MUSIC FOR THE DYING FOREST LACHEN J

MUSIC FOR THE DYING FOREST LACHEN J

1. Vattnets dans i trädtopparna (Water dancing in the treetops) (Emöke Vang piano, Lachen J drums, strings, bass, xylophone) 2. Waltz for Nova Scotia (Andreas Hedvall trombone, Lachen J organ, strings, guitar, talking drum, drum machine) This is a lament over the forests and landscape of the islands of Nova Scotia. In the 1980 s Swedish companies in the province made investments and acted in such a way that they destroyed the environment. The indigenous inhabitants protested; you can hear the fragmented voice of one of their chiefs visiting Sweden. 3. Skogen flyr (The forest escapes) (Björn Hellström bass clarinet, soprano sax, Andreas Hedvall trombone, Lachen J vocals, percussion, strings) 4. Dämonvärk (jfr Domänverket) (Lachen J piano, percussion, bass, distorted guitar) This is a collage of sounds and voices related to the history of the Swedish forests. Earlier, in the pre-industrial era, there was a custom that all land not cultivated was common ground. The forests were not expropriated or exploited. Goats and cows could live there in the summer etc. 5. Ordsnår leder vilse (Lost in the brushwood of words) (Lachen J vocals, piano, xylophone, bass) Flyr viljan, kastar tanken genom rutan, ett hål Vad står på? På står: En vikt, som ett ord kan vägas till tungor av sorl Röster som smeker din rygg, av längtan hör du bara en. T som i Tystnad eller E som i Enfald Allting förblir, på knä... 6. Skuggan (The shadow) (a trace of Harry Martinson) (Lachen J vocals, piano, organ, bass, strings, xylophone, guitar) Ett ensamt träd lever i mängden av brustna sånger Nog av sitt eget brusande liv Kastar ännu en skugga Hur länge till? 7. Ett liv som tiden regnar bort (Time rains away; a life) (Björn Hellström bass clarinet, Lachen J harmonium, vocals, strings)

8. Watasenia before and after (title and impressions from a book by JMG Le Clezio) (Johan Hedrén electric piano, clavinet, Mats Paulsson bass guitar, bass pedals, Lachen J drums, vocals, synthesizer, Kenneth Schlaich alto sax) Långsträckta skuggor i en sfär av tystnad utan språk Glupande tomhet världen var blind och anonym Tid och form utan tanke ändå fullständig Linje klar vissa stunder liknade spjälkad sten Vattenmassan dolde luften måne, sol och rymd Ingen fanns ändå fanns det ingen ensamhet (Allt vibrerade av tanke) (Music on these two songs by the trio Ur later Ur Kaos) 10. Räven haltar på sitt femte ben (The fox limps with his fifth leg) (Andreas Hedvall trombone, Lachen J piano, electric piano, bass, guitar) 9. Eldbevekelse (Incantation of fire) ((Johan Hedrén electric piano, clavinet, syntesizer, Mats Paulsson bass guitar, bass pedals, Lachen J drums, vocals, strings, Andreas Hedvall trombone, Elin Hultkvist voice) Förtärda grenverk, sprakande löv glödregn gnistrande kronor av eld Ändlösa fält av obönhörlig värme Lågor som tänds Obevekligt Det röda guld som smälter läppar förseglar tanken i underjorden Endast där i den kalla mörka leran lindras hettan Försök inte fånga elden som tär Försök inte fånga elden som är 11. Frusen bark (Frozen bark) (Ingemo Rylander recorder, Lachen J vocals, bass, guitar, drum machine, psalterion, percussion) Seglar jag in i frusen bark krypande insekt Seglar jag in i frusen bark Väderkorn lever? Lever! Iskaskader i en hungrigs kropp Väntar på tå ett djur som jagar Enriset ryker ångande höstlav Flyger jag ut ur frusna löv krälande maskar Flyger jag ut ur frusna löv sandkorn, en massa En död massa Iskaskader i en hungrigs kropp 12. Hybris (Lachen J piano, electric piano, drums, guitar, voice, Andreas Hedvall trombone) Die trunkene Seele will Raum und Zeit eit überfliegen. Eine unnenbare Seensucht lockt in grenzenlose fernen. Man möchte sich von der Erde lösen Im Unendlichen aufgehen, die Bande des Körpers verlassen und in Weltraum unter Sternen kreisen /... /wahnwitzige Bauten bis in die Wölken hinauf, fabelhafte Kräfte, die auf einen Punkt zusammengehängt sind und dort der Hand eines Kindes gehorchen, stampfende, zitternde, drähnende Werke aus Stahl und Glas, in denen sich der winzige Mensch als unumschränkter Herr bewegt und endlich die Natur unter sich fühlt. (Oswald Spengler Untergang des Abendlandes, 1922)

13. Humbaba och cedrarna (Humbaba and the cedar trees) (Björn Hellström soprano sax, Lachen J organ, percussion, bass, strings, guitar, vocals) Han tog bilan i sin hand. Även en yxa hade de. Enkidu fattade yxan och angrep cedrarna. Då Humbaba hörde ljudet blev han vred och ropade: Vem har kommit och skövlat träden, mina bergs stolthet? (ur Gilgamesh) 14. Amazonas (Björn Hellström bass clarinet, Lachen J percussion, guitar, synthesizer, recorder, tape loop based on fragment of Korean ritual music) (This piece was originally composed for a dance performance in the cathedral of Lund. It is dedicated to the forests of Amazonas and the indigenous people living there. You can hear one of their voices, shouting desperately...) 15. Flaubears dancing (Lachen J clavinet, piano, drums, viola, recorder, voice) (This piece was originally released in the Re Records Quarterly Magazine vol 2 nr 3 Flaubears dancing: The artist as a lonely and raging bear looking with sorrow and disgust at society - and yet he is caught in his own endless dance... The composer is locked in his own labyrinth, but the music is still running free outside, beyond the human will-power. ) This CD album is a re-issue of the LP Music for the dying forest (BAR 8503) released on Bauta Records in 1985. All music composed and arranged by Lachen J, except for nr 8 and 9 which were composed and performed together with Ur (later Ur Kaos). Recorded and produced by Lachen J at the Forest (Skog, Sturefors, Sweden) during 1985, except for nr 8 which was recorded 1982 with Ur in Linköping, and nr 15 recorded July 1987 at the Forest. Front cover from the lithography Comedy of death by Rodolphe Bresdin (who died 1885), an artist possessed by the vision of the great forest. Back cover photos by Klaus Fischer. Cover design Lachen J and Anna Steinholtz. The album is dedicated to Mats Jonsson, brother and teacher. Bauta Records Skog Vallmo 590 55 Sturefors, Sweden www.bautarecords.se

This is music for the dying forest It is music made to live Captured by no-one Belonging to no-one This music throws its colours As the chameleon through the looking-glass Reflected there, your mind will not be locked in As death is a comedy, this music is joy Bauta Records 2009 All rights reserved BAR 0901 BIEM/ncb

LACHEN J Music for the dying forest B A R 0 9 01 www.bautarecords.se Music for the dying forest 1. Vattnets dans i trädtopparna 2. Waltz for Nova Scotia 3. Skogen flyr 4. Dämonvärk 5. Ordsnår leder vilse 6. Skuggan 7. Ett liv som tiden regnar bort 8. Watasenia before and after 9. Eldbevekelse 10. Räven haltar på sitt femte ben 11. Frusen bark 12. Hybris 13. Humbaba och cedrarna 14. Amazonas 15. Flaubears dancing total time: 52:20 LACHEN J Music for the dying forest B A R 0 9 01