On Subtracted Soundscapes, Johan Agebjörn revisits past work with a new compositional mien: a focus on calmness and serenity. Agebjörn selected and reworked eight pieces from across his career, transforming the tracks into something warmer and calmer than the originals — but no less moving and profound. Unlike their original versions, these “subtracted” updates are entirely beatless; the sonic threads of the originals are unraveled and rewoven. The result is an album that moves fluidly between naturalistic electronics and a unique dazzlingly otherworldly sound. Startlingly intimate, it becomes both a sonic sanctuary for the listener and another world to explore. The feeling is bittersweet and positive, the sound is dreamy and electronic with lots of sustained tones and glowing atmospheres, and just soaring with no limits into other places. The electronics shiver and the angels have a story you must mostly feel because this is something that has almost no words. Unless otherwise specified, each of these tracks were composed and performed by Agebjörn.

On Friday (July 21, 2023) the Swedish Ambient Groove Artist will celebrate the release of his album SUBTRACTED SOUNDSCAPES with a “takeover” of the SPM LIVE channel on Youtube, spinning the new tracks and other favorites all day long.

Unlike their original versions, these “subtracted” updates are only the key elements of the music, and also working with different combinations of lowpass-filtering, slowing down, adding reverb, and mixing the music differently, all with a wish to attain some sort of calmness and warmth. “I am surprised by how much more I prefer these new versions to the originals. I guess they attune better to my current state of mind. I hope this music can evoke similar feelings in the listener.”

Smooth, soothing soaring electronics, sometimes with sampled female voices singing wordless tones, I love to listen on a hot night to these sounds, which are cold, like invisible ice and snow. Often we are traveling through the melancholy of an endless Swedish winter, the feeling is ethereal and layered, there is simply no need for words. This music is for relaxing and thinking, it works well for lowering your blood pressure and bidding your troubles and worries to fade away. Subtracted Soundscapes works well for dreaming as well as for launching your personal voyages into deep fantasy.

Starting with an infinite piano cycling through 5 notes, slowly adding glowing synthesizers with interesting accents, and a sampled ethereal voice, the soothing soaring feeling of the album is established here. “Four Hours To Karhumäki (Subtracted Version)” (5:28) comes originally from We Never Came To The White Sea (2017, SPM-3301). Performed by Johan Agebjörn and Mikael Ögren, who were also joined by Rolf Ellmer as composers. Karhumäki (in Russian known as Медвежьегорск) is an industrial city in Russian Carelia. “Swimming Through the Blue Lagoon (Subtracted Version)” (5:08) was released originally on The Mountain Lake (2011, LSM19), sending us deeper into the opening atmosphere, synthesizers and a flickering sampled voice singing intonations. Thinking about the lagoon puts me in the sea, the music puts me in the sky, and ultimately the voice puts me into a sensation somewhere like heaven. “Ambient Computer Dance (Subtracted Version)” (5:31) was originally on Mossebo, the feeling is still consistently slow and graceful.

Vyartsilya is a Russian border checkpoint used by perhaps one million visitors each year to see Finland, “As I Passed the Vyartsilya Border Crossing (Subtracted Version)” (7:43) was originally released on We Never Came To The White Sea. I hear layers of alternating ambient vocalisms by Anneli Andersson and melodic electronics, gentle and conducive to your own thoughts supported by the crisp clear motion of the music constantly building and growing. This new version also uses Andersson’s voice as a marching ostinato. When the melody comes in, it is both alien and familiar: the major key refrain of adventure wrapped anew in sterling pearlescence. The original video version is a view from the train passing through the industrial area which invokes memories of history created by the glimpses through the window.

The next track begins with lingering intimate romantic whispers, slowly blossoming into a meditation on blissful dreamscapes eventually climaxing in a nocturnal thunderclap, “Sleep In My Arms (Subtracted Version)” (5:41) originally on Sally Shapiro: Disco Romance also appearing on Sally Shapiro: Remix Romance Vol. 1, as well as the anthology Various Artists: Soundcolours pres. Chilltronica — A Definition. This one is performed by Johan Agebjörn for the Sally Shapiro project, the songwriters are Erik Van Den Broek and Agebjörn.

