Most of us associate guitar player Anders Björler with chewing guitars and high-energy thrash metal assaults. With At The Gates he invented the influential Gothenburg Sound and with The Haunted, Swedish Grammy award winners twice, he confirmed his position as a unique creator of infectious riffs.
But when Anders Björler makes his debut as a solo artist he chooses a whole different path.
“Antikythera” focuses around his love for Italian movie soundtracks from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and adds a healthy dose of English prog rock, jazz, post-rock and a pinch of Swedish folk music. Anders Björler has recorded an album that paints pictures in your head, a kind of music best listened to with your eyes closed. The sounds might even take you all the way to the Greek island Antikythera in the year of 1901. That is when a diver discovers parts of an antique analogue computer, dated to around 87 before our era. This is the kind of magical travels that Anders Björler offers with his music. If the recordings he did with At The Gates and The Haunted was a perfect warm-up to a night out this is the big exhalation, the day after. It is a time for reflection.
The 12 songs require musicians with great perception and depth — and Anders Björler has found them. Extraordinary drummer Morgan Ågren has played with everyone from Frank Zappa to Tony Iommi, bass player Dick Lövgren tours with Meshuggah and piano player Peter Wiberg was a member of the legendary The Spotnicks during the 70’s. Together with guitarist Carl Svensson and saxophonist Anders Gabrielson they handle Anders Björlers songs with great care and give the album an organic feeling.
“Antikythera” was mixed by Tue Madsen, known for his work with The Haunted among others.
Here is the front cover, the gate that opens a dreamy illustrated world I proudly created for this great musician and this fantastic record.
Listen to a small piece of this masterpiece here.