Aéropop by Alexander von Mehren
All songs composed, arranged and produced by Alexander von Mehren.
Recorded by Alexander von Mehren between 2005 and 2010 at The Guestroom, Bergen, Norway.
Mixed by John McEntire and Alexander von Mehren at Soma Electronic Music Studios, Chicago, USA, except tracks 1, 2, 7 and 10 mixed by Alexander von Mehren at The Guestroom.
Mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios, London, UK.
Licensed by Aéropop Records to The Control Group (North America), Folkwit Records (UK), Rallye Label (Japan) and Klangkollektivet (Norway).
Alexander von Mehren: vocals, upright piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Moog, keyboards, vibraphone, electric guitar, bass, drums, percussion, Roland Rhythm 77
Fredrik Drønen: electric and acoustic guitars
Erlend Alm Lerstad: electric and acoustic guitars
Erik Johan Bringsvor: electric guitar
Siri Eimhjellen Øie: violin
Sigurd Fischer Olsen: violin, viola
Eline Rodvelt Hansen: violin, viola
Andy Nice: cello
Ina Walde: flute
Erlend Hausken: alto and tenor saxophones
Tor Erik Seime Pettersen: baritone, euphonium, trombone
Mathias Eick: trumpet
Silje Haustveit: trumpet
Marius Solevågseide: trumpet
Jérôme Didelot: vocals, electric guitar
Nathalie Nordnes: vocals
Mari Kvien Brunvoll: vocals
Lise Kristin Kvenseth: vocals
William Hut: vocals
Pete Aves: vocals
Mariana Badaracco: vocals
John McEntire: shaker
«(...) an exquisitely crafted, richly arranged modern pop gem.»
AllMusic
«We think it's one of the more special releases we've heard this year.»
Hype Machine
«Listening to Norwegian artist Alexander von Mehren's debut, Aéropop, conjures up thoughts of Stereolab, The Beatles and The High Llamas.»
KCRW
«(...) brings to mind Serge Gainsbourg at his deadliest.»
Other Music
«von Mehren blends cinematic jazz and pop with French and English lyrics. This is the kind of music that would make for an ideal Jean-Luc Godard film score, or a backdrop for a cocktail party — that is, provided you're planning on throwing your soirée in outer space. Stereolab fans take note: this is warm, big-hearted, and occasionally weird music, likely to have Laetitia Sadier and the gang experiencing a competitive twinge.»
MTV Iggy
«(...) a deft blend of Serge and Stereolab.»
Stereogum
«Like High Llamas and Stereolab before him, the keyboardist and sometimes Sondre Lerche bandmate plays with texture and tone, creating a soundtrack-worthy atmosphere that’s equal parts space and lounge, sax, strings, synths, and Mehren’s playful alto all blending together into a timeless pop glow.»
Bandcamp
«Marrying traditional jazz with a spacey sound palette, his is a world slung halfway between Stereolab and Vince Guaraldi. It's a mixture that sounds both cocktail party classic and impossibly modern.»
Under the Radar
«The wildly talented 29 year old plays most of the instruments on the record, which was inspired by European library music and soundtracks from the 60s and 70s, and it’s easy to hear the influence.»
The Wild Honey Pie
«Aéropop is a display of smart, melodic and sophisticated pop, with dusty library funk and idiosyncratic orchestral pop on a level rarely heard elsewhere in the world.»
Dagens Næringsliv
Tracklist
| 1. | La Chanson de Douche | 3:36 |
| 2. | Teria | 3:58 |
| 3. | Le Détective Ingénieux | 0:39 |
| 4. | Aller-Retour | 4:08 |
| 5. | Natural Selection | 7:43 |
| 6. | Switched On | 1:02 |
| 7. | Winter Comes | 3:04 |
| 8. | Insouciance | 2:24 |
| 9. | Champs-Élysées | 3:30 |
| 10. | La Variation de Douche | 1:32 |
| 11. | Neuschwanstein | 2:21 |
| 12. | Bahnhof | 1:02 |
| 13. | Chalet d'Alpage | 4:38 |
| 14. | Aérosuite, Partie A: Ouverture | 2:17 |
| 15. | Aérosuite, Partie B: Pop Baroque | 2:04 |
| 16. | Aérosuite, Partie C: Interférences | 0:49 |
| 17. | Aérosuite, Partie D: Altitude | 1:28 |
| 18. | Aérosuite, Partie E: Proximité | 1:00 |
| 19. | Aérosuite, Partie F: Vélodrome | 2:04 |
| 20. | Aérosuite, Partie G: Survol de l'Amérique | 3:03 |
