Bolywool

Waking up at Whalsay (Shetland Islands)

2012-01-30T21:50:00.000+01:00

Nostalgia Pt.1

2012-01-27T10:42:00.001+01:00

<a href="http://bolywool.bandcamp.com/track/in-a-dreamers-dream-of-dreams">In a Dreamer's Dream of Dreams by Bolywool</a>

Intro: The Shetland Diaries

2012-01-26T20:33:00.002+01:00

Oh yeah, forgot one thing: we'll be writing a diary of sorts when we're one the fair Shetlands in mid-February. Thoughts, ales tasted, photos, etc. Sounds pretty neat, huh?

Weekly update

2012-01-26T20:12:00.001+01:00

Halló allir,

Nothing much going on at the moment except shipping off the album to various digital distribution partners and such. Our main concern is that the album might not be on Spotify on the day of release, but be rest assured that we are working on it. It such a hassle but it'll be worth it in the end.

What else? We've started demoing new stuff whilst we're at it. Sounds good for sure.

As for live stuff, we've sort decided that we're only going to be semi-proactive on that matter as it's always been a rather frustrating thing in the past (getting gigs that is). But we hope to play the odd one or two shows this year, at least.

That's all for now.

Bless,
Bolywool

Thumbs up

2012-01-21T16:36:00.002+01:00

Current awesomeness

2012-01-17T17:26:00.001+01:00

Khonnor - Handwriting
Dreamend - And the tears washed me away, wave after cowardly wave.
Spritualized - RAH Bootleg 2011

Oh, almost forgot - we really need your help to spread the word about Isles. Our budget for promotion equals nil and we simply cannot afford any ads or whatnot. So, if you like what we do, when the time comes - please retweet, reblog (or blog) about it. Or, if you feel like it, shout it from the rooftops.

Love,
Bolywool

Progress update

2012-01-16T14:47:00.000+01:00

As we mentioned on Twitter, the artwork is done and the master is simply stunning. Hans really turned our lo-fi pumpkin into a cultural artefact fit for a fancy party.

Nowhere (Demo)

2012-01-12T13:32:00.001+01:00

This track was part of our live set for almost two years before it got the axe. We might do a proper recording some day, but until then - enjoy.

Bolywool - Nowhere (Demo) by Studio Thóórshavn

Keep Us Like a Daydream

2012-01-11T14:00:00.001+01:00

Someone did a video (of sorts)...

Isles is released March 31st

2012-01-10T14:56:00.004+01:00

If you, by any chance, are wondering why we are releasing it on that specific day, it's because it's the national day of the United States Virgin Islands. We just had to be so darn special, didn't we.

In other news, we're shipping said album off to mastering tonight. Hans Olsson Brookes will work his magic with the songs and make them sound even more awesome. Work with the artwork is going slowly forward after this week's revelation that we lost all the photo Anna took with her vintage Hassleblad. Be rest assured that we've got more photo-genius aces up our sleeves. We're well sorted in that department.

Furthermore, we've started planning the pre-production for our next sonic endeavour. It'll probably follow the sound of Isles pretty much with a few major/minor changes.

4 Songs done

2011-12-26T12:35:00.001+01:00

... 6 to go.

Recording at Havnar Kirkja

2011-12-22T11:00:00.002+01:00

X-mas Extravaganza

2011-12-20T12:33:00.001+01:00

We'll do some kind of feature while we're mixing (starting the 26th of December). Perhaps a live stream or a video with some random thoughts?

A side from the nature and sense of solitude from the islands we've included on Isles, we were inspired by imageries like "two whales high-fiving mid-air", a sealion plucking a guitar, the twisting kelp turning into kaleidoscopic patterns etc. And, of course, there was Enya...

'Ladders' is unleached into the universe

2011-12-18T17:22:00.002+01:00

Here it is - act fast as there are only 200 free downloads. Bless!

<a href="http://bolywool.bandcamp.com/track/ladders">Ladders by Bolywool</a>

Fimmtudagur

2011-12-15T10:05:00.000+01:00

Up until yesterday, the only thing we haven't been 100% in control of is the artwork for Isles. For the last couple of records, the palette and/or spectrum has been pretty dark and grim, albeit beautiful. Apt for the music, indeed. The artwork for Ladders marks an end for the grim era of brown and desolation, for now. As we have ferociously tweeted and shouted from the rooftops, the lovely Lisen Adbåge made this beautiful piece of art for us:

When we have outsourced the matter we have always been blessed with working with talented people doing artwork for us: Marko Ljubez, Markus Slivka, Sixten and so on.
To get back to major point - we had a revelation last night and the cover for Isles is going to be absolutely stunning. We're thinking of doing a very limited and hand-crafted edition when the time comes. So, if anyone would be interested in having one of those, write a comment to this post with your email address and praise Bolywool or write us a line or two at order(at)bolywool.net.

Ps. Ladders is released on Sunday - please spread the word Ds.