“Dulciter Somni (Subtracted Version)” (5:00) was originally heard on Mossebo. Performed by Agebjörn and Lisa Barra, composed by Agebjörn and Oskar Macgregor, this sweet sleepy one always gets me right in the soul and heart. The singer is Lisa Barra from Gothenburg, Sweden. She brings to my mind the hidden colors in a night winter sky. Continuing, “Siberian Train Part II (Subtracted Version)” (7:52) was also originally on Mossebo.

Agebjörn shares his memories of his early approach to the technical aspects, “if I had long samples that I wanted to use I had to play them from cassette live during the recording, such as the sampled speech on “Siberian Train.” There is an ominous glowing foundation with some wandering soaring tones and melancholic suspense, blending field recordings made on a train, you can hear the tracks rattling and rumbling below with occasional warning bells from road crossings flying past.

Subtracted Soundscapes concludes with “Zero Gravitation (Subtracted Version)” (9:59) originally on Various Artists: Soundcolours pres. Chilltronica — A Definition. For this listener, outer space is a very cold and beautiful place where slow and glowing colors hoover and glide about.

Agebjörn’s releases on Spotted Peccary Music include Mossebo (originally on Lotuspike, released in 2008 and remastered with SPM in 2019), The Mountain Lake (2011), followed by a couple of collaborations with Mikael Ögren, We Never Came to the White Sea (2017) and Artefact (2021) with the related EP Space Travel.

Tracklist:
1 Four Hours To Karhumäki (Subtracted Version) 5:28
2 Swimming Through the Blue Lagoon (Subtracted Version) 5:08
3 Ambient Computer Dance (Subtracted Version) 5:31
4 As I Passed the Vyartsilya Border Crossing (Subtracted Version) 7:43
5 Sleep In My Arms (Subtracted Version) 5:41
6 Dulciter Somni (Subtracted Version) 5:00
7 Siberian Train Part II (Subtracted Version) 7:52
8 Zero Gravitation (Subtracted Version) 9:59

Links:
Spotted Peccary Album Page: https://spottedpeccary.com/shop/subtracted-soundscapes/
All platforms: https://orcd.co/subtracted-soundscapes
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2iGCVAGfKCTq0sG6nR5JGJ?si=0f9c46699f954eb9
Bandcamp: https://ambientelectronic.bandcamp.com/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/spottedpeccary?fbclid=IwAR3pf42FwFotW96qJNzDKbJXjCDFTsi2jRlHhjjiOCdSTH-qlfs4JUbiRRg

About Johan Agebjörn:
Johan Agebjörn lives in Lund, Sweden, where he is a psychologist, sometimes makes music, and enjoys being a father. He makes music in a wide range of styles, including electro, house, also solo piano, and has two main projects. His ambient music can best be described as “ambient electro” or “arctic ambient”; not too far away from the sounds of Krister Linder or early Biosphere. That is, ambient with electro beats, giving the music a rich atmosphere as well as a distinct forward motion. His ambient music has also appeared on several compilations, and draws influences from Aphex Twin, Pete Namlook and The KLF. His other project is a neo-Italo disco studio project consisting of pseudonymous female singer Sally Shapiro and featuring Johan as composer and producer. Their two albums, Disco Romance and My Guilty Pleasures, as well as a few EPs and remix collections, have been very well received. Influences include prominent ’80s Italo disco artists such as Valerie Dore, Katy Gray, Savage, Fun Fun and Sandra. Johan also runs the Husmus online / CD-R micro-label on which he has released some solo piano works and singles. https://www.youtube.com/@husmusmedia

About Spotted Peccary Music:
Portland-based Spotted Peccary Music is North America’s finest independent record label with a focus on deep, vast and introspective soundscapes. For over three decades, the artists of Spotted Peccary have been on a mission to develop, produce, publish and release ultra-high-quality, deep-listening experiences that engage the listener and exceed expectations. Every release is carefully prepared in a variety of high-quality formats from MP3 to high-res studio masters. Explore more than 165 titles and 45 artists released over 37 years of excellence at www.SpottedPeccary.com and www.AmbientElectronic.com.