Trivia What was King Edward? What is Morte Macabre? Will Morte Macabre ever be ressurected? What does Anekdoten mean and how is it pronounced? Why was that name chosen for the group? Why did Nicklas change his name from Berg to Barker? What albums has Anekdoten released? Is Virta(levy) your own label? What does "Vemod" mean and how is it pronounced? What does the cover-art of "Vemod" mean? What is that thing on the "From Within" cover? What does Rubankh mean (song title off "Nucleus")? What does Tabatah mean (song title off "Official Bootleg - Live in Japan")? What does Seljak mean (song title off "Gravity")? How old are you? Do you have daytime jobs? Can you list 10 of your favourite albums? What covers has Anekdoten played live? Have any Anekdoten songs been covered by other artists? Have the members of the band contributed to any other recordings? What equipment do you use? Who sings what on the albums? What mellotron-sounds are used on the albums? Are there any video-tapes of the band available? How can I get hold of the "This Is An Orange" compilation-CD? How can I get hold of the "Vemod" LP? Where can I get hold of the rest of your catalogue? Are the Swedes unusually gloomy people? What was King Edward? Between May 1990 and August 1991 (before Anekdoten was formed)Nicklas, Jan Erik and Peter played (mostly) King Crimson covers under this banner. What is Morte Macabre? Morte Macabre is Nicklas Berg and Peter Nordins teamed up with Stefan Dimle and Nils-Reine Fiske from Landberk. The project released the album "Symphonic Holocaust" (1 CD/2 LP), which mainly consists of covers of soundtracks from horror-movies, on the Mellotronen label in October 1998. Will Morte Macabre ever be ressurected? They are looking for material for another album, but there are no immediate recording plans at the moment. What does Anekdoten mean and how is it pronounced? It means the Anecdote. It is pronounced like the German equivalent "die Anekdoten", i.e. something like "Unacdauten". Why was that name chosen for the group? When Anna Sofi had joined the group we felt that the change of musical direction towards more own material demanded a new name for the band. All four members did a list of name-suggestions. Nicklas came up with Anekdoten, which we all liked, but we weren't too keen on having a Swedish name of the group as all the tunes were sung in English. We thought about the names for a while before we decided that Anekdoten simply was the name that stuck from the list, but the name wasn't fully accepted until shortly before the CD was released. Why did Nicklas change his name from Berg to Barker? He got married. What albums has Anekdoten released? - VEMOD CD (Virta 001), September 1993 LP (Colours, COSLP 017), Dec 1994 [deleted] MC (Prog Rock Music, PRM 015), Feb 1995 Japan-CD (Arcàngelo, ARC-1001) with one bonus-track, Aug 1995 Picture-disc LP (Record Heaven, RHPD 2), June 1996 - NUCLEUS CD (Virta 002), December 1995. Remastered version with one bonus track released in February 2004 LP (Gates Of Dawn, GOD 003), October 1996 MC (Prog Rock Music, PRM 036), October 1996 Picture-disc LP (Record Heaven, RHPD 9), May 1997 - LIVE EP Mini-CD (Arcangelo, ARC-1035), September 1997 - OFFICIAL BOOTLEG - LIVE IN JAPAN 2-CD (Arcangelo,ARC-1036/37), February 