About the new header

2011-12-13T10:39:00.001+01:00

As some of you might have noticed, we've got a brand new header (oh, almost sounded like Brand New Heavies). The flags featured are (from left to right): Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Isles of Scilly, Svalbard and Öland. Now you know...

Obviously, this has something to do with the new record. You'll find out soon enough.

Bless bless

Updating Bolywool.net

2011-12-12T12:54:00.001+01:00

Times they are a-changing, as it were, and so is this site. Reckoned that it was about time something happened around these parts (albeit most updates will be on Twitter). Nonetheless, more lavish posts demanding more than a mere 140 characters will be posted here. We've also added new pages (see the menu above).

That would be all for now. Please make sure to make a note that Ladders is released on Sunday at 00.00 GMT +1.

Best,
Bolywool

Gig at ✌ (Jazzhuset, Gothenburg), 22nd September

2011-09-13T12:54:00.001+02:00

Dear all,
we are doing what is most likely the last gig for the year at the enigmatic club ✌ at Jazzhuset in Gothenburg on the 22nd of September. Doors open at 22.00 (from what we've heard). Hagaliden are playing as well.

See you all there.

New music from the extended Bolywool family

2011-07-19T12:57:00.000+02:00

While we're at it, we might just as well let you know the stats at some related projects:

Droyma - the debut six-track EP Sólarmyrking is slated for release this Autumn on the Faroese label TUTL. Might be some live shows in the works. Work on EP #2 has begun.

Valla - allegedly, new songs for their sophomore album are being demoed right now.

There, There - EP is being mixed.

Hunt - debut album is in the works and there are live shows scheduled for this Autumn.

Needless to say, there are a lot of cool things in the works to say the very least. To get back to Bolywool, we hope that Isles will be all done by the end of year and released sometime early 2012.

July 2011

2011-07-18T12:06:00.001+02:00

So, it's been a while since there was any action here on the blog. Most communiques are on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bolywool) nowadays, but I reckon there will be a blog revival from now on.

We just got back from a weekend in Stockholm. We played at Sommar and it went fairly well all things considered (where were all the people?) The setlist:
Glorious Failure NEW
I Want to Believe
She Sees the Sea
The Mountain, the Tree NEW
Dreams of the Hebrides
The Dial
A Spaceman's Lonely Heart
Farvæl, Føroyar
Traa-Dy-Liooar
Down This Darkness

As some of you might know (hell, we are not the most world's most secretive band now are we) we've started recording album #2. We recorded some piano in Havnar Kirkja at the Faeroe Islands, which was epic in the true sense of the word, and we recorded drum tracks for seven songs last week in Gothenburg. If I was to describe the new record in a few words I'd probably say that it is less psychedelic, darker and yet more vibrant than anything we've ever done before; it's more experimental and the overall theme is more coherent and organic. Suffice is to say that it'll blow your minds.

Over and out for now.

PS. People in Gothenburg - don't miss us at Luxury @ Henriksberg on August 31th. DS.

Devotion Magazine

2011-03-15T09:49:00.002+01:00

http://www.devotionmagazine.se/ny-musik-smakprov-fran-bolywools-nya-ep/musik/

2011-03-13T20:39:00.001+01:00

THOUGHTS IN ARPEGGIO (RBTS003)

2011-03-08T18:20:00.001+01:00

After much ado: Thoughts in Arpeggio will finally be released next week on Monday, 14th of March 2011.

1. I Want to Believe
2. She Sees the Sea
3. A Spaceman's Lonely Heart
4. Going Going Gone
5. Farvæl, Føroyar

The EP will be available as hi-fi MP3s through Gogoyoko.com and any digital of your choice from our bandcamp site.

December 2010

2010-12-15T11:44:00.000+01:00

So, there hasn't been many updates here on the blog lately. Most communiques have been published on our Facebook page and there hasn't been a great deal to talk about except the epic fail of losing all the mixes for Thoughts in Arpeggio in a freak accident caused by a fucking falling plant. Anywho, we are planning some great things for 2011, the EP included, and we are really looking forward to making these plans come true.

We've got one more ace up our sleeve this year. Stayed tuned!

