Dag Hammaskjold

Being that Schubert was suffering great mental and physical anguish at the time of his Octet’s completion in 1824, it’s surprising that the work is so sunny and optimistic. At a little over an hour, it’s the Austrian composer’s longest chamber work—and his most inspired. With just eight instruments, Schubert crafts an opening movement on the scale of a Beethoven symphony, ideas ricocheting between strings and woodwind, bass and treble. The “Adagio” is a sublime song for clarinet that rivals Mozart for its understated beauty while an ebullient central scherzo, stately variations, and suave minuetto culminate in a finale of intense drama that seems to glance toward Wagner. It’s all stunningly recorded and performed, too—a benchmark performance full of wit, passion, and charm.

The tapestry of drama, refinement and expressive lyricism in Dag Wirén’s four string quartets (the First Quartet was withdrawn) provides a substantial overview of his musical evolution over 35 years. His earlier works are more accessible than challenging, as demonstrated by the relaxed and affirmative Second and Third Quartets. The Fourth Quartet is more sombre, with nods towards Sibelius and Shostakovich, and in the Fifth, completed not long before Wirén’s retirement as a composer, the easy confidence of the earlier quartets has been replaced by a mood of pessimism and uncertainty.

Sound Effect Records presents "Natt o Dag", Me and My Kites brand new studio album! Out on March 16th, on limited edition vinyl, CD and Digital download,"Natt o Dag" is possibly the Swedish collective's best so far. Darker, moodier and filled with some irresistible pop-hooks, "Nat o Dag" is destined to become a modern psychedelic classic. Natt o Dag is a flower common in the Swedish forests. Its purple and yellow flowers represent night and day and the idea of this two sided record took place in a huge patch of these flowers on a lonesome bike trip on remote paths some two Summers ago.

Sound Effect Records presents "Natt o Dag", Me and My Kites brand new studio album! Darker, moodier and filled with some irresistible pop-hooks, "Nat o Dag" is destined to become a modern psychedelic classic.
Me and My Kites is a Swedish group, heavily influenced by the flourishing psychedelic movement of the sixties, with a touch of folk music. It’s a bit of a collective, with a solid core of eight people that has been the live band in the last years. "Natt o Dag" takes you on an adventure a bit darker than the earlier Me and My Kites’ records. Keyboard instruments like the Mellotron, piano and electric harpsichord are allowed more space…