1998 - FROM WITHIN CD (Virta 003), October 1999 LP (Virta LP 003), March 2000 - GRAVITY CD (Virta 004), June 2003 LP (Virta LP 004), June 2003 - WAKING THE DEAD - LIVE IN JAPAN 2005 CD (Arcángelo, ARC-1094), September 2005 2-LP (Virta DLP 001), November 2005 Is Virta(levy) your own label? Yes. What does "Vemod" mean and how is it pronounced? It is a Swedish word, meaning [tender] sadness / [pensive] melancholy. It is pronounced something like "Veamood" What does the cover-art of "Vemod" mean? We don't know. What is that thing on the "From Within" cover? It is a man inside a giant balloon. What does Rubankh mean (song title off "Nucleus")? Rubankh doesn't mean anything, but "rubank" is the Swedish word for trying plane. What does Tabatah mean (song title off "Official Bootleg - Live in Japan")? Tabatah doesn't mean anything, but "Tabata" was the name of a subway station in Tokyo. (And Tabatha Cash is the name of a porno actress, but that's another story) What does Seljak mean (song title off "Gravity")? Seljak means Farmer in Serbo-Croatian How old are you? Jan Erik, born 1967 Nicklas, born 1969 Peter, born 1970 Anna Sofi, born 1970 Do you have daytime jobs? Yes, Nicklas and Peter work in record shops, Anna Sofi works with production and consulting, mainly as web-designer, Jan Erik is a systems engineer. Can you list 10 of your favourite albums? NICKLAS (updated 2004-05-11): Black Sabbath – "Master Of Reality" Robert Wyatt – "Shleep" Peter Brötzmann – "Nipples" Pink Floyd – "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" Yosuke Yamashita Trio – "Chiasma" John Fahey – "Of Rivers & Religion" Sonic Youth – "A Thousand Leaves" Soft Machine – "2" Elliott Smith – "Figure 8" Talk Talk – "Laughing Stock" ANNA SOFI: No she can´t :-) - there are too many JAN ERIK (updated 2005-10-24): Björk - "Vespertine" Tim Buckley - "Happy Sad" David Crosby - "If I Could Only Remember My Name" Nick Drake - "Five Leaves Left" Kevin Gilbert - "Thud" Magma - "Live (Hhai)" Joni Mitchell - "Blue" 16 Horsepower - "Secret South" David Sylvian - "Secrets Of The Beehive" Van Der Graaf Generator - "Godbluff" PETER (updated 2004-01-14) John Coltrane: Coltrane (impulse) Comus: First Utterance Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left Marvin Gaye: What's Going On Bo Hansson: Sagan Om Ringen Magma: Live Hhai Joni Mitchell: Ladies Of The Canyon Joni Mitchell: Blue Linda Perhacs: Paralellograms David Sylvian: Secrets Of The Beehive What covers has Anekdoten played live? Starless, Easy Money, Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part 2, Lament, Cirkus (all by King Crimson), Pilgrims (by Van Der Graaf Generator), extract from De Futura (by Magma) and Mars (by Holst). Have any Anekdoten songs been covered by other artists? There was (is?) an Anekdoten cover band in Tokyo called An-Utu-Cho-On-Kaku who did cover versions of Karelia, The Old Man & The Sea, Where Solitude Remains, The Flow and Nucleus. Gonin Ish, also from Tokyo, has played Nucleus, Dead Dino Storage from Norway has played Wheel and Höyry-kone once did a very personal version of Nucleus with Finnish lyrics. Have the members of the band contributed to any other recordings? NICKLAS - Bass on Makajodama "Makajodama", November 2009 Mellotron on