The Gospel according to Johan Jacobsson

2010-10-01T12:23:00.002+02:00

Pressrelease: Bolywool »Through A Century«

Vissa band har förmågan att kröka tiden och rummet. Ställ dem på en scen, låt deras skivor sväva ur högtalarna; verkligheten flyr, lämnar plats åt allsköns fantasier.
   Nu blir då, då blir nu. Vart vill du åka?
   Små moln av apatisk, söt rök flöt längs med taket, oljeprojektioner fick väggarna att smälta. Må så vara, det mest sinnesvidgande man kunde uppleva på UFO Club 1967 var ändå Pink Floyd i allmänhet och Syd Barrett i synnerhet. Till ackompanjemang av glödhet psykedelia omfamnade då Syd publiken, tog dem på utflykter bortom regler, lagar. Den trånga balsalen exploderade, i UFO Clubs ställe nya universum.
   När Oasis år 1993 beträdde tiljorna på King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut fick de samtliga fåtaliga närvarande själar att hälsa dem som redan etablerade rockstjärnor. Ett förbandsgig blev en arenakonsert; försmak av vad som komma skulle.
   Creation Records-chefen Alan McGee – som befann sig i King Tut’s lokaler å den egentliga huvudaktens vägnar – förtrollades även han och ett skivkontrakt halades fram. Historia skrevs, drömmen slog in. Framtiden var väldigt ljus. Saker och ting var självklara.
   »Det finns inget som är så omvälvande som en gospelkör. Inget«, sa Spiritualizeds Jason Pierce när Markus Larsson för åtta år sedan träffade honom för Sonics räkning. »Jag har älskat gospelmusik i snart femton år och jag är fortfarande lika fascinerad av kraften och laddningen.«
   Ett filter, en katalysator. Spiritualizeds toner försätter en receptiv lyssnare i kraftfulla, laddade tillstånd. Eviga kopplingar mellan musikhistorien; gospel möter sextiotalets New York möter åttiotalets Rugby. Allt Jason varit inblandad i är antitesen till bakgrundsmusik, hans konst kräver uppmärksamhet.
   Hit vill du åka.
   På fullängdsdebuten »Through A Century« definierar Bolywool samtliga ovanstående ögonblick. Låt »Through A Century« leda dig och du svävar bort; in i dig själv, ut i solsystemen. Kalla den kaxig och du missar målet, kalla den självsäker och du har rätt – »Through A Century« vet exakt hur utsökt dess soniska stjärnglans är, med vidöppna armar hälsar den dig välkommen. Och med samtidigt blödande hjärta förvaltar den arvet, tar det vidare. Försök att ignorera något sådant… omöjligt.
Nu är det ju dock en gång så att efter uppgång följer ofta fall: Syd Barrett gick i exil och dog som eremit, Oasis splittrades och Jason Pierce har kämpat mot privata demoner i åratal. Vad vi lär oss av det är väl något i stil med »ät, drick och var glad ty i morgon skola jorden gå under«, en inte helt nöjsam läxa.
   Kommer då Bolywool att vandra i dessa utstakade fotspår, kommer deras skinande 2009 framöver förvandlas till misär?
   Aldrig.
   Var säker att »Through A Century« – sensationell som den är – innebär ett av de första stegen på Bolywools långa och synnerligen fruktsamma gärning.
   Ty de har förmågan att kröka tiden och rummet. Ställ dem på en scen, låt deras skivor sväva ur högtalarna; verkligheten flyr, lämnar plats åt allsköns fantasier.
   Nu blir då, då blir nu, i evighet.
Pressrelease till Bolywools CD »Through A Century« (Records By the Sea, 2009)

Last night's setlist

2010-09-26T15:23:00.001+02:00

I Want to Believe
A Firmament Turning
She Sees the Sea
Dreams of the Hebrides
The Dial
A Spaceman's Lonely Heart
Keep Me Like a Daydream
The Origin of Nothing
Traa-Dy-Liooar
Down This Darkness

Live tracks from Iceland

2010-09-18T13:50:00.001+02:00

Here's two of the songs we played in Akranes. Word is that videos will follow shortly. Stay tuned and enjoy...

Traa-dy-liooar (Live at Wild West Festival) by Records by the Sea

Dreams of the Hebrides/The Dial (Live at Wild West Festival) by Records by the Sea

Free song: Wuthering Heists

2010-09-12T19:34:00.000+02:00

Whilst waiting for Thoughts in Arpeggio to arrive - here's a brand new song recorded yesterday at The Little Psychedelic Cottage. What started out as a mere demo session yielded something much greater. Enjoy!

Wuthering Heists by Records by the Sea

Behind the Scenes: Iceland 2010

2010-09-08T18:30:00.001+02:00

Days of Swoon

2010-08-27T13:48:00.001+02:00

An Ocean on Fire on Gogoyoko.com

2010-07-05T21:14:00.001+02:00

A few of our old songs are now available in 320kbps MP3s on the ever so lovely gogoyoko.com. You know what to do!

1. Introspective #1
2. A Firmament Turning (The Sea)
3.The Origin of Nothing
4. The Moment the Sky Stood Still (Pt II)
5. The Illuminated Soul of Mine
6. In a Dreamer's Dream of Dreams
7. A Glimpse of Tomorrow (For the Man who cannot Smile)
8. Killing Space in Time
9. Mayday Pt.1
10. Man of Sunshine Skies (Revisited)
11. Ground Controlled
12. The Moment the Sky Stood Still; Eternal Day
13. For the Least Likely (Brighton Version)
14. Better of Times
15. The Only Morning
16. Down This Darkness
17. Svarteberga
18. Alvaret

2010-06-14T20:58:00.000+02:00

Hey y'all! We are pampering ourselves to some cold beers at our new favourite coffeeshop Skrúðgraðurinn here in Akranes. The gigs went really well in our own humble opinions and the new songs worked out really well. We might do an extra gig here in Akranes before we leave. Next - whale safari!

