Jonas Torstensen returns to Discreet Music with the second Franciska album, following up the much praised Tryghed (Discreet Music 12) that was released in early 2023. Since Tryghed came out, Franciska has quickly become an established forefront of a young, new generation of Scandinavian experimental DIY musicians. This time a joint effort with his longtime friend and collaborator Camille Helt Haarder, the new album is dedicated to their shared hometown Odense in Denmark.
Mainly based on piano loops, cello, field recordings and a sparse use of electronics, the album is a culmination of an already pretty much perfect run of unique, shimmering tape music. While the palette might be familiar, the emotive sharpness and general preciseness on this album could be seen as a direct result of lots of recordings and performances the last few years. Still heavily utilizing cassettes and rudimentary hands-on editing, the raw compositions are at the same time more developed and refined. A truly special record that very much captures the essence of not only Discreet Music but what excites us about relevant contemporary music in general.
Recorded between January and October 2023, mastered for vinyl by Martin Lindum Cederholm. Edition of 500 copies, comes with insert with liner notes by Jonas Torstensen.