Qoph "Pyrola", May 2004 Mellotron, Fender Rhodes, Theremin, sampler, guitar, bass on Morte Macabre "Symhonic Holocaust" (CD: Mellotronen, MELLOCD 008, October 1998, LP: Mellotronen, MELLOLP 001, April 1999) Mellotron on Space Age Baby Jane's CD-single "Earthless" (Telegram, 0630-15305-2, June 1996) ANNA SOFI - Vocals on the Mojobone song "Shadow King" from the album Cowboy mode (Hippodome Music, HM0310, 2010) Cello on A Sworm Of The Sun album "Zenit" (Version Studios, VSCD005, 2010) Cello on the Mojobone song "Southpaw" from the 10"-vinyl "Tales from the Bone" (Hippodome Records, HR0199, 1999) Cello on the Rootvälta song "Rootsaga" from the CD "Songs From The Fallen Tree" (Bolanche Records, BOL CD946, 1994) JAN ERIK - Bass, vocals (and lyrics) on the Junction vinyl-single "Living Without You"/"Flying High" (Junk records, JR-001, 1989) Vocals on the Junction song "Underneath My Waterbed" featured on the 2-CD compilation "Eleven-On-A-One-To-Ten" (Meantime Production, BLGE CD 1-2, 1993) PETER - Drums, percussion, Mellotron on Morte Macabre "Symhonic Holocaust" (CD: Mellotronen, MELLOCD 008, October 1998, LP: Mellotronen, MELLOLP 001, March 1999) Drums and percussion on the songs "Lumisaha" and "Tottele" on the Höyry-kone CD "Huono Parturi" (Ad Perpetuam Memoriam, APM 9720 AT, 1997) What equipment do you use? NICKLAS - Guitars: Gibson SG, '61-reissue, Gibson Les Paul Standard Amps: Hi-Watt modified by Marcus Resch Fender Twin Reverb Cabinet: Marshall JCM 900, Lead-1960 Effects: Fuzzface, Line 6 DL4 Delay modeler, Octavia, Wah, Univibe and volume pedal custom made by Marcus Resch Strings: Ernie Ball, Regular Slinky, 0.11, 0.13, 0.17, 0.26, 0.36, 0.46 Picks: Clayton, 1,26 mm Theremin: Big Briar Etherwave Theremin ANNA SOFI - Cellos: Custom-made electric cello, Acoustic Höfner with Fishman pre-amp and pick-up system Effects: Boss ME-5 Guitar multiple effects unit, Lexicon Jam Man loop-device, Colorsound Wah, Volume pedal by Marcus Resch NICKLAS & ANNA SOFI - Keyboards: Mellotron M400-S M400-S, modified by Marcus Resch and equipped with tapes from Mellotron Archives, Ensonic ASR-10, Native Instruments Kontakt 2, Nord Electro 2 SeventyThree, Fender Rhodes Piano Amp: Fender Twin Reverb JAN ERIK - Basses: Rickenbacker 4001, All-Parts/Chandler Precision Amp: H/H IC-100 amplifier with built in distortion, Custom made bass-amp by Markus Resch Cabinets: Malmberg 2 x 15 " and Sonic B115T/SCF 200 1 x 15" Effect: Morley Wah Strings: Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Roundwound, Standard gauge Picks: Dunlop 1,5 mm PETER - Drums: Sonor Phonic, red mahogny - 10", 12" Toms, 14", 16" Floor toms, 20" Bass drum Snare: 14" x 8" Sonor Signature Series HLD588 Cymbals: Zildjian New Beat 14" Hi-Hat, Zildjian A Custom 8" Splash, A Zildjan 10" Splash, Efx #1 8", Icebell LP. #10, K Zildjan 15" Dark Crash, K Zildjan 17" Dark Crash, K Zildjan 18" Dark Crash, Zildjan Boy High 18" China, 21,5" China, Paiste 2002 20" Heavy Ride Heads: Toms: Coated Emperor (top), Coated Diplomat (bottom) Snare: C.S. Batter Bass drum: Coated Weather Kings Sticks: Vic Firth 7A Vibraphone: Mastern (Made in Sweden) Who sings what on the albums? THE OLD MAN & THE SEA: Jan Erik WHERE SOLITUDE REMAINS: Jan Erik THOUGHTS IN ABSENCE: Jan Erik THE FLOW: Jan Erik WHEEL: Jan Erik and Anna Sofi SAD RAIN: Jan Erik NUCLEUS: verses - Nicklas and Anna Sofi, chorus - Jan Erik (Nucleus), Jan Erik and Anna Sofi (Chapters) HARVEST: Nicklas BOOK OF HOURS: verses - Jan Erik, wordless chorus - Nicklas THIS FAR FROM THE SKY: Jan Erik IN FREEDOM: Jan Erik and Anna Sofi FROM WITHIN: Nicklas KISS OF LIFE: Nicklas GROUNDBOUND: Jan Erik HOLE: Nicklas SLOW FIRE: Nicklas FIREFLY: Jan Erik, chorus - Jan Erik and Anna Sofi FOR SOMEONE: Nicklas MONOLITH: Nicklas RICOCHET: Jan Erik, Nicklas dubbing at the end THE WAR IS OVER: Nicklas WHAT SHOULD BUT DID NOT DIE: Nicklas SW4: Nicklas and Anna Sofi GRAVITY: Nicklas THE GAMES WE PLAY: Nicklas THE GREAT UNKNOWN: Nicklas 30 PIECES: Jan Erik KING OBLIVION: verses - Jan Erik, chorus - Nicklas A SKY ABOUT TO RAIN: Nicklas STARDUST AND SAND: Nicklas and Anna Sofi IN FOR A RIDE: Nicklas PRINCE OF THE OCEAN: Jan Erik and Anna Sofi (ATOD), Jan Erik, Anna Sofi and Nicklas (Chapters) WHEN I TURN: Nicklas What mellotron-sounds are used on the albums? KARELIA: bassoon, churchorgan, flute, 3 violins THE OLD MAN & THE SEA: 8 choir, churchorgan WHERE SOLITUDE REMAINS: 3 violins, flute, churchorgan, oboe THOUGHTS IN ABSENCE: flute, oboe THE FLOW: sound FX, vibes, flute, 3 violins LONGING: bassoon, oboe WHEEL: GC3 brass, bassoon, oboe, 300 strings, 8 choir SAD RAIN: Mk 2 brass, 3 violins, clarinet, flute, viola, cello NUCLEUS: 3 violins, flute, vibes, 8 choir, viola BOOK OF HOURS: flute, 3 violins, oboe, viola, vibes, Mk 2 brass RUBANKH: 3 violins, flute, viola THIS FAR FROM THE SKY: flute, vibes, 3 violins, oboe, 8 choir IN FREEDOM: vibes A WAY OF LIFE: flute, 3 violins ROAD TO NOWHERE: flute, 3 violins TABATAH: vibes, Chamberlin male-choir, Chamberlin trumpet FROM WITHIN: 3 violins, solo violin KISS OF LIFE: 3 violins, flute GROUNDBOUND: vibes, 3 violins HOLE: 3 violins SLOW FIRE: 3 violins FIREFLY: Chamberlin female choir, Chamberlin cello SUN ABSLOLUTE: Chamberlin male choir, Chamberlin cello, Chamberlin clarinet, Chamberlin trumpet, Chamberlin flute, solo violin, 3 violins FOR SOMEONE: solo violin MONOLITH: 3 violins, cello RICOCHET: 3 violins, Chamberlin flute, Mk 2 brass THE WAR IS OVER: 3 violins, flute WHAT SHOULD BUT DID NOT DIE: Cello, Chamberlin cello, Chamberlin bass clarinet, Hammond organ (slow Leslie) GRAVITY: 3 violins, Chamberlin clarinet, Chamberlin flute, Chamberlin trumpet THE GAMES WE PLAY: wine glasses SELJAK: 3 violins, Chamberlin female voice [These Mellotron-tapes are available from Mellotron Archives] Are there any video-tapes of the band available? There are no official Anekdoten video-tapes available, but the band is featured on the "Progfest '94, Day Two" compilation-video. How can I get hold of the "This Is An Orange" compilation (which includes a live-version of the King Crimson-song "Cirkus")? We don't know. It was only made in a limited edition of 250 copies and was almost immediately sold out. How can I get hold of the "Vemod" LP? We do not know. It was made in 1 000 copies and has been sold out for quite a while. Where can I get hold of the rest of your catalogue? Check out the distributors-list on the homepage or send us an email and we'll try to help you out. Are the Swedes unusually gloomy people? Yes, but Finns are even gloomier. :-)