(Akranes in reverse)

A more thorough briefing of our adventures on a later date!

Peace!

Through a Century on Spotify

2010-06-07T12:19:00.001+02:00

After much ado: Through a Century is finally available on Spotify. Hurray!

Bolywool – Through A Century

A Lovely Review on Gogoyoko by Pétur Úlfur

2010-06-06T19:32:00.000+02:00

This really gets my shoegaze heart pumping again.
I had heard about this band before but never actually got around to check them out...

I´m a fan now AND I get to see my brand new heros play at the Wild West Festival here in Iceland, 12th of june.

http://www.gogoyoko.com/#/album/Through_a_Century1

Line-up for Sódóma

2010-06-03T15:47:00.000+02:00

Free Design | June

2010-06-01T21:00:00.002+02:00

New merch!

2010-05-26T17:00:00.001+02:00

Look at this beauty. For 50 SEK + postage it could be yours. Send a mail to order@bolywool.net to place your order.

A lo-fi dream

2010-05-17T17:30:00.000+02:00

Free Design | May

2010-05-13T14:54:00.000+02:00

Yesterday's setlist

2010-05-07T17:15:00.002+02:00

Nowhere
I Want to Believe
A Firmament Turning
Save My Soul
She Sees the Sea
A Spaceman's Lonely Heart
The Origin of Nothing
Keep Me Like a Daydream
Traa-Dy-Liooar
Down This Darkness

The Dial | The Dumbing of America

2010-05-05T19:53:00.000+02:00

You can download our experimental single The Dial + artwork for free from:
http://thedumbingofamerica.net/2010/05/04/exclusive-web-single-bolywool-the-dial/

Words

2010-04-27T16:22:00.000+02:00

Found a blog post dated Feburary:

I'd been intrigued by Swedish neo-shoegazers Bolywool [...]

Bolywool pick up the torch from Ride circa 1994 (one of their songs is entitled "Keep Me Like A Daydream", but is NOT a cover of the Ride classic "Like A Daydream"). The album is a fairly straightforward revival of classic shoegaze, but is well executed and no less enjoyable for the familiarity.

Thanks to Ted for those kind words.

Iceland 2010

2010-04-21T16:40:00.001+02:00

Sódóma Reykjavík (w/ Weapons) / Reykjavík June 11th
The Wild West Festival / Akranes June 12th

Behind the Scenes: Hymnals & Bombs Session 1 March 2010

2010-03-11T19:42:00.000+01:00

Interview for the Dumbing of America

2010-02-23T14:04:00.000+01:00

We have been interviewed by the excellent blog The Dumbing of America (featuring lots and lots of other inspired and inspiring interview).

Read the feature at http://thedumbingofamerica.net/2010/02/23/fall-in-love-with-bolywool/

And now an intermission from Itsatrap.com

2010-02-12T11:46:00.001+01:00

Bolywool - Save my soul

Despite the participation of many folks whose music I admire (Jonas Odhner from Sonores, Susanna Brandin of Winter Took His Life, etc.) and a beautiful presentation, I just can't connect with Bolywool. It's definitely more of a "it's not you, it's me" sorta thing though as I've never been a fan of the Madchester/baggy sound they emulate and never will, no matter how hard I try. I prefer my shoegaze to be more assertive than fey, y'know? Still, personal preference aside, I fully acknowledge that Bolywool's take on that sound is plenty competent so it's not like I can write them off or say "this sucks" or anything because it so obviously doesn't. Bolywool are a good band making music I don't care about. Maybe you will. That's perfectly okay by me.

http://itsatrap.com/n/33225-bolywool-save-my-soul

Ok, duly noted. But does fey in this context mean "wild or crazy acting" or "dying or death"? Semantics...

NME

2010-02-05T23:30:00.000+01:00

http://www.nme.com/artists/bolywool

Ok, so it might be auto-generated, but it doesn't matter, does it?

People of Malmö

2010-01-14T14:09:00.001+01:00

You can now buy the album at Rundgång, Kristianstadgatan 14.

Boxing Day Photos

2010-01-10T17:15:00.000+01:00

OWL interview

2010-01-08T18:50:00.001+01:00

Accidentally, I came across a document with the email interview we did for Owl Radio in the US in mid-2009 (kudos to Rich!)
Enjoy!

How would you assess the rate of artistic development Bolywool has acquired since its inception? Are you on track towards the goals you originally had when starting the band?

Since we were pretty young when we started out in 1998 we have developed immensely on several different levels – as musicians, songwriters, producers etc. And I guess that we have matured a bit thematically over the years. The songs are still mostly about longing and the yearning for something ahead in time. Put things are quite panning out as we imagined them from my perspective. Although, perhaps not that it would take us 10 years to do our first proper gig... Well, one of our goals was to perform live, so I guess we can tick that box now

Has you musical goals changed from the original vision?

