Welcome to a World of Mirrors and the 2026 release "Images"
In the south-middle part of Sweden there lies a small kommun - 'municipal' - named Ydre. One of Sweden's smallest municipals, around 4000 people live here in beautiful nature and a blooming community.
This is where I grew up, left at the age of 18, and returned to build a summer cottage a few years ago. This record - "Images" - is a celebration to this remote, desolate and wonderful part of Sweden.
Farmer Road
Farmer road, Bondegatan, that's where our house was located. It's still there, other houses has closed in, the house is so much smaller than it was in my young head.
This song brings back the energy and the excitement of the young boy and his beloved bike.
Inspired by 'Up and Away', a song I wrote many years ago.
Streets of Österbymo
Yes, well, that's where I strolled up and down the old streets, to school, to friends, to go skating, playing football. You reach every part of Österbymo in a few minutes. Even the parts where you were not allowed to go...
The song is a bluesy celebration of my old friends in the locally world famous band 'Fäggers'. To Sverker. And to Mattias who sadly left this life too early. May you rest in peace, old friend.
Also inspired by another old song I recorded long time ago with the lazy name 'truls14'.
Sund Shores
Just north of Österbymo you'll find the beautiful Sund lakes. A nice beach to go swimming and diving, the old Sund village with historic buildings and a view you could die for. On the other side of the lake you find 'Skams gator', 'the cave of Selo' and a nature trail that is well worth the time. Don't just drive by!
The song is one of the most uplifting tunes I have ever written. It even has an upward key change!
Inspired by a song I wrote and played on guitar hundreds of times, called 'Along the shore'
The old oak on the hill
At the top of the hill when you leave Österbymo towards Tranås, you will see the old oak, "Sparbanks-eken". It once was a large, lush and strong oak, guarding over the village. Now it has slowly grown old, less leaves, less green.
So this song is lo-fi, a sad but beautiful melody played on piano. Still, there's always hope...
Inspired by 'The Mirror Prelude' from my previous album.
Storms of Reed Bay Hill
At lake Sommen's south-east corner resides the idyllic village of Norra Vi, and above it rises Vassviksberget - 'Reed Bay Hill". On the top you find "the table of the king' - Kungabordet. A long time ago, back in 1953, the king-to-be Gustav VI Adolf stopped at this table to have lunch. It is still known for that event. Like a moment frozen in time. The view is staggering, lake Sommen all the way to the horizon.
This song captures the feeling of both dread and beauty as the storm clouds crosses the dark skies.
Inspired by music I wrote with the intent to create a bombastic techno song, with the funny name 'Beats me'.
Sommen
Lake Sommen is a big lake, it is said to have 365 islands. And that's not impossible given the way it splits up between hills and forests and open fields. There are 208 km of shoreline, and it's 53 m deep on its deepest. When the morning fog rises from its surface, a sun tries to break through the haze and large birds cries like the lake's own hollow heartbeat, that's when you can find real peace of mind...
This is a post-rock song, multiple build-ups, layered and shimmering guitars, beautiful melodies with many layers of instrumentation.
Loosely inspired by Reflections on my last record.
The healer of Skarparp
This is based on 'A Place of my own' from my previous record. I played the original on my father's funeral, so it has a very special place in my heart. For this record I moved the song more towards cinematic post-rock, made it even bigger and more orchestral.
It has held many names during the creation process, but I ended up in calling it "The Healer of Skarparp", making it a direct reference to my father; the doctor and the builder. Skarparp was, is, a small house outside Österbymo, closer to Svinhult, that we rented many years and where my father, Lorentz, spent many many hours building and renovating the old house. And so did I.
Inspired by 'A place of my own' from my previous record.
Hulu night skies Part 1, 2 and 3
Hulu is an old name of the area around our summer house. It's a pristine and secluded area, if you go outside at night it can be ink-black and dead silent. If you are lucky, you can hear a moose, a deer, a boar or any other animal that roam the wilderness. Walking through a dark forest with only moonlight to guide you can be both peaceful and frightening. And that's exactly what this 3 part song is all about. Shifting between raw, dissonant, soaring soundscapes, to beautiful, calming, healing tones, these songs are my favorites on the album. On the surface they might sound similar, but if you close your eyes and let the music sweep you away, you will experience a true Hulu night...
Inspired by Origins on my previous album
Kristinero
This song tells the tale of my summer house in Hulu, built during the initial covid period when you were not supposed to be in the office. Over the period of 6 months, me and my wife worked from dawn to dusk. After work, we heated water on the wood stove and brought it down to the old barn and stood in the dark and poured it over us, healing our tired bodies. The song follows the hard work, rises and falls, beautiful, orchestral and cinematic soundscapes, it spins the musical theme, lets it grow and evolve. In the end, it is a tribute to a magical time when dreams came true.
The final song on the album is inspired by the last song on my previous album, 'The mirror postludium"
...when I hold you, you are my soul
Hulu night skies, part 3
Join on a journey to the land of mountains and fjords. Listen to the original song that evolved into 'Hulu night skies'...
