If
you were to say there's this band that have released three studio albums
full of new material within the last 14 months you may think I have gone
out of my mind. Well, this is exactly what Swedish hard rockers
Baltimoore have done and not only have they done it but they have
produced a better album each time. The band's forthcoming album
"X" (out on the 29th October) is killer from start to finish and the
band are finally going out on the road for the first time since 1993
with an extensive tour of Sweden. I caught up once again with
Baltimoore leader and vocalist Björn
Lodin to get the low-down on the material, how lead guitarist Thomas
Larsson came to rejoin the band, Björn's
view on the upcoming tour and much more!
Björn,
great to talk to you again and may I start the interview by congratulating
you on three albums in little over a year!
Thanks Andy! Yeah, It’s been a busy year.
The new album “X” is in my opinion the strongest of the three albums
released in quick succession yet also shows more diversity compared to
“Fanatical” and “Kaleidoscope”. How long did the basic song writing and
recording take?
The songs took about two months to write and then we started recording
pretty much immediately and were done with the mastering in early
October.
Where these all new songs or was anything pulled from your archives?
I’d started writing “Tables Turn” when we did Kaleidoscope, but the rest
of them are new songs.
I
know with the previous two releases you looked to compose around
the classic twin guitar line-up sound, and although that is still
present on “X” there are more twists and turns. What were
you looking for musically with “X”?
I
just knew we’re gonna be two guitars, actually… that makes it a
lot easier, knowing what the instrumentation is gonna be beforehand.
As for the twists and turns, they kind of come naturally...I’m not
re-inventing the wheel so I want to add some personality to it,
I guess.
The
album marks the return to the band of Thomas Larsson replacing Stefan
Bergstrom, what led to the change in personnel?
Well, Stefan has more or less left the music business to proceed another
career, so keeping him on board for touring with us was out of the
question and I didn’t want the hassle of breaking in yet another
player for the tour. Stefan and Thomas are both my absolute favourite
players and I’m happy with either one of them! Luckily Thomas was
available this time. I’m sure Stefan and I will work together in the
future.
Not taking anything away from Stefan’s work, I feel that Thomas’s more
original lead style takes the tracks in a slightly different direction
to that they may have gone and feel wise. I hear some similarities in
the new album material to the song writing diversity displayed on
“Freak”. What do you feel Thomas added to the album?
Thomas and Stefan are two different players, I agree, but they both have
a tone that I find similar. Thomas is perhaps more of a melodic lead
player with longer notes and is phrasing in a certain way whilst Stefan
is playing more like I would – if I could… On X we got a “new” fresh
sound with Thomas playing, which I think was needed since we release X
so soon after the other two, but we would have achieved that with Stefan
as well, I’m sure!
The
album has the heavy rockers such as “Cumgum”, “Tables Turn”, “Asshole”
and “Fleeting As The Moment”. What do you aim to convey musically and
vocally in the heavier tracks?
I
got an itch
J.
I love to scream and I love to sing soft. I do this because I love it,
there’s no agenda.
The album most restraint number “2 & 2” is a great song, a highlight
with some very potent lyrics and music. I believe this track changed
quite a lot from your initial idea, do you let the song dictate where it
should go or do you try to steer them where you want them?
Sometimes I get an idea that forms into a sing within minutes and stays
that way…with 2&2, it went through a total change in guitar arrangement
and vocal lines after the lyrics was completed. Nothing’s final until
the fat lady sings. Song writing can take quite a turn sometimes, it’s
great!
There a bit of a classic Thin Lizzy vibe to “Make It Through” with its
harmony guitars, is this a fair assessment?
Yes. They’ve always been a great influence.
I
know in our previous interview you mentioned that you feel its sometimes
hard to write lyrics in a language that isn’t your primary language
(Swedish). Yet, and this goes for the entire Baltimoore catalogue, I
feel that is what helps make the band unique, there are phrases in the
songs that say an English or American native would not come up with but
work superbly. Do you prefer to write lyrics and then work a track
around that or work lyrics and melodies to any music that may already be
in place.
Both, but mostly I start with the music and a scat vocal line, then both
music and lyrics changes. I guess I don’t care about if my expression
comes from a Swedish way of saying it or not, anymore. I do consult an
English speaking friend of mine to make sure he knows what I mean…
If
we can talk a bit about the production, It’s great to hear “X” having
such a great sound, sonically the last 3 album have all been superb
but I feel that the music on “X” really does benefit from the honest
production.
Thanks! I do spend a lot of time trying to get this sound and I
appreciate you taking notice! Since I also do all production I try
to keep certain things in mind while composing and arranging, such
as how the compressor will work if I do this or that...or how a
certain part will sound after the mastering process.