I reckon that we've stayed on course for the most part, but there are of course quite obvious differences between the first session we ever did in 2001 and the Through a Century-sessions. Our first demo was eclectic to say the very least: soul, Brit Pop, free jazz, R'n'B, garage, psyche and hardcore yielded together into a sometime quite interesting blend, and sometimes a pretentious and tacky mish mash. That session excluded from the big picture, I think we are quite proud of our little band and what we have accomplished. I know it's one of the oldest clichés, but our vision has always been to write and record the music we like fubu-style: for us, by us.

In the best case scenario, what do you see as the desired destination for Bolywool, both musically and commercially speaking? In other words, how influential do you think the band can become? Do you harbor commercial aims?

We don't strive for commercial success, no. If we would get to the point where we would actually get some commercial success, that would be wicked, no doubt about it. It is a dream to make living from your own art and craftsmanship, isn't it? However, I think we are quite realistic about the whole thing – it is very hard to make an honest living out of music nowadays. And playing the type of music as we do, it gets even harder. It would be nice to be able to gig as much as possible, and to get bits of the recording costs back in some way.

I honestly don't now how influential we can become. I mean, if it is a matter of sound and a scene of sorts, I guess we are a bit influential. Hopefully, when the record is finally out and we have done some more gigs, we can give you a better answer.

What do you see as the obstacles that will have to be overcome, given Bolywool's particular vision, for your long-term goals to be achieved?

We will have to continue being a bicoastal band, so I guess that space is an obstacle to overcome. And getting a proper booking agency. We are in dire need of surrounding our selves with people who are pragmatic as we tend to be less pragmatic than we would like to be.

What type of setting would best enhance or contribute to a Bolywool live performance?

Probably at some tiny, dark venue in London where the walls reek of lager and Salt&Vinegar crisps, with some psychedelic light effects and a proper smoke machine at hand.

How has living away from Stockholm strengthened or impeded the band's development and place within the evolving musical community?

I don't think it has strengthened nor impeded us. There isn't much of a scene going on in Stockholm, and even though I live here, I have always preferred Gothenburg's scene and culture to Stockholm's. And, frankly, there are no perks in living in Stockholm if you are a musician any more, at least in my opinion. People used to say that you had to live here in order to make it since all the major labels are located here and it's where the action is, but considering that labels as we know them play a lesser and lesser role for each day passing, there is really no need to live Stockholm from that perspective. It is a great city, and I do enjoy living here, but not for its music. We feel more connected to bands in Umeå and Gothenburg than to any alleged scene here in Stockholm.

CDBaby.com

2010-01-08T16:11:00.000+01:00

Dear all,

as a part of our ingenious plan for (digital) world domination, you can now purchase Through a Century in hi-fi (320kbs, mp3) via CdBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bolywool

We are still waiting for Spotify to get their act together, but it shouldn't be too long now.

Behind the Scenes: I Want to Believe

2009-12-31T13:26:00.001+01:00

Please keep in mind that this is a rehearsal (cf. some certain mishaps guitarwards...)

Behind the Scenes: She Sees the Sea

2009-12-30T11:21:00.000+01:00

A glimpse from the pre-production of album #2,
we give you She Sees the Sea:

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T12:10:00.001+01:00

We wish you all a merry (and krauty) Christmas. 2009 has been a terrific year for us, probably the best one this far. We performed live for the first time in March, did a peculiar show in Stacketorp, and did an amazing gig at Debaser Slussen in July. However, the release of Through a Century in October was probably our finest hour yet... we are so happy how things turned out (it was a struggle at times) and would like to thank everyone who was involved in one way or another. So, as a token of our appreciation - here's a krauty little piece we call Christmas Bells. You can either stream it on our myspace or download it from www.devotionmagazine.se !

We are going to start proper pre-production of album number two on Boxing Day. Expect videos and photos.

2010 is going to WICKED!

Cheers!

Bolywool

2009 Top 20

2009-12-10T12:33:00.001+01:00

Look, we managed to get into Mr Jacobsson's top 20:

1. Ducktails: Ducktails

2. Wavves: Wavvves

3. Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto: utp_

4. Elenette: Neurosor

5. Blank Dogs: Under and Under

6. Audionom: Superior

7. Cats On Fire: Our Temperance Movement

8. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

9. Ducktails: Landscapes

10. The Field: Yesterday and Today

11. Regina Spektor: Far

12. Moofish Catfish: Yours to Share

13. Liechtenstein: Survival Strategies In a Modern World

14. Tortoise: Beacons of Ancestorship

15. Peter Wright: Bright Failing Star

16. Efterklang & The Danish National Chamber Orchestra: Performing Parades

17. Bolywool: Through a Century

18. Paper Merchants: A Friend of Mine

19. JJ: No 2

20. Jim O'Rourke: The Visitor

http://www.sonicmagazine.se/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3449&Itemid=170

'Through a Century' avaliable on iTunes Store

2009-12-05T18:05:00.000+01:00

http://itunes.apple.com/se/album/through-a-century/id343888883

Go ahead, treat yourself with an early gift for Christmas!

