Category: Releases

Posted on by

Lychgate Threnody – forty years since the gates of hell opened in Södertälje

Detail from the original cover of "Lychgate Threnody" with Enhänta Bödlar

At the time of writing, it is exactly 40 years since Enhänta Bödlar recorded the cassette album “Lychgate Threnody” in a terraced house in Södertälje. The world may not have shaken, but hell appeared in the form of industrial music.

Enhänta Bödlar was one of the first Swedish bands to explicitly devote themselves to the then budding genre of industrial music. The band was formed in Ljungby in 1982 by Uddah-Buddah, or Valiant Dunkeldäld as he is actually called, and over the years he has been the backbone of the band. But from time to time, collaborations have arisen. In the 1980s, industrial music was a truly obscure underground movement in Sweden, and the few people involved in the genre made sure to keep in touch with each other.

Uddah-Buddah got to know Conny Nimmersjö, who would later become a member of bob hund, KC BABY and other well-known bands. But at this time, Conny was in college and spent his time recording a strange and angst-ridden kind of industrial music on his own. One summer day Uddah-Buddah came to visit and in Conny’s room at home in Pershagen they recorded what would later become the cassette album “Lychgate Threnody”.

The conditions were primitive. The vocals are said to have gone through a pair of headphones and the bass rumbles through ordinary gramophone speakers.

This could be dismissed as two teenage outsiders trying to be odd (which it may well be), but 40 years later the feeling is even more obvious than when the cassette was first released. There is a total presence and energy, not least in Uddah-Buddah’s vocals. Welcome to pure hatred, pure obsession. Welcome to the 40th anniversary of the opening of the gates of hell in Södertälje.

On the 40th anniversary on 19 July, Fanfar! releases a restored and remastered version of “Lychgate Threnody” on digital streaming services. Fanfar! will also release “Lychgate Threnody” on vinyl in the autumn, in a very limited edition.

Jonas Siöström at Dynamic Audio is responsible for the master. The original cover is made by Valiant Dunkeldäld and the vinyl edition is by Daggan Stamenkovic.

Enhänta Bödlar: Lychgate Threnody
Posted on by

“Shockingly good” — 22 för många’s debut on vinyl after 43 years

22 för många: Yrkesmördare i livets tjänst

It’s time to present 22 för många’s first cassette LP. On vinyl. After 43 years. ‘Shockingly good’ was the headline when Jan Gradvall wrote about the album in Dagens Industri Weekend.

It has been a long journey. Twenty years ago, we started discussing the promotion of 22 för många and their influential music. 22 för många were the band that challenged everything and everyone at the dawn of post-punk. 22 för många had been undeservedly forgotten. Even Wikipedia questioned whether the group had ever existed.

Conny Nimmersjö from Fanfar! and Mikael Söderlund from 22 för många therefore embarked on a quest to climb mountains of master and reel-to-reel tapes in various containers and warehouses, inherited from record companies such as MNW and Mistlur. Unfortunately, there was no trace of 22 för många’s legendary recordings.

However, Micke Söderlund then found two mysterious tapes in his attic.

‘3/5/81’ was written on the box of one of the tapes, indicating the recording date. We sent the tapes to the Swedish Sound Migration Centre in Gamleby for restoration. Much to our delight, the tapes were in good condition and actually contained the entire first cassette LP. It’s a cassette LP so obscure that only two users on Discogs claim to own it.

Ten songs, recorded and mixed in just two days, 43 years ago.

The vinyl will be released on 9 February. It has been lavishly produced and processed using analogue technology at every stage, as if it had been released on vinyl when it was recorded 43 years ago. And it sounds fantastic!

You can find ‘Yrkesmördare i livets tjänst’ with 22 for many here.

Posted on by

Coney Island Kid – a strong theme album with The Mommyheads

The Mommyheads: Coney Island Kid

Fanfar! releases the new LP with The Mommyheads. The band’s fifteenth studio album is their first theme record.

In the back streets of progressive pop, New York’s The Mommyheads are kings. Although the band has been around, with an extended break after their big break, since the 1980s, few people have heard or heard of them. This may be due to the band’s strong integrity or something else. In fact, those of us who have followed them closely have seen an amazing evolution; there’s no end to the desire to explore and experiment.

