Kraus' last and greatest works, the Symphonie funebre and Funeral Cantata for Gustav III, are fully able to stand with the best works in the forms of the period, as great as the late symphonies of Haydn and Mozart and, yes, even as great as the Requiem of Mozart. Written under the overwhelming personal and national tragedy of the assassination of the King of Sweden then at the peak of its cultural and national greatness, Kraus' funeral music is numb with shock and wild with grief, but always completely controlled, masterfully balanced, and profoundly moving. If there are only two works you ever listen to by Kraus, let them be these two works.

Sometimes regarded as a continuation of Telefon Paisa (or if you prefer, Sogmusobil). Truth is that only two of the members had previously been in Telefon Paisa: Johnny Mowinckel, and the ever so illustrious character Einar Heckscher. There are also only a few musical similarities between the two bands, with Levande Livet being far more skilled than Telefon Paisa and their pathologically untogether, albeit strangely attractive, freak jams…

Myrkur is the musical project of Danish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, model, and actress Amalie Bruun. The word translates from Icelandic to English as "darkness." The Myrkur project has become musically fluid and embraces everything from black metal to traditional Scandinavian folk. In 2015 Myrkur's debut full-length, M, was produced by Ulver's Garm, the set also included other personnel from that band as well as horns and strings. The r; traditional folk instrumentation had been added. She toured the globe on the festival circuit before returning to Denmark. She married death metal drummer Keith Abrami in 2018 and gave birth to her first child the following year…

This fusion of Danish and Swedish musicians recorded an album of progressive folk rock at the legendary Silence studio. Complex songwriting, sparkling Hammond organ, fuzz guitar leads and some creative use of traditional instruments (fiddle, flute, hurdy gurdy) makes this album a must-have. Featuring among others Aron from Aron, Anders Groen fromBaby Woodrose and Tobias Petterson from SKL, hugely influenced by the likes of old Scandinavian progressive Kebnekajse, Alrune Rod and Arbete & Fritid. Beautiful and sensitive melodies, goose chilling guitar melodies, simply one of the best albums in this genre anno 2013.

The Finnish-American composer Alex Freeman has been described as being ‘as comfortable in the realm of the pop ballad as in that of the concert hall’ and yet his songs ‘are imbued with the craftsmanship and care one would expect of a composer of his formidable academic training, just as his concert works carry the emotional immediacy of popular music.’ Himself a choral singer, Alex Freeman has written a number of works for choir: music that aims to be sonorous and melodic, but is carefully crafted to avoid the clichés that can burden conventional tonality.

Influenced by a wide variety of music, Lena Willemark has not been afraid to take chances – and the Swedish folk-pop singer takes her share on Windogur. This introspective effort, recorded in Stockholm in 1999, underscores Willemark's eclectic, unpredictable nature and showcases how many different styles of music have affected her. Swedish folk is her foundation, but Willemark is no purist and liberally incorporates elements of pop and post-bop jazz. In fact, two of the musicians she employs on Windogur – pianist Bobo Stenson and bassist Palle Danielsson – are Swedish jazz musicians who command a lot of respect in European jazz circles. There are also traces of East European and Middle Eastern music on some of the material. As experimental and risk-taking as Willemark is, Windogur never sounds forced or unnatural – all of the selections sound very organic, and Willemark has no problem bringing them to life.

Monica Zetterlund & Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby (1964) {Philips–Universal 510268-2 rel 2001}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 187 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 74 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 2001 Philips / Universal Music AB | 510 268-2
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Modal Jazz / Piano

This 1964 date places the Swedish jazz vocalist Monica Zetterlund alongside the Evans Trio (with Chuck Israels on bass and Larry Bunker on drums). Still, the match is seemingly perfect. Evans' lyricism is well suited to a breezy, sophisticated songstress like Zetterlund. There is an iciness on this recording, but it is difficult to decipher if it is in the performance or in the engineering where she seems to be way out in front of the band, when she was really in the middle of all the musicians in the studio.

Agnetha Fältskog is the debut studio album by Swedish pop singer and future ABBA member Agnetha Fältskog. It was released in Sweden in early 1968 through Cupol Records.

Finally the long wait is over. One of Sweden's most classic synthpop acts Saft returns with the followup to their praised comeback album "Norrbacka". If "Norrbacka" was sort of a collection of tracks made over the years this album is a 100% new start going fresh. The production, the songs EVERYTHING sounds better than ever. Of course that classic catchyness wanting you to sing along to all the tracks that Saft has ALWAYS possessed is still there. A stunning album for sure. The limited edition which comes with a bonus CD signed by mastermind and singer Carl Steinmarck hold 7 tracks including a remake of the old synthpop classic "Undantag".