I wanted to make something as unfashionable as an album in the classic sense of the word – in terms of its composition and the idea of a theme. The theme itself was initially something as simple yet complex as heaven and it led me into a wide and seemingly endless search for a means, a language in which to express myself. Although during this time I was, even though I mostly didn't realize it, following a certain train of thought – that of love, grief and loss, solace and hope, deepest despair and wildest childish euphoria – to the lowest and the highest of heights.
In many ways one could say that 'From the Valley to the Stars' is created out of an intellectual idea – the music turned up only after the language, the literary as well as the harmonic, was created. And at that moment it was as if the music did not belong to me. As if someone else had written it. In some strange way I felt as if it had existed all along. Somewhere. In the ground? In the heavens? Just like when you start humming a tune you're not sure where you picked up or where you heard it before. This is the way I think that which we often call 'folk music' works – like timeless melodies striking something deep within us; from deep down in the soil, from high up in the sky.
Now I am not saying that my idea was to make folk music, but I was searching for that timelessness; the grand mystery of it all that has been ringing within our hearts since the beginning of time. I wanted to make something that in its character might appear more like a hymn or a psalm but in a pop costume. But more than that, I wanted to make something completely void of cynicism and bitterness.
As far as possible I tried to let the recording process be as free and organic as possible. Many takes are first ones. In contrary to my first album which generally was guitar oriented, I mostly play the piano or organ on this one. I myself have been in charge of all recording, production and mixing. Contributing to the album in an incredibly important way have been guitarist and bassist Jesper Jarold (also known from the Gothenburg based duo Fontän) and Nils Törnqvist on drums. They came into the process when most of the album was finished, though still in a quite chaotic state. Despite that, they managed, with great sensitivity, to grasp what I wanted to achieve. I am forever