On the new Coney Island Kid, the band’s frontman Adam Elk returns to his childhood and growing up in Coney Island. Simply put, it’s something of a theme or concept album.

The record is also a natural follow-up to last year’s LP, the fantastic Genius Killer, which sneaks up on the listener and quite unnoticeably attaches itself to the heart. Coney Island Kid has the potential to be the same milestone.

You can order Coney Island Kid directly from us or ask for it at your local record store.

Video from Coney Island Kid

The Mommyheads: Why Aren’t You Smiling
Posted on by — 2 Comments

Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks celebrate 30 years with exclusive compilation album

Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks: Solna, Texas 1992-2022

The legendary band Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks turns 30 and Fanfar! is marking the occasion by releasing an elaborate collection of the band’s own favourites.

Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks was formed in Solna in November 1992 by the band’s eternal frontman Robert Johnson. Right from the start they put the pedal to the metal and the band’s signature style was equal parts Link Wray, Ennio Morricone, and rascally attitude.

Order the album today!

Soon enough, they were a respected name in unabashed instrumental rock, both at home in Sweden and internationally. The breakthrough came with the album Fried on the Altar of Good Taste (2000) and the following year they were commissioned to score Fredrik Lindström’s comedy Känd från TV.

But soon enough – and typically for the band – they went against expectations and challenged their own audience by reincarnating as a synth duo. Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks have always gone their own way and they have done things with high quality after their own heart. 2017 saw the release of their latest original album – the acclaimed soundtrack (to a film that never made it to cinemas) Morte di Seeburg (also on Fanfar!).

Just in time for the 30th anniversary, we release Solna, Texas 1992-2022 – a limited edition vinyl compilation album. The lavish effort features Conny Nimmersjö of bob hund and KC BABY as executive producer. Conny has dug up the best master tapes possible from the archives and made sure the songs were remastered in the best possible way. A high quality product that we are very proud of.

The album release date is December 9, 2022.

Posted on by

Genius Killer is the magnificent new album with The Mommyheads

The Mommyheads: Genius Killer

Now we’re releasing another fantastic album with American indie rock legends The Mommyheads. On “Genius Killer”, the group continues to reinvent themselves.

Genius Killer is The Mommyheads’ new album, the eighth since their unexpected reunion in 2008.

Genius Killer is a very fresh sounding and inventive album with amazing attention to detail and unusually varied arrangements and instrumentation. The Mommyheads have raised an already high bar and this may be their definite work. Truly progressive, yet with the sense of melody completely intact.

Order the limited white vinyl edition of Genius Killer from Fanfar!

The Mommyheads: Idealist (from Genius Killer, 2022)

Here’s a little something about each and every one of the tracks on Genius Killer.

Impulse Item

Amazing intro, followed by a smooth George Harrison/Beatles vibe, when the actual song starts (especially the guitar melody). Lovely ELO-like backing vocals in the chorus. The lyrics are very present and make you re-evaluate your life. ”…things to do that have lasting value”. We thought this would be the album’s pièce de résistance until we realized that the entire album is full of highlights.

Genius Killer

We like the somewhat chaotic arrangement and playing. Lots of stuff going on. The break with the synth arpeggios…. mmmm… The progster in you comes alive. Harmonically, it feels more like a ”typical” Mommyheads track, with all the great features that the Mommyhead-heads have come to know and love.

She’s a Fighter

We love the fact that the lead vocals are sung in two octaves simultaneously. Interesting time signature change! It reminds you of some Neil Young song. Love the organ that appears around three minutes in.

We Almost Lost It All

…offers some breathing space after a couple of busy, dense songs. Reflective. A happy/sad song. Reminds us of The Band at their peak, in part because of the laid back groove, Richard Manuel-like falsetto singing and tasty combination of organ and piano. Very vintage sounding song with lots of earthy, acoustic sounds.

Distill Your Love Into That Dying Light

Funky stuff. 70’s vibe and sounds. Kinda reminds us of Superstition by Stevie Wonder. Love the title: great advice. The lyrics read like a dystopian, yet hopeful, science fiction novel to us. And that bass guitar sounds thick and evil.

