Jacob Holm-Lupo - guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, some vocals --- Rachel Haden - vocals --- Rhys Marsh - vocals --- Tim Bowness - vocals --- Stephen Bennett - vocals --- Sylvia Skjellestad - vocals --- Lars Fredrik Frøislie - synth, mellotrons, stuff --- Mattias Olsson - drums, mellotrons, guitars, moogerfoogers, stuff --- Sigrun Eng - cello --- Erik Johannesen - trombone --- Ketil Einarsen - woodwinds --- Ellen Andrea Wang - bass guitar --- Scott McGill - guitar
Influences
Big Star, Nick Drake, The Folk Implosion, Ultravox, Japan/David Sylvian, Air, The Beach Boys, The Cars, M83, Chris Bell, Gene Clark, Kraftwerk, Mellow Candle, Strawbs, The Postal Service, Genesis, Matthew Sweet, 10cc, the view from my window, my Martin acoustic
The Opium Cartel is Jacob Holm-Lupo's project away from White Willow. The project involves musicians from White Willow, Wobbler, Änglagård, Pineforest Crunch, Jaga Jazzist, No-Man, Rhys Marsh and the Autumn Ghost, The Rentals and more. We are currently and very slowly working on our debut album. TOC is a collaborative project. TOC is folksy excursions tainted by electronics, power pop and mellotronic ambiences. So far all you'll find here are pre-production mixes - proper versions will be posted as the sessions move along. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What they say: "The Norwegian project The Opium Cartel, led by White Willow's Jacob Holm-Lupo, presents intoxicating, delicately fashioned folk-electronica. Beautiful compositions "Three Sleepers" and "Skinnydip" benefit from the exquisitely gentle vocals of cellist Sylvia Skjellestad. "Lumberjack's Lullaby" is another dreamy wonderment. "Honeybee," a Lolita tale, surges with a rock sensibility." (Palo Alto Daily News) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Opium Cartel is the solo project of Jacob Holm-Lupo (White Willow). On Three Sleepers, he's joined by fellow WW member Sylvia Skjellestad on lead vocals, so if you're at all familiar with that band, this will probably sound quite similar. But whereas WW displays a strong prog influence, The Opium Cartel is far, far mellower no doubt largely due to the influence of producer and fellow collaborator Mattias Olsson (Pineforest Crunch, Änglagård, Nanook of the North, etc). For recording nerds like myself, it's possible to let Mattias' signature warm synth sounds and excellent layering skills overwhelm the track, but it can also be enjoyed as a fine atmospheric pop song. I'm reminded a bit of fellow Norwegian artrockers The 3rd and the Mortal, but it's probably a bit more akin to David Sylvian or Kate Bush as this style of prog/pop is far more weighted towards the pop side of things. Y'know, the kind of thing that appeals to 'serious' music types and high-minded critics without alienating the general listening audience. It's possible to geek out on it, but can be readily enjoyed by anyone as the the overall prettiness of the music is by far its strongest asset." (itsatrap.com)
It's a classic. There's some cool footage of them playing it live in Glastonbury last year on youtube. Intense. Good luck on the mixing. I will finally come to Norge for the first gig if you get a live band together :)
Hmmm...according to my calculations Bird Dream of Olympus is the Pixies forth best song.Maybe yr calculator's busted? Nice cover though...soooooo un-pixies!!
tusen takk:) ja dikemark er stedet det skjer! hehe. så utrolig hærlige sanger dere har her! og likte veldig godt vokalen, den er litt sånn drømmende på en måte:) Iselin, Vv.
Thats quite the project you got goin. i'm always amazed at that level of collaboration. i hear it in my head and am trying to get others on board, but its an ardous process. thanks for the add - damon
