My collaboration with Peter Olof Fransson began in the fall of 2019, but he had already been working on the music for “The Afterlife” earlier and had several pieces near completion. He introduced himself to me via e mail and sent a track, asking for a wordless melody to “The Awakening of Love in the Spring” and soon after for “Ants”. Over time, Peter became interested in my adding spoken word and lyrics and we developed keen trust and friendship across the miles. We exchanged drafts, welcomed each others’ revisions and even changed direction here and there. The process became an extended one, aiming towards the perfection and balance that characterizes Peter’s creativity, both in his composing and in his style as a collage artist.
I enjoy working with Peter because I share his persistence and his distaste for aesthetic compromise. He and I also have a common enthusiasm for the avant-garde and continually learn from each other about its history.
Asking Peter about his inspirations for “The Afterlife,” he offered: “I’m concerned about threats for a sustainable future of the planet and my deep love of nature runs throughout the work. There are references to the impact of environmental challenges and musings about what will happen after the human race collapses. There are intimations that our species is under observation by an alien or somehow different higher dimensional force as well as paranormal effects in terms of what might happen after death for each of us.”
Much of the textural richness on the album is the work of Svante Sjöstedt, who performs guitar on six of “The Afterlife” tracks as guitarist, and on two tracks as backing vocalist.
He has been making music with Peter for many years in various settings. Svante began his career as a member of the Swedish group Pinko Pinko which was strongly influenced by the British Pop Manchester scene of the 90’s. He and Peter formed the Owl Report and released an album in 2017. They continue to collaborate. Svante is a huge Beatles fan.
We were fortunate to have a splendid cameo on “Sun” by Emily Brown, who with her precise intonation, flexibility and pure tone, is renowned as one of Gothenburg’s finest singers.
Emily was born on the same day as Jimi Hendrix, whom she considers one of her “house Gods” and who has had a big influence on her. Peter describes her as “absolutely incredible” and I agree.
The other voices and talents on the album come from my own family. My vocalist daughter Melissa Falarski, sings back up on several pieces and my grandson Hudson Persson (aka “Boom”) threads narration in many key moments. Field recordings were done by my daughter Jessica Cross, who also has advised us on promotion and media.
I speak for both Peter and myself in thanking Alan Gubby of Buried Treasure Records for his kindness, diplomacy and professionalism, evident from the very beginning. We appreciate his choice of the gifted artist Nick Taylor as designer, who has been able to represent the work with such original flair while incorporating Peter’s collage concepts.