish classic.

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KC BABY – back with even more pop for adults

KC BABY (Photo: Emily Frick)

When Kajsa Magnarsson and Conny Nimmersjö formed KC BABY around 2017, their motto was ‘the small band with big feelings’. Although the duo’s sound and focus have changed, their vulnerability remains. On 9 May, Fanfar! will release their second album, Nästan perfekt (Almost Perfect), on vinyl and streaming services.

The album took more than five years to make,” says Conny Nimmersjö. ‘Not because we had a creative crisis. There was a pandemic. We had children. There was a war. We separated. The album is a soundtrack to all that.’

Kajsa Magnarsson: ‘Everything that is sung is true. I am very grateful that it was finished. It might be a bit messy in form, but that’s okay. It came out that way, like so many other things.’

On ‘Nästan perfekt‘ KC BABY are joined by Mattias Alkberg and Insomnia Taxxi, who both sing on ‘Till Berlin’. Amanda Werne (known by her stage name Slowgold) plays the accordion and sings backup on ‘Nu är det så’.

It’s hard to resist ‘Nästan perfekt’. Lyrics, music and expression vibrate close to the nerves. It’s pleasant and disturbing. At the same time. That’s what KC BABY are all about. What we hear is pop music, but the lyrics – which move between tender observations of everyday life and bitter reckonings – give the music a more mature tone than we’re used to.

Conny: ‘When Kajsa and I started playing together, I was convinced that it was only a matter of time before Kajsa’s singing voice would become one of the most popular in the country. And it’s still only a matter of time.’

Photo

Photo of KC BABY taken by Emily Frick.

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“Till Berlin” is a strong return for KC BABY

KC BABY: "Till Berlin" ('To Berlin')

Finally, new material from KC BABY. Kajsa Magnarsson and Conny Nimmersjö follow up their strong debut with a single featuring Mattias Alkberg and Insomnia Taxxi.

The band KC BABY release the digital single “Till Berlin” (‘To Berlin’), a prelude to the album to be released in May. The song features guests Mattias Alkberg and Insomnia Taxxi. The latter is a pseudonym for Iryna Novikova, an experimental musician from Charkiv, Ukraine, with a style somewhere between Nico and Sisters of Mercy.

“Till Berlin” is a song about movement – away from something, towards something. The verses are about being stuck and looking for a way out – to a friend, to another place, to a better state. The lyrics could have felt out of date. They don’t.

The album “Nästan perfekt”, which will be released on 9 May, has evolved over five years – through a pandemic, separation, war and the toddler years.

“The songs have become a soundtrack to all this”, says Conny Nimmersjö, who forms the core of the band with Kajsa Magnarsson.

“Everything that is sung is true”, says Kajsa. “The record might be a bit noisy in its form, but that’s okay. It came out that way, like so many other things.”

Guests on the forthcoming album include Amanda Werne (Slowgold) on accordion and choir.

Release date for “Till Berlin”

“Till Berlin” is released on 4 April 2025. The song will initially be released as a digital-only track, but will be included on the LP to be released later this spring.

Listen to “Till Berlin”

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A powerful swing from the Swedish kings of surf rock

Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks (photo: Pär Wiksten)

Since 1992, Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks have been internationally recognized as the undisputed kings of surf rock. Now the band’s twelfth album is out, and the group shows no signs of stagnation – quite the opposite. Always challenging and confounding their own genre and audience, Robert Johnson and his punchdrunks twist and turn b-sides and obscure references until you’re dizzy. And you’ll love every second of it.

The new album “Pills, Thrills & Acting Smart” contains twelve powerful original songs. The band features Conny Nimmersjö of bob hund and Finnish guitar legend Pekka Laine of The Hypnomen. Conny Nimmersjö also has been involved in the recording and mixing. The album will be released digitally only.

A few words about some of the songs:

“Flamboyant Persona” features Robert’s son Gordon Presley on drums and Lady Murena on vocals. A return to the pure surf we know from the band’s early records.

“Unitar Swag” is exactly what it sounds like – a tribute to the strange instrument unitar. Here it is Conny Nimmersjö who plays lead guitar.

“Cooling Board”. Hawaiian music has long been unexplored territory for Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, although the band has touched on the exotica genre a few times. Now the band is taking the plunge and going all the way with the help of the Nordic region’s foremost expert in the field – Pekka Laine. Although Robert Johnson and Pekka Laine have been walking side by side musically since the 90s, this is their first collaboration.

“Pills, Thrills & Acting Smart” is the only surf rock album you’ll ever need. Okay, keep the ones with Link Wray, Davie Allan and Ike Turner. But you can throw the rest away and you won’t miss them.

It’s all here and then some.

Read more about “Pills, Thrills & Acting Smart”.

Photo

Photo of Robert Johnson taken by Pär Wiksten.

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No need to compromise – “One Eyed Band” is yet another magnificent album with The Mommyheads

The Mommyheads: One Eyed Band

The Mommyheads releases their new album “One Eyed Band” on the 8 November 2024. After delving deep into concept record territory with last year’s “Coney Island Kid”, they’ve come back to push the boundaries again, but still sound like they’re having a great time, not worrying about genre or pigeonholing in the slightest. Seven LPs in six consecutive years has only strengthened their commitment to staying active and original in an ever-changing landscape. Well-crafted songs, deft musicianship and progressive arrangements keep them sounding fresh and relevant after 37 years together.

“Chicken Soup” opens with a swirling barrage of 12-strings and synths, setting the stage with a bittersweet yet rebellious undertone found in all those dusty record collections from the late 70s, early 80s. Adam begins the conversation with a mantra of “Breathing, Searching, Failing, Dreaming”, leaving the listener wondering what Genesis would have done if they had made ‘Duke’ Part 2. Complexity mixed with simplicity, akin to the concept of chocolate mixed with sea salt, is the strength of One Eyed Band. The influences are strong, but never clashing with originality or sentiment. “Life is a Dream” kicks in the door with a dissonant, passionate assault of guitars, disco-inspired horns and string arrangements that would make any Elvis Costello/ABBA fan proud. Sonic exploration mixed with storytelling is prevalent from the first acoustic guitar note of ‘Season of our Sound’ to the last strum of ‘Human Being’.

Side 2 kicks off with the reggae-inspired “Risk It All”. Has anyone ever played a reggae groove in 7/8 time? The lyrics were inspired by recent events involving Russian political prisoner Alexei Navalny. The lyrics “They want to silence you ‘Cause they see that many can be changed by one” seem more true than ever. “The Gift” could be at home on a modern version of The Who’s “Tommy” soundtrack. Over-the-top horns and synths shift between serene acoustic verses as the band pushes through to the final uncompromising note.

“One Eyed Band” defines the band’s ongoing quest for originality, which ebbs and flows like a river making its way through our cultural landscape. You never know where the journey will take you, but you know that the journey is as fruitful and fun as ever; at this point in their career, The Mommyheads feel no need to compromise musically, and we are the beneficiaries.

Order the album now

Listen to “One Eyed Band”

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Solen Skinner’s ‘The Lathering’ is extreme music’s brightest newcomer

Solen Skinner: The Lathering

Solen Skinner has released their debut album ‘The Lathering’. The LP takes us straight to hell and shows that there is hope for experiences on the fringes of extreme culture.

Finnish trio Solen Skinner is as much a performance group as a band. Where the boundaries lie is not that significant, and perhaps the thing about Solen Skinner is that they dissolve boundaries. Gender, person, genre, artist, audience. Nothing is important and everything is important.

Solen Skinner is a relatively young constellation. When they played at the Norberg Festival in 2023, they were still in their infancy. Yet their performance, in an almost deserted industrial memory, seemed incredibly finished. Maybe it’s silly to compare today’s bands with industrial pioneers like Throbbing Gristle, but Solen Skinner have got there – to the same core.

The beautiful and the brittle lure you into their yarn, the brutal knocks you to the ground just when you’ve relaxed the most. And who the hell is that hissing at the end of ‘A Drop Falling’? Is it the Devil himself, peering out of the pit? ‘The Lathering’ is a testimony to something big that happened in the crushing plant on the 7th of July 2023. Something that finally made everyone who was there scream in happy ecstasy.

Listen to “The Lathering”