Helena Espvall is a Swedish-American musician noted for her participation in the post-millennial psychedelic folk and free improv scenes. Her primary instruments are cello, guitar and voice.[1]
Espvall's early career included work with Arabian music ensemble Sumer and with Projektor 7, a silent movie orchestra formed by members of Swedish pop group Komeda. She relocated to Philadelphia, USA in the year 2000.[1] Time spent concentrating on cello improvisation led to performances at the High Zero festival in 2001 and 2002.[2][3]
Espvall subsequently entered Philadelphia's flourishing psychedelic and weird-folk circles. She joined Espers shortly after they recorded their first album, was a member of The Valerie Project, and formed the duo Anahita with Tara Burke (a.k.a. Fursaxa). In 2006 a trio consisting of Espvall, Espers bandmate Meg Baird, and English folk singer Sharron Kraus released an album of traditional folk songs under the title Leaves From Off The Tree.[4]
2006 also saw the release of Espvall's first solo album, Nimis & Arx, named after the large-scale sculptures erected in the micronation of Ladonia by Swedish artist Lars Vilks.[5]
Collaboration with Masaki Batoh (of Japanese psych band Ghost) produced two albums released by the Drag City label. The first of these, Helena Espvall & Masaki Batoh, included several Swedish folk songs and marked the first prominent appearance of Espvall's vocals. A BBC review called it "beautifully fragile, remarkably melodic and enticingly charming".[6] 2009's Overloaded Ark tilted toward extended psychedelic jams, featuring members of Ghost Junzo Tateiwa and Kazuo Ogino as well as ancient music specialist Haruo Kondo. The album's varied instrumentation included acoustic and electric guitars, cello, organ, shō, banjo, renaissance harp, rauschpfeife, crumhorn, cornamuse, hurdy-gurdy, recorders, piano, frame drums, darbuka, riq, and electronics.
In 2010 Espvall released Lapidary, an improvised collaboration with noise/drone figure Marcia Bassett. Writing for The Wire magazine, Keith Moliné compared it to the first Ash Ra Tempel album and dubbed it "an impressively powerful record".[7]
^"Helena Espvall Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
External linksedit
High Zero
Fire Museum's page for Nimis & Arx
Drag City's page for Helena Espvall and Masaki Batoh
Discogs entry for Helena Espvall
three:four Records
April 11, 2024
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This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article May 2018 Helena Espvall is a Swedish American musician noted for her participation in the post millennial psychedelic folk and free improv scenes Her primary instruments are cello guitar and voice 1 Helena EspvallBackground informationGenresExperimental free improv psychedelic folk folk droneInstrument s Cello guitar voiceLabelsDrag City Fire Museum Pax alt vinyl Contents 1 Career 2 Discography 2 1 Solo 2 2 As part of Espers 2 3 As part of The Valerie Project 2 4 As part of Anahita 2 5 With Sharron Kraus and Meg Baird 2 6 With Masaki Batoh 2 7 With Marcia Bassett 2 8 With Marielle Jakobsons and Agnes Szelag 2 9 With Alan Sondheim and Azure Carter 2 10 With Ernesto Diaz Infante 2 11 With David Maranha 2 12 Compilation appearances 3 References 4 External linksCareer editEspvall s early career included work with Arabian music ensemble Sumer and with Projektor 7 a silent movie orchestra formed by members of Swedish pop group Komeda She relocated to Philadelphia USA in the year 2000 1 Time spent concentrating on cello improvisation led to performances at the High Zero festival in 2001 and 2002 2 3 Espvall subsequently entered Philadelphia s flourishing psychedelic and weird folk circles She joined Espers shortly after they recorded their first album was a member of The Valerie Project and formed the duo Anahita with Tara Burke a k a Fursaxa In 2006 a trio