Its clear that you guys aren’t relying on studio tricks to make the
tracks into something they aren’t and there is a great live feel, very
real and honest. How much do you pain over the sound of an album?
To be honest, there is a lot of work put into editing (cut & paste) in
order to make it sound as if it’s recorded live, since we’re not! This
is something we have to live with since we live so far apart and can’t
meet and rehearse before we start recording. The whole process is quite
a journey in that respect, the songs can take quite a turn but the focus
is always on to make it sound as if we were doing it live – and now when
we ARE rehearsing for the tour, I know it was a smart move since it
sounds even better live
J
I
believe the album was recorded at your home studio?
Yes.
It must be great to have this facility at your fingertips.
It cannot be better!
Can you tell us a little about what sort of amps and mic’s were used.
Also what software was used for the recording and mixing, are you a
digital convert?
For drums I used SM 57’s for bass drums, AKG 414 w/ck 12 capsule for
snare, Beta 98’s for toms, 414 for hihat & ride, Schoeps cmt 56 for xy
overhead and Beyer 834 for ambience. For guitar: Thomas Larsson designed
tube preamp and Marshall Super Bass amp and modded Peavey Classic 30.
Mics used were 57’s, 414 and Neumann CMV 563. Bass is lined. Console is
Sony R100 and software is Logic Pro 7 on Mac. I also use Vintage Design
eq’s (neve clone) and Tube Tech analog summing amp. Guitars used are:
ESP Potbelly, Fender strat, Gibson LP, Tokai LP and Gretsch Roc Jet.
Thomas is somewhat of a tone hound, and there are some sublime guitar
tones here, and from Mankan also. I know you are a guitarist yourself
so do you like to hear the more organic tones?
Yes sure. Like I said, I’m more of a “Stefan guitarist” so perhaps I can
relate more to that,. but the tones Thomas plays really amazes me
sometimes. If it’s called “organic” them I’m all for it!
J
It’s
great to see the band finally getting out on the road for the first time
since 1993 with quite an extensive Swedish tour about to start. How are
rehearsals going and how are you feeling about the upcoming gigs?
How does nervous, anxious and paranoid sound..? We’ve rehearsed for a
couple of days now and have our 1st gig in 3 days and it’s
going to be something else than what I can imagine it to be… I know
we’ve got what it takes!
The album shows what a superb rhythm section you have in
Hempo Hildén and Weine Johansson. How important is the backbone to a
hard rock band?
They’ll appreciate you saying that, and I can only agree! Having the
routine that Hempo brings to the table matters a great deal and Weine is
so steady it’s silly. It’s a great assurance!
Hempo is one of my favourite rock drummers possessing a jazz / rock feel
reminiscent of Ian Paice, how did you hook up with him?
I think we first met in 1985 or so. Probably in a bar…
The
gig on the 29th October at the Hard Rock Café, Stockholm
is going to be filmed for a live DVD, this must be exciting?
Yes, we’ll film some stuff on the shows and try and put a DVD together
for release next year. This is something we’ve never done so it’s
very exiting. Film editing is another hobby of mine.
If
we can focus a little on the back catalogue, after discovering your
music with “Fanatical” I have picked up all the previous releases and
found an incredible wealth of music there. The band seems to be
able to change direction whilst remaining in rock waters and to the
bands sound quite freely. This must be rewarding knowing that you are
free to do what you like or it a curse?
I
truly feel that way! However, I constantly get “good advise” on how
important it is for a rock band to maintain a certain style in order for
fans not to get confused and disappointed etc. I understand the rhyme
and reason in this to a certain degree, but I’m too much of a punk
rocker to fall in line. When I read about bands who see them selves as
being a trademark..?.. and feel a responsibility towards the fans - I
don’t get it!
There are many hidden rock gems in the back catalogue that bands like
Whitesnake would kill for such as “Take Me To Top” and “Hello Again”. Do
you know if there are any plans for the harder to get albums like
“Freak”, “Double Density” and “Thought For Food” to be re-released at
any point or is this out of your hands?
Double Density and Thought For Food, I own with Nikolo Kotzev and we’ve
not decided what to do with them yet… The new recordings I did for The
Best Of… album are still available from BLP Music. We sell them from our
shop at
Baltimoore.net. The first two albums are owned by BMG and as far as
I know they don’t plan on releasing them.
How do you view your back catalogue now?
I’ve always done the best I could… sometimes your focus is not right and
sometimes you’re spot on!
I
know you were going to aim to have another album ready in the first half
of 2007, is still a realistic possibility?
You bet!
Bjorn, many thanks for your time once again, now go and check out “X”
and listen to the album sampler
here.
Links
