Puzzle

"Puzzle"is following up the praised "Slow Summer EP" release earlier this year which saw the always evolving orchestra take on well-known tracks from Bananarama, the kinks and Lana Del Rey and rearrange them in their own unique, slow and quirky instrumental mix.Now, to free themselves from doing covers and recording other's music (they've released two instrumental Christmas albums in 2023 and 2024 with traditionals etc, recorded as a backing band for Scottish maestro James Yorkston on his last two Domino records releases), the orchestra leader Karl Jonas set up some rules within this very free flowing orchestra, for this new project:- To compose original compositions and since the orchestra members are all amazing artists and musicians on their own, Karl Jonas asked everyone to bring a sketch/idea/track each to the recording sessions.And since the orchestra involved 13 musicians for this session,they needed to not get stuck on some parts as time in the studio was limited (two days).So, everyone was given one hour to present their track to the others, play it around a little and then put it on tape. Spontaneity over production!Of course, this could easily have turned into a chaotic recording, but since the orchestra is used to this recording method (more than five albums) and have devoted itself to improvisations and in the moment-recordings - this session turned into one of their greatest experiences so far.- Another title for our forthcoming album could be: "The democratic album". Because it really is. From beginning to end. Everyone composed a track each and had the director's cut.Thirteen players in the room means 13 tracks being recorded. All decision-making and everyone switching instruments from track to track, I dare AI to come up with something like this. This ep is the first three tracks that was recorded. It was great to see everyone step forward and shine! And also heartwarming to see how everyone fully committed themselves to help out the others on their tracks, says the orchestra leader Karl Jonas Winqvist.