Keep It Like a Daydream-video!

2009-11-30T23:46:00.000+01:00

Description:
"A mix of "Bolywool - Keep me like a daydream" and the movie "The Taste of Tea" "

Cheers to Eric Maertens for a job well done!

Link to the review in Groove

2009-11-27T18:56:00.002+01:00

http://www.groove.se/site/recension.asp?recId=4205&mediumId=1

Free Design: Ugglan

2009-11-27T17:40:00.000+01:00

Review in Dagens Nyheter

2009-11-18T12:36:00.001+01:00

Bolywool "Through a Century"
(Records by the Sea)
De började på Öland och landade i Göteborg med ett debutalbum tio år senare. Mindre influensblandning, mer konsekvent koncentration: Stone Roses. Bas och trummor rullar fram över dimmiga vidder (eller dansgolv), gitarrer slingrar sig likt rökslingor, sången tillbakalutat brajig. Mycket bra. Niklas Wahllöf
[Dagens Nyheter, 091118]

Wicked! Amusingly enough, we were lumped together under the heading "3 x the new eighties" :)

Groove 4/5

2009-11-14T09:54:00.000+01:00

(Published in Groove, November 2009. *)

By the way

2009-11-10T15:10:00.001+01:00

Jonas and Simon are now proper members. Hurrah, hurrah!

With great power comes great responsibility

Relations

2009-11-05T17:21:00.012+01:00

Calle and Cristian both play in 1969 Armstrong, and also used to play in a band called December's Children with Markus who is Valla. Markus played classical guitar on 'Through a Century', and now Cristian and Oskar are returning the favour by contributing to the new Valla album which is currently being recorded in Jonas' studio (Sonores).

Jonas also plays in The Greencoats, which Ramo also does. Ramo used to play drums with us, and he is still bashing them drums in Franke. Moreover, Pontus of Afraid of Stairs' fame used to play in Franke, and played solo guitar on our song 'Man of Sunshine Skies' a couple of years ago.

Susanna, aka Winter Took His Life, has contributed with vocals for several years, and is now in a band called Hunt with Andrea from Mora Caen. Andrea performed live with us at Debaser earlier this year.

Calle plays and has produced and mixed Everyday Mistakes and Cocoanut Groove. Both Mattias (who has also played with CG) and Olov (surprise, surprise - plays in EM too) have played on Bolywool songs in the past. Oskar and Susanna were a part of the EM live line-up in 2006.

The relationships between these bands are actually more complicated if you take other bands no longer existent or on hiatus into account.

If anyone feel left out or find anything which is inaccurate somehow - leave a comment!

Can you connect your band to Bolywool?

Free Design: Instant yet timeless

2009-11-02T23:54:00.002+01:00

Two fashionistas

2009-10-30T16:52:00.003+01:00

Markus & Ebba are obviously people with impeccable taste.

Free Design, Oct 2009

2009-10-30T14:48:00.001+01:00

Fashionistas, look no further...

2009-10-20T22:04:00.004+02:00

Navy blue, € 4; 30 SEK + postage. Limited Edition.

Red, €4; 30 SEK + postage. Limited Edition.

Further down Memories Lane (Pt 2)

2009-10-18T19:03:00.005+02:00

Rehearsal in Gothenburg, 2008.
Rehearsal in Gothenburg, 2008.

Photo session for Modern Strive (2006).

Very limited T-shirt, Brighton 2005.

Oskar playing the grand piano during the Cinema Session (2003).

Calle trying to remember the lyrics for Man of Sunshine Skies (2003)
Trying to figure out the Neve desk at SGS, mixing Modern Strive (2006)

Further down Memories Lane

2009-10-16T17:30:00.009+02:00

There is simply no end to the nostalgia today. Here are a few blasts from the past! Enjoy!

Liner notes for A Sound Remedy.

The cover art for the first digital release of An Ocean on Fire (2007).

The first Bolywool badge, circa 2003 ~ 2004.

The cover art for A Sound Remedy EP (2004)

The cover art for Modern Strive EP (2006)

Complete Works

2009-10-16T12:45:00.004+02:00

Since I've got a loooong lunch break today, I thought that it would be nice to take you all on a stroll down memories lane and give a full account of Bolywool's musical endeavours prior to the Through a Century-sessions. Well, not every single demo is included for obvious reasons, but still. So, here they are...

And yes, the retrospective is still not an abandoned ship. We are still working on how and when to release it properly.

Sonic Vol. 38 Sampler CD (2007)

01. Down This Darkness (Revisited)

Recorded at Mono Sounds Mobile for the Swedish music magazine Sonic.

A Sound Remedy (Demo) (2007)

01. A Sound Remedy

Recorded by Calle and Mattias at Studio Kyrkvägen, Umeå. Was available for a limited time on Myspace.

