Yonder- a brief history of the band
Yonder is a musical quartet based in Stockholm, Sweden. The players have a long background as sidemen and collaborators behind artists such as Eric Bibb, Cyndee Peters, Eugene Bridges, Larry Johnson, Ahmadu Jarr, Jukka Tolonen and many others.
The group was born out of a longing for a quiter and more intimate sound.
Harmonica player and singer Mats Qwarfordt explains: “We wanted to make room for stillness and silence in our music using mostly acoustic instruments such as guitars, mandolins, double bass, harmonica and light percussion. We play original material almost exclusively but the music has its roots in the american blues- and spiritual music of the 1920s and 30s. Those stories of everyday life, the struggles and joy of real people is something we can relate to as a part of our own heritage as well. We also feel strongly about our own Swedish folk tradition. The mix has sometimes been described as Scandicana”
The debut CD “Yonder” was recorded 2006, live in the studio with sparse instrumental settings and few overdubs. It reflected the sound of the group in concert and received great critical acclaim in both Swedish and European press.
The second CD “Foreign Shore” will be released in June 2010. For this album more time was spent in the studio, sculpturing a somewhat darker and more haunting sound. The groups recording philosophy still remains the same: to leave space for the music to breathe and not overproduce the natural sound of the group.
“We have high hopes for this album” says guitarist Christer Lyssarides. “For it to reach out and touch people and help us get the opportunity to come out and play for you all in the near future”.
REVIEWS
It’s always good to start a new year with an album you know is going to be among your best of lists in twelve months time. With a simple sleeve design to match the soothing ambience of the music, it’s a wonderful album that fully deserves the plaudits it must surely attract. The quartet are apparently due to play European and UK dates in April/May 2009; I’d suggest you sign up to their mailing list now.
Mike Davies, Net Rhythms (UK)
Stark acoustic soundscapes and back porch sensibilities abound on other self penned tracks such as April Snow, Faith and Foggy Straits all cut through with simmering intensity.
Properganda (UK)
"You'd swear they lived in a backwoods mountain shack, but Younder are
from Stockholm, a city fast becoming a treasure trove of down-home country acts.
Yonder's gospel-infused blues sounds as solid as the hills, like Micah P Hinson
backed by an acoustic Bad Seeds, with Mats Qwarfordt's vocals howling up preachers,
ne'er-do-wells, lost loves & dark nights of eternal winter".
Q Mag.(UK)
"Their songs are as authentic as their performance & Yonder - the
band & the album - are an unexpected treat".
Rock n Reel (UK)
"Its a miracle of the modern age that a Stockholm quartet such as Yonder can conjure up such a convincing evocation of dust bowl Depression-era country, blues and gospel.
They make it sound so easy and natural too, with a clutch of their own songs delivered with sparse acoustic instrumentation and the frequent howl of piercing harmonica.
It works as a supremely easy listening, background album, but it has an earthiness, grit, humanity and warmth – and an exceptionally high quality of writing – that also makes it a very fine alt country record".
Niel McKay, Belfast Sunday Life(Irl)
“…This is the kind of quiet-without-being-boring type of roots music that some of us welcome with open arms. Personally, I wouldn't have thought to look toward Stockholm to find it, but this band's gospel tinged debut has made me into a believer…”
RANDY BAKER, THE EAST BANK RADIO NASHVILLE
