Iriz

My last post of 2021 is one of the first releases of 2022, a new single from Fontän, electronic- psychedelicists from Gothenburg, Sweden. Iriz is out on 7" vinyl in two weeks time but you can download it now. It's a slowly building six minute glide, spaced out psychedelia and is gorgeousness itself. Twinkling melodies, soft padded drums, a sliding guitar part, a warm bath of sounds, before a rattling drumkit joins in and pushes the song through its second half. It has an elegiac feel to it which strikes some chords with me. 

Yesterday was one month since Isaac died. I don't know what to make of that- it seems like yesterday that we were in hospital with him and the days immediately following his death seem very recent. But already Christmas and his funeral seem further away. The pain is still very real and the smallest things can set me off. In some ways, I'm quite glad that it still feels so raw- the tears that come suddenly when in the frozen food aisle in the supermarket or when driving in the car- they seem to make 'it' and him seem closer, certainly closer than something which is already a month ago.

The press release for Iriz talks about the recording being 'dedicated to nomads, space travellers, free spirits that visit earth for a brief time to make a mark here on their way to other worlds' which is a strangely timed coincidence and a nice way to think of things. 

Iriz (and previous 7" single Svett) can be bought from the always reliable Hoga Nord records. If you're doing anything tonight I hope you have a good time. Raise a glass to us all, as you see the new year in. Happy new year. 

Bardo

 

From a 2017 e.p. by Swedish outfit Fontan, released in advance of their appearance at Andrew Weatherall's annual Convenanza festival in south west France, this remix by fellow Swede Mythologen is a throbbing, propulsive, six minute slice of upbeat, psyche- kraut. Starts with noise, a stuttering helicopter coming in to land coming in to land and then an urgent motorik beat. Organ plays around over the top, synthesizers adding texture and melody. Single minded fun. 

Bardo (Mythologen Remix)

Monday's Long Song

I slept on Fontan's album last year for some reason, not really appreciating its charms. I reached for it recently and then played it several days non-stop while driving to and from work. I'm the one at fault here, I should have realised what a beautiful and inventive record it is this time last year but, y'know,  better late then never. Fontan are from Sweden and put their records out on the excellent Hoga Nord label. Their self-titled third album opened with this track, Mangsebung, an atmospheric, gently psychedelic trip into space and back. And at over eight minutes long it more than qualifies for this series.

Mangsebung

Style Avenue

This is Timothy J. Fairplay's remix of Mangsebung by Sweden's Fotan- thumping drum track, swirling noises and then the seagulls come in. Not one for those who have woken with a headache this morning. Relentless, trippy, satisfying.



The track is out on limited vinyl as one of five remixes on Fontan The Convenanza remixes (also featuring Red Axes, Khidja, Mythologen and Pardon Moi).

Timothy has also sent this into the wild ahead of a new ep. I don't like to quote directly from press releases but I can't do any better than this- 'a chuggy cosmic workout across time and space'.

Polar Star

In this post-Brexit world we live in it seems more important than ever to keep looking forward, to try to keep finding things that make the days lighter and longer. Over in Sweden the Hoga Nord label have an ever expanding catalogue of leftfield music. This one from Fontan was released last August, a three track 12" (now sold out). Hoga Nord claim that Fontan are Sweden's 'number one neo-psych band' and I have no reason to doubt them. Is this trippy late 60s rock retrogressive? Possibly. But is it good? Yes indeed.



The third track off the single, Sen Sen No Sen, is a psychedelic and repetitive delight, eight and a half minutes of drumming, percussion, glockenspiel with drones and heady noises.