Boxing Day Session (2007)

01. A Glimpse of Tomorrow (For the Man Who Cannot Smile)
02. Sleep Today Away
03. Hurry On
04. Amen

Recorded at Mono Sounds Mk V by The Sea. Cristian's first session as a proper member of the band.
Amen is a cover of the Spacemen 3 song also known as Hey Man.

Killing Space in Time (2006)

01. Killing Space in Time

Produced by The Sea. Recorded at Mono Sounds Mk V, VI and The Little Psychedelic Cottage in May-August 2006.

Additional musicians: Cristian - Guitar, Susanna - Backing vocals, Frida - Trumpet.
Released exclusively on http://www.myspace.com/bolywool [at the time]

Modern Strive EP (2006)

01. Man of Sunshine Skies (Revisted)
02. In a Dreamer's Dream of Dreams
03. The Origin of Nothing
04. The Only Morning

Produced by The Sea. Recorded at Svenska Grammofonstudion by The Sea and John Rönneklev in December 2005. Contains a new version of Man of Sunshine Skies.

The Moment the Sky Stood Still (Pt II) (2005)

01. The Moment the Sky Stood Still (Pt II)

Recorded and mixed at Svenska Grammofonstudion.

The Little Psychedelic Cottage Session #2 (Demo) (2005)

01. The Moment the Sky Stood Still; Eternal Day
02. Space Is Killing Time
03. Eventide
04. A Heavy Morning
05. The Origin of Nothing (Take 2)
06. So Low Down (Drum version)

Recorded at Krongården and The Little Psychedelic Cottage in June 2005.

The Regency Square Sessions I-III (2004-2005)

01. City in the Sky
02. Ground Controlled (Suggestions)
03. Idle Isle (Choirs)
04. Machinegun, and I
05. Out of Time (Down This Darkness)
06. So Low Down (Instrumental/Version 1)
07. So Low Down (Version 2)
08. Strange Folk
09. The Only Morning (Version 5)
10. Untitled 1
11. Untitled 2
12. The Little Psychedelic Cottage
13. Sleep Today Away
14. The Origin of Nothing (Version 1)
15. Eternal Day (Reprise)
16. Song For Albertine
17. Universal Implosion
18. A Clock Equals Space in Time
19. Century Blues
20. Dreamer's Dream of Dreams
21. For the Least Likely
22. Mayday Pt. 1
23. Mayday Pt. 2
24. Mayday Pt. 3
25. Mayday Pt. 4
26. Mayday Pt. 5
27. ...And I Became Your Ghost (Demo version)

Assorted demo versions of both new songs and golden oldies (demo being the operative word here). A record of what really went on, musically, at 38 Regency Square. A few of the songs are excellent, whereas some are, indeed, not...

Ground Controlled (2004)

01. Ground Controlled

Produced, recorded and mixed by The Sea in late December 2004. Additional personnel: Karin - Cello, Sue - Backvox, and Cristian - Slide guitar.

A SOUND REMEDY EP (2004)

01. Idle Isle
02. The Illuminated Soul of Mine
03. A Firmament Turning (þe sæ)
04. Better of Times
05. Alvaret

Produced, recorded and mixed at Mono Sounds Mk II and various locations, Öland july 2004, by The Sea. Additional personnel: Cristian Ekman - Guitar, monk-choir and zither.

The Little Psychedelic Cottage Session (2004)

01. (Untitled, duration approx. 44 minutes)

Recorded on a 2-track in a little cottage (hence the name) in Svarteberga in april 2004. Early improvised embryos of the songs that ended up on A Sound Remedy (+ a peculiar cover of Spacemen 3's Walking with Jesus)

The Only Morning (2004)

01. The Only Morning (Version 4)

A cassett demo recorded in Calle's room. Not an actual release, obviously.

(Untitled, aka The Cinema Session) (2003-04)

01. Man of Sunshine Skies
02. Aírphort (Part I & II)

Produced, recorded and mixed at Palladium in late December 2003 by The Band and Per Karlsson. Additional Personnel: Sue - Backing vocals and hands. Pontus Wallgren - Fender Jazzmaster and hands.

A Thousand Memories / By Day I Met Midnight (2003)

01. A Thousand Memories
02. Oh Lord (Dark Roads)
03. That Southern Song
04. Down this Darkness / Svarteberga

Produced, recorded and mixed at Mono Sounds 1 & 2 in June and July 2003 by The Sea. Additional personnel: Mattias - Guitar on That Southern Song.(The title song really sucks. We were more or less out of our heads when we recorded it.

Shade on me (2002)

01. Shade on Me (Demo version)

Produced, recorded and mixed at KBHA Studios in November 2002 by The Sea.

Modulation Underground EP (7") (2002)

A1. The Walk
A2. Kill that Melody
A3. Modulation Underground (Mono to stereo... Pt 2)
B1. Edwin sings...
B2. Mono to stereo to mono once again

Produced, recorded and mixed at Mono Sounds 1 & 2 in March and July 2002 by The Sea. Released by Edwin in Mono on December 22nd 2002. Order it from www.hotstuff.se. 'Kill that Melody' was played in SR P4, and, oddly enough, 'Mono to Stereo to Mono Once Again' was played in SR P3's P3 Pop.