consisting of Espvall Espers bandmate Meg Baird and English folk singer Sharron Kraus released an album of traditional folk songs under the title Leaves From Off The Tree 4 2006 also saw the release of Espvall s first solo album Nimis amp Arx named after the large scale sculptures erected in the micronation of Ladonia by Swedish artist Lars Vilks 5 Collaboration with Masaki Batoh of Japanese psych band Ghost produced two albums released by the Drag City label The first of these Helena Espvall amp Masaki Batoh included several Swedish folk songs and marked the first prominent appearance of Espvall s vocals A BBC review called it beautifully fragile remarkably melodic and enticingly charming 6 2009 s Overloaded Ark tilted toward extended psychedelic jams featuring members of Ghost Junzo Tateiwa and Kazuo Ogino as well as ancient music specialist Haruo Kondo The album s varied instrumentation included acoustic and electric guitars cello organ shō banjo renaissance harp rauschpfeife crumhorn cornamuse hurdy gurdy recorders piano frame drums darbuka riq and electronics In 2010 Espvall released Lapidary an improvised collaboration with noise drone figure Marcia Bassett Writing for The Wire magazine Keith Moline compared it to the first Ash Ra Tempel album and dubbed it an impressively powerful record 7 Espvall frequently lends cello playing to the work of other musicians She has been a member of the touring bands for Vashti Bunyan Damon and Naomi Ghost and Marissa Nadler she has made guest appearances on records by Bert Jansch Arborea and Charalambides among others 1 8 Discography editSolo edit Nimis amp Arx CD 2006 Fire Museum Pax Recordings As part of Espers edit Riding Under The Waterfall 7 single 2005 Wichita The Weed Tree CD LP 2005 Locust Music II CD LP 2006 Drag City III CD LP 2009 Drag City As part of The Valerie Project edit The Valerie Project CD 2LP 2007 Drag City As part of Anahita edit Arcana En Cantos CD R LP 2006 2010 Deserted Village alt vinyl Matricaria CD 2008 Important Records Tourmaline LP 2016 Three Four Records With Sharron Kraus and Meg Baird edit Leaves from Off the Tree CD LP 2006 Bo Weavil Recordings With Masaki Batoh edit Helena Espvall amp Masaki Batoh CD LP 2008 Drag City Overloaded Ark CD 2LP 2009 Drag City With Marcia Bassett edit Lapidary Cassette LP 2010 Heavy Blossom alt vinyl With Marielle Jakobsons and Agnes Szelag edit Espvall Jakobsons Szelag Improvisations for Strings and Electronics CD R edition of 100 2012 Arachnidiscs With Alan Sondheim and Azure Carter edit Cauldron LP 2012 Tequila Sunrise Fire Museum With Ernesto Diaz Infante edit A Hallowed Shell of Ash and Rust CD 2013 Erototox Decodings With David Maranha edit Sombras Incendiadas LP 2015 Three Four Records Compilation appearances edit The Garden of Forking Paths CD 2007 Important Records We are all one In the Sun A tribute to Robbie Basho CD LP 2010 2011 Important Records alt vinyl References edit a b c Helena Espvall interviewed and introduced by Buck Curran 2009 Dream Magazine 9 pp 12 13 High Zero 2001 The Musicians Highzero org Retrieved 2011 12 20 High Zero 2002 Festival of Experimental Improvised Music Highzero org 1967 10 25 Retrieved 2011 12 20 Leech Jeanette Seasons They Change The Story of Acid and Psychedelic Folk Jawbone Press 2011 Nimis amp Arx Museumfire com 2006 06 12 Retrieved 2011 12 20 Music Review of Helena Espvall amp Masaki Batoh Helena Espvall amp Masaki Batoh BBC Retrieved 2011 12 20 The Wire January 2011 Exacteditions com Retrieved 2011 12 20 Helena Espvall Discography at Discogs Discogs com Retrieved 2011 12 20 External links editHigh Zero Fire Museum s page for Nimis amp Arx Drag City s page for Helena Espvall and Masaki Batoh alt vinyl Discogs entry for Helena Espvall three four Records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helena Espvall amp oldid 1043443317, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
