Description
#studio #vinyl #vinylrecords
Emerging from the lush landscape of Sweden, the duo known as Studio, composed of Dan Lissvik and Rasmus Hägg, unforgettably quaked the underground music scene in the mid-2000s. Their 2006 debut album, “West Coast,” became a byword for their blend of divergent musical styles. Experienced listeners identified elements of Balearic intertwined with Krautrock, disco, dub, Afrobeat, and new wave pop lyricism in the mix. The duo, both art school graduates from Gothenburg, initiated the album’s intrigue by releasing a limited-edition vinyl via their label, Information. In the streaming era, it’s a rare find, and it retains a unique allure, its origins seemingly buried in an older, blog-driven reality while its sonic identity defies temporal classification.
The edgy minimalism of their black-circle LP design signaled an album that promised escapism. Its immersive sound suggested a blend of familiar and alien, an amalgamation of styles and moods that resisted categorization. Esteemed outlets such as Pitchfork identified echoes of Durutti Column and Can, while others drew comparisons between The Cure and Lindstrøm. As the duo’s narrative became entwined with influential labels including Service and Sincerely Yours, their sound echoed forward to presage the 2010s surge of electronic and psychedelic music led by the likes of indie champions such as Caribou, Four Tet, and Darkside.
The story of “West Coast,” starts from the roots of Studio’s formation. Early recordings reveal a series of amateur sessions held in the artsy interiors of Lissvik’s art school and Hägg’s practice space between 2001 and 2004. During this stage, Lissvik established the Service label, a creative platform that expanded to include clothing production and event hosting. Service was famed for organizing extravagant parties, transforming the art school into both a bustling club venue and operational office—an echo of the iconic Factory Records and Haçienda.
Once they severed ties with Service and toyed with the idea of disbanding in 2005, the duo unearthed their stored music, breathed life into it anew and composed two fresh tracks at Hägg’s Ferry Terminal Studio and Lissvik’s N.47 studio. This marked the conception of the “West Coast” blueprint.
The birth of the “West Coast” album involved meticulous finalizing and sequencing from the myriad sketches and multifaceted elements the duo amassed over the years. The pulsating, guitar-heavy “Self Service” title was a nod to Lissvik’s French fashion magazine visit and a testament to the duo’s newfound self-direction. Concerning the conceptual framework, Lissvik noted, he aimed to create a record that, although purely abstract, represented their city soundscape. Drawing inspiration from a plethora of sources—including DJ Screw, J Dilla, Joy Division, Beppe Loda, DJ Mozart, and Baldelli—the duo culminated their distinct style, described by Hägg as an “anything-goes mentality,” that defied the traditional boundaries of Swedish music in the 90s.
Despite fading from view post-2007, as media noted the impossibility of finding the band by a Google search of their name and their reputation steadily began to outshine their Myspace page, Studio has remained a cornerstone of the indie scene. Reflecting on the journey, Lissvik notes that “West Coast” stands as a reminder to uphold their shared vision of continuous exploration and growth. Indeed, Studio’s bold union of Afrobeat, dub, disco, and indie pop recorded in “West Coast” has paved the way for an evolution in the music industry and leaves a lasting legacy for other emerging artists to draw inspiration from. A truly timeless piece, the album exemplifies Studio’s brilliant artistry and creative vision.
