Detektivbyrån
Encyclopedia
Detektivbyrån was a Swedish
electronica
and folk music
trio from Gothenburg
. The group consisted of Anders "Flanders" Molin (accordion
, music box), Martin "MacGyver" Molin (glockenspiel
, traktofon, toy piano
, Theremin
) and Jon Nils Emanuel Ekström drums
, sound box
, small bells
.
The three members grew up in the city of Karlstad
, Sweden
, located in Värmland County
, but they did not form a band until they had moved to Gothenburg in 2005. The usage of more unusual instruments such as the accordion was inspired both by its prominent use in the soundtrack for Amélie
as well as musical traditions in Värmland. As the band also played as street musicians there was originally also a requirement to have portable instruments such as the glockenspiel.
Between 2006 and 2008 the band toured extensively and also participated in several Swedish radio and tv shows including a program at MTV Europe
.
On September 3, 2008, Detektivbyrån released their first full-length album, Wermland
. The band was nominated for two Grammis
awards, as newcomer of the year and folk music of the year in 2008. In addition they were also nominated for an award at Manifestgalan as the best live act of 2008.
In February 2009 Jon Nils Emanuel Ekström left the band, leaving the two remaining band members still working on the future album tentatively named "Beyond". Ekström has previously been playing drums
, sound box
, small bells
on the bands albums and concerts. The band has also recently been contributing to the soundtrack of the American film Tenure
.
In August 2010 the band was dissolved and clearly stated on their official website that they would not make any more music or live performances under the name Detektivbyrån.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
trio from Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
. The group consisted of Anders "Flanders" Molin (accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, music box), Martin "MacGyver" Molin (glockenspiel
Glockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
, traktofon, toy piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
) and Jon Nils Emanuel Ekström drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, sound box
Sound box
A sound box or sounding box is an open chamber in the body of a musical instrument which modifies the sound of the instrument, and helps transfer that sound to the surrounding air. Objects respond more strongly to vibrations at certain frequencies, known as resonances...
, small bells
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
.
The three members grew up in the city of Karlstad
Karlstad
Karlstad is a city, the seat of Karlstad Municipality, the capital of Värmland County, and the largest city in the province Värmland in Sweden. The city had 61,685 inhabitants in 2010 out of a municipal total that during the first quarter 2010 was 84,885 inhabitants...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, located in Värmland County
Värmland County
Värmland County is a county or län in west central Sweden. It borders the Swedish counties of Dalarna, Örebro and Västra Götaland, as well as the Norwegian counties of Østfold, Akershus and Hedmark to the west.- Province :...
, but they did not form a band until they had moved to Gothenburg in 2005. The usage of more unusual instruments such as the accordion was inspired both by its prominent use in the soundtrack for Amélie
Amélie
Amélie is a 2001 romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre...
as well as musical traditions in Värmland. As the band also played as street musicians there was originally also a requirement to have portable instruments such as the glockenspiel.
Between 2006 and 2008 the band toured extensively and also participated in several Swedish radio and tv shows including a program at MTV Europe
MTV Europe
MTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on August 1, 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent...
.
On September 3, 2008, Detektivbyrån released their first full-length album, Wermland
Wermland (album)
Wermland is the second album by Detektivbyrån released on the bands own label Danarkia. In contrast to the band's debut/compilation album E18 Album, Wermland features only new content. Prior to the album being available for purchase, the band made the songs "Om Du Möter Varg" and "Neonland"...
. The band was nominated for two Grammis
Grammis
The Grammis Awards are the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards. The awards ceremony is generally held each year in February in Stockholm.The awards were established in 1969 and awarded until 1972 when they were cancelled....
awards, as newcomer of the year and folk music of the year in 2008. In addition they were also nominated for an award at Manifestgalan as the best live act of 2008.
In February 2009 Jon Nils Emanuel Ekström left the band, leaving the two remaining band members still working on the future album tentatively named "Beyond". Ekström has previously been playing drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, sound box
Sound box
A sound box or sounding box is an open chamber in the body of a musical instrument which modifies the sound of the instrument, and helps transfer that sound to the surrounding air. Objects respond more strongly to vibrations at certain frequencies, known as resonances...
, small bells
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
on the bands albums and concerts. The band has also recently been contributing to the soundtrack of the American film Tenure
Tenure (film)
Tenure is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Mike Million and starring Luke Wilson, David Koechner and Gretchen Mol. The film was produced by Paul Schiff and released by Blowtorch Entertainment as their first original production....
.
In August 2010 the band was dissolved and clearly stated on their official website that they would not make any more music or live performances under the name Detektivbyrån.
Albums
- E18 AlbumE18 AlbumE18 Album is the debut album by the band Detektivbyrån released by the Japanese label P-Vine under license from the bands own label Danarkia. It may also be viewed as a compilation album as it mainly contains all the songs from the EP Hemvägen and the single "Lyckans Undulat"...
(2008) (consisting mainly of Hemvägen and the single Lyckans Undulat) - WermlandWermland (album)Wermland is the second album by Detektivbyrån released on the bands own label Danarkia. In contrast to the band's debut/compilation album E18 Album, Wermland features only new content. Prior to the album being available for purchase, the band made the songs "Om Du Möter Varg" and "Neonland"...
(2008)
Singles
- Detektivbyrån - HemstadDetektivbyrån - HemstadDetektivbyrån – Hemstad is a split 7" vinyl single containing one song each by the bands Detektivbyrån and Hemstad. The single was a limited edition release of 500 copies produced by the Italian label Black*Kitten Records. The song "Lakka-Koffa" was later re-released on Detektivbyråns album E18...
(Split 7" vinyl) (2007) - Lyckans Undulat (2007)