“Space Music” can mean many things to many people — and while Johan Agebjörn and Mikael Ögren’s May 2021 release, Artefact, is on Spotted Peccary Music (a label best-known for Space Music of the slowly-drifting, long-evolving sort), I find that it very much embodies “Space Music” in it’s truest sense – but not because of any particular stylistic approach. Artefact was created to be an “unofficial soundtrack” for Arthur C. Clarke’s classic novel Rendezvous with Rama, where Johan and Mikael are inspired by the idea of exploring “the unknowable vastness of space.”
As Clarke’s novel paints this picture, think of the music of Artefact as the sonic companion:
“the wide-skied stillness of a strange planet’s surface, or of standing alone on an unexplored moon and feeling silver sand sift through your fingers.”
Since working with Johan and Mikael on their previous collaboration, We Never Came to the White Sea, I was excited to get to work with them again. For Artefact, I had the privilege of collaborating with the amazingly talented illustrator, Kilian Eng, who provided hand-sketched style illustrations that were used to create the entire package. I used Kilian’s source (with some additions) to create art for physical CD, digital release and video pieces.
…With every track presenting a different sound experience, the impression created is of a journey undertaken and completed, with many an eye-opening moment arising during the trip.
— TEXTURA
More about Johan Agebjörn and his discography:
spottedpeccary.com/artists/johan-agebjorn
More about Mikael Ögren and his discography:
www.facebook.com/synthmikael
All tracks written, performed and produced by Johan Agebjörn and Mikael Ögren
Tracks 1–2 co-written and co-performed by Stefan Strand
Track 7 co-written and co-performed by Johan Emmoth
Vocals on track 9 by Martina Björk
Mastered by Howard Givens
Illustrations by Kilian Eng
Layout & design by Daniel Pipitone