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?
1 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
2 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
3 LIVE EP
Mini-CD (Arcangelo, ARC-1035), September 1997
– OFFICIAL BOOTLEG – LIVE IN JAPAN
2-CD (Arcangelo,ARC-1036/37), February 1998
4 FROM WITHIN
CD (Virta 003), October 1999
LP (Virta LP 003), March 2000
5 GRAVITY
CD (Virta 004), June 2003
LP (Virta LP 004), June 2003
6 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 is a social worker, Peter drives a van, Anna Sofi works with production and consulting, mainly as a web-designer and 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)
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 don’t know. Only 1 000 copies were made and they have 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. 🙂