The New Wave is The New Romantics (Demo) (2002)

01. Mono to Stereo to Mono once again
02. Computer Band (Pt II)
03. Kill that Melody
04. Burning River
05. (#3)
06. Computer Band (Pt I)
07. ...This is the end of time

Produced, recorded and mixed at Mono Sounds 1 in March 2002 by The Sea. This is the very first recording with Bolywool. Some of the songs date back to 1998-99. It is not, by any definition, a masterpiece. But, you've got to start somewhere...

Two new songs on Myspace!

2009-10-14T01:00:00.002+02:00

Traa-Dy-Liooar and Oh Lord (Sceneries for the Blind) are avaliable for streaming on www.myspace.com/bolywool.
*Sorry to our fans on Facebook who probably have seen this post before. The thing is that this site's RSS feed is connected to our fanpage... So, we are not deliberately being repetitive...or, at least now we've apologized for any inconvenience*

Feature on gogoyoko.com

2009-10-08T18:26:00.001+02:00

October 8, 2009

Bolywool “Through A Century” out now.

Bolywool have just released their new album, Through A Century, here on gogoyoko. We’ve been digging ferociously into this instant yet timeless masterpiece at gogoyoko HQ, driving us to make contact with the band and have them tell us a bit about it. Bolywool are poster boys for the Fair Play in Music concept; they are 100% DIY, self-released and now taking advantage of gogoyoko. So, let’s have a closer look.

[...]

Calle Thoor talks to gogoyoko about the album:

“The thematic seed for the record was actually planted in 2004, but it wasn’t until early June 2008 that the first initial recordings that would later become the final product started in Sonores Studio, Gothenburg. The studio belongs to Jonas who plays with us live and has since become our spiritual guidance of sorts. That session resulted in four songs: The Ballad of a Gun, Save My Soul, So Low Down and Postmodern Svengali. A week before the second session, which started on January 1st 2009, our former drummer said that he couldn’t participate, so Oskar and I took on the task of bashing the shit out of that old 60s drum kit. There is a certain energy to the songs from that session since most overdubs on the songs actually were first takes, which we are really proud of – with warts and all. 3/4 of the album is recorded on tape, and there are no samplers involved whatsoever. Real tape echoes, optical compressors, a real mellotron, etc.”

Buy the album here.

[Source: http://go.gogoyoko.com]

Marko Ljubez on the making of the cover art

2009-10-06T11:48:00.004+02:00

Read the post on:

http://www.markoljubez.com/?p=550

Bolywool <3 gogoyoko.com

2009-10-02T12:45:00.003+02:00

Through a Century will soon be able to purchase on www.gogoyoko.com

Through a Century, the details...

2009-09-26T10:54:00.003+02:00

Dear all,
Through a Century will finally be released on October 14th.
If you want to pre-order it, drop us a line at order@bolywool.net and we will get back to you with the details. We are sorting out domestic- and international distribution at the moment, so hang in there... You will also be able to purchase the album from us by using PayPal.

Prices are:
Sweden: 100.- inc. postage.
International: ~ € 12 inc. postage.

Through a Century (Prelude)
The Ballad of a Gun
Save My Soul
Keep Me Like a Daydream
Oh Lord (Sceneries for the Blind)
Rye (Intermission)
Sleep Today Away
So Low Down
The Tears Ahead
Traa-Dy-Liooar
Postmodern Svengali
Dreams of the Hebrides

The beautiful cover art was made by Marko Ljubez, and presented in a tasteful and eco-friendly digipak.

Calle's mixtape

2009-09-16T09:36:00.001+02:00

http://warmer-climes.blogspot.com/2009/09/warmer-mixtapes-3-by-calle-thoor-of.html

Behind the Scenes: Mobile recording

2009-09-06T17:32:00.002+02:00

This is where the magic takes place... sort of.
2/5 chilling out.

In the land down under

2009-09-04T18:14:00.002+02:00

... things are in the making in Australia. Yes, you lot guessed it, the record is being manufactured as we speak. Save 100 SEK for late September/early October (international prices are not decided upon at this time)!

We are starting preproduction of album #2 tonight. This might seem a bit premature to some, considering that album #1 isn't even released yet. But, consider this - the last basic tracks and overdubs for Through a Century were recorded in Janury. That's 9 months of solid song-writing time ya all! We've got 16 songs already which may or may not turn up on the next record!

Have a lovely weekend!
Cheers,
Bolywool

'The Ballad of a Gun' from Debaser!

2009-08-21T13:29:00.001+02:00

Recorded by Simon Olsson.

'Nowhere' from Debaser!

2009-08-19T23:44:00.002+02:00

Recorded by Simon Olsson.

Excerpt from P3 Pop playlist

2009-08-17T23:50:00.001+02:00