Idealist

Feels like it could have been a Todd Rundgren song (back when his albums were still relevant). Interesting lyrics. We all know people who fit the description perfectly. Some lines make you think of the band’s own Michael Holt. Coincidence?

Privilege

Another groovy thing. Love the tempo. ”Quirky power pop” in the best sense of all three words. Got a Todd Rundgren vibe from this one, too. Is that Jackie Simons singing parts of the song, along with Adam Elk?

Bittersweet

More breathing space for the listener. Probably needed. There’s already lots of musical information to take in. This feels like a more ”normal” The Mommyheads song, driven by the lead vocals and the thoughtful, poetic lyrics. We get an old school soul vibe from this one, albeit with pop harmonies. Some craziness during the end, though. Almost feels like T. Rex.

One And The Same

Love the acoustic guitar figure during the verse. This one also feels like a more typical The Mommyheads song. Which is like reconnecting with an old friend.

First Five Seconds

This one made us laugh out loud. Prog intro deluxe! And what follows does not disappoint. This makes the fact that King Crimson have stopped touring a tad less disappointing. (The riff is a bit like a King Crimson guitar figure played on organ instead). The lyrics suggest disappointment. “Was it all worth it?” If you ask us, the answer is ”yes”. And we’re not talking about the band. It was probably a smart move to not open the album with this one, but it’s a perfect ending: it leaves you fully satisfied, yet knowing you’ll soon be back for more.

Congratulations, The Mommyheads, on a magnificent album.

The Mommyheads: Genius Killer
Posted on by

Sensational find The Roxton Giants re-released on “4 Songs EP”

The Roxton Giants and the record "4 Songs EP"

Today sees the release of the “4 Songs EP” by The Roxton Giants, the first sign of life from the group in fifty years. Their spaghetti-western-scented rocksteady has been lying fallow until Per Thorsell called in their record at an auction.

Little or nothing is known about The Roxton Giants. The band seems to have been active in or around Roxton, Texas in the late ’60s, possibly into the ’70s. The only known copies of their records turned up at an auction in Sweden the other year and the buyer – Per Thorsell, known from bands like Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks and The Hi-Winders – took a gamble and called them in. He was not disappointed. The reissue of the 4 Songs EP is the first sign of life from the group in 50 years.

From the EP we pick Greasy, an instrumental, lilting, and unsettling blend of ska/rocksteady and Italian spaghetti western. The song was recorded in the US probably in the late 60s and is reissued from the only known copy of the band’s perhaps only EP.

The Roxton Giants: Greasy
Posted on by

One in a Million is a strong sign of life from KC BABY

KC BABY: One in a Million - 1 / 1 000 000

The summer starts with a strong sign of life from KC BABY, the small band with the big emotions. 1 / 1 000 000 (One in a Million) is the title of their new single.

With their new single and video, KC BABY want to tell you that they are alive and well. More music to come. An album is scheduled to be recorded this fall.

1 / 1,000,000 (pronounced “One in a Million”) is about the good and bad of settling for what you have.

Kajsa Magnarsson plays synth and sings, Conny Nimmersjö plays guitar and sings chorus, Christian Gabel has produced and recorded in Studio Cobra, and David Sabel plays bass.

1 / 1 000 000 is a summery indie song to sing along to. Kajsa is delighted to have brought in a house piano. Conny is mostly just delighted.

Video by Astrid Askberger.

KC BABY: 1 / 1 000 000, video by Astrid Askberger

Facts

Artist: KC BABY
Title: 1 / 1 000 000 (En på en miljon, One in a Million)
Format: Digital single
Release: 2022-06-03
Producer: Christian Gabel
Cover: Esther Jemth
Photo: Hampus Andersson (photographer), Sara Björnstedt (stylist)

Posted on by

Do not mourn a postponed tour, celebrate a fantastic new album with The Mommyheads

The Mommyheads releases their LP New Kings of Pop and tours Scandinavia in 2021

On Friday, August 14, we will release “New Kings of Pop”, a great new album with The Mommyheads. The idea was that the band would tour in Scandinavia in connection with it, but the tour is postponed until the spring of 2021. Hey, it’s two reasons to celebrate.

We are very happy and proud to release the American indie band The Mommyheads on vinyl. Last year’s Future You was a smash and the upcoming New Kings of Pop is fantastic. In connection with the release of the new album, The Mommyheads would also come to Scandinavia and conduct a tour together with Swedish band Eggstone. But as we have long feared, it simply became impossible to launch the plans under the current circumstances.

But we should not grieve over this, because there is so much to celebrate. Partly the new album, partly that the plan is for The Mommyheads to come to Scandinavia next spring instead.

Adam Elk of The Mommyheads was so happy when the first copies of the LP arrived in New York that he sent us a short video:

Adam Elk of The Mommyheads listens to the LP version of New Kings of Pop

You can help

Releasing records and trying to get attention around the music is a pretty tiring job. Above all, setbacks of this kind affect the artists, who are both extremely eager to meet their audience and are without income.

Do you want to help? There is a lot you can do. In our eyes mainly:

  1. Help yourself. Listen to The Mommyheads and dive into their music.
  2. Tell others about The Mommyheads. Give examples of your favorite songs.
  3. Buy New Kings of Pop. Go to your local record store and ask them to take the record. (If you live in a territory where we don’t have distribution, you can always order it from us.)

Is there a good playlist with The Mommyheads?

Not all records with The Mommyheads are available on the digital platforms, but many do. We have compiled a playlist if you want to have a taste of the band’s music.

Feel free to tell us what you think!

Posted on by

The Mommyheads won’t give up until they are The New Kings of Pop

The Mommyheads

The Mommyheads are back and record label Fanfar! releases their album “New Kings of Pop” on vinyl and digital. In connection with the record, the band will tour Scandinavia together with Sweden’s indie cult heroes Eggstone.

It is difficult to place the American band The Mommyheads within any specific box. No single genre is broad enough to capture the band’s imaginative and willful pop music. This is especially evident on the new album, New Kings of Pop, which is released by the Swedish label Fanfar! in August.

The Mommyheads was formed in New York in 1987, while the band’s members were still in high school. Early on, the band’s music was characterized by experimental ideas and rule breaking. Influences from British post punk bands like XTC were evident from the beginning and over time The Mommyhead’s own sound has evolved into a kaleidoscope of unexpected flashes of classic pop and rock like The Beatles and Queen.

It went so well for the band that they got a deal with the major label Geffen.  This also marked the end of the band’s first incarnation. Their introduction to the music industry resulted in the album The Mommyheads, negotiations at the law office and the fact that the members completely lost their interest in playing music ever again. The Mommyheads disbanded in 1998.

But the fans had not forgotten The Mommyheads. On the contrary, the rumor about the band’s unusual music began to spread in Scandinavia. This led to the attention of the band’s members and around 2008, The Mommyheads was again a band that wrote songs together, rehearsed and released records.

Since the last album, Future You, The Mommyhead’s albums are released in collaboration with the Swedish label Fanfar!

The LP “New Kings of Pop” will be released on vinyl and digital on August 14, 2020. In conjunction with the release, The Mommyheads will be touring in Scandinavia with Eggstone.

Unboxing the test pressing of New Kings of Pop

Read more

Posted on by

This spring, Cantona Gut System debuts with the album “Yoko: The Best Beatle”

Cantona Gut System

In the spring of 2020, Fanfar! releases the debut album with Cantona Gut System. Robert Johnson and Johan Skugge opens your mind to dreams that your ears have never heard.

A few years ago, the legendary band Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks closed business with a worthy end, the masterpiece Morte di Seeburg. The obvious central figure Robert Johnson even went so far as to sell his guitars and intended to devote his free time to boxing and snooker. But then again, it’s okay to change your mind.

Together with Johan Skugge, who was also a part of the last edition of Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, Robert now returns to the cinematic music – but with the new band Cantona Gut System all the controls has been turned a few more turns, in every direction. The debut album Yoko: The Best Beatle will feature music that hasn’t been heard.

We will get back on the subject matter.

For the time being: if you’re fluent in Swedish, please enjoy Fredrik Strage‘s chronicle in Dagens Nyheter – My guitar hero Robert Johnson is finally making a comeback.