I recorded 90% of the album ESCAPADES when I was still a student living in Trondheim, way back in 2005–06. It was an experimental pop album, which no one wanted to release, as it was too weird for the commercial labels, and too pop for the weird labels. Can't please them all – if anybody!
As the clearly unreleasable album was being finished, I had moved to Oslo and started working with music for TV and film, and did not have the time to do anything more about it until my label Pling Kong Recordings was up and running in 2011. Then I could finally release the bloody thing myself. I did not dare to go back and touch the original mixes, though – so the album is still pretty much as I "left it" in 2007.
Not really much more to say about ESCAPADES, other than it being the frustrated musings of a 22 year old student, unsure about pretty much everything in the life ahead. That said, I still think this album is pretty good for what it is. Maybe it is actually more "hip" today than when I originally made it; at least if you're into experimental pop, or indie pop as it probably would be labeled today.
Click here to listen to the album on your favourite digital music service, or use the embedded Bandcamp player above.
At some point this might have been the cover.
Recordings drums for "Alive", the final track to be recorded. SubTunes Studio in Oslo, 2007.
Pål Bjørseth nails the album's final glockenspiel note.
Recordings strings at Reina Studio in Trondheim, April 2006
Let there be strings!
Music and lyrics by Eirik Myhr
VOCALS, PIANO, KEYS, BASS, DRUMS, PERCUSSION, MBIRA, GLOCKENSPIEL, ACCORDION, GUITARS, RADIO: Eirik Myhr
VIOLINS: Øyvind Johan Eiksund, Evgeniya Kochetkova, Gaute Skrove
VIOLAS: Berit Marie Alvestrand, Anne Våg Aaknes
CELLOS: Per Christian Jørstad, Audun Berg Selfjord, Tonje Bekken
FLUTE: Tonje Eirin Tafjord
AC. GUITAR, BASS, UPRIGHT BASS: Sindre Klykken
AC. GUITAR: Espen Bjarnar
LAPSTEEL: Per Christian Grov
BACKING VOCALS: Marita Sørli
CHOIR: Mari Kåsbøll Bjerke, Elise Varne, Mari Ann Lervaag Pettersen, Ingrid Synnøve Østvang, Eli Hårklau
GLOCKENSPIEL: Pål Selsjord Bjørseth
VIOLINS: Øyvind Johan Eiksund, Evgeniya Kochetkova, Gaute Skrove
VIOLAS: Berit Marie Alvestrand, Anne Våg Aaknes
CELLOS: Per Christian Jørstad, Audun Berg Selfjord, Tonje Bekken
FLUTE: Tonje Eirin Tafjord
AC. GUITAR, BASS, UPRIGHT BASS: Sindre Klykken
AC. GUITAR: Espen Bjarnar
LAPSTEEL: Per Christian Grov
BACKING VOCALS: Marita Sørli
CHOIR: Mari Kåsbøll Bjerke, Elise Varne, Mari Ann Lervaag Pettersen, Ingrid Synnøve Østvang, Eli Hårklau
GLOCKENSPIEL: Pål Selsjord Bjørseth
Recorded 2004–2007
Strings, guitars, choir and some drums recorded at Reina Lydstudio
Piano, flute and some strings recorded at Institutt for Musikk, NTNU Dragvoll
Drums recorded at The Clinic by Håkon Øgreid
Some piano, drums and cellos recorded at SubTunes Studio
Some piano also recorded at the ZEB building at The University of Oslo
Vocals recorded everywhere
Mixed by Eirik Myhr at SubTunes Studio and Lydbadet Studio
Mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at Strype Audio
Cover photo by Kai Myhr
Cover design by Per Christian Grov
Strings, guitars, choir and some drums recorded at Reina Lydstudio
Piano, flute and some strings recorded at Institutt for Musikk, NTNU Dragvoll
Drums recorded at The Clinic by Håkon Øgreid
Some piano, drums and cellos recorded at SubTunes Studio
Some piano also recorded at the ZEB building at The University of Oslo
Vocals recorded everywhere
Mixed by Eirik Myhr at SubTunes Studio and Lydbadet Studio
Mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at Strype Audio
Cover photo by Kai Myhr
Cover design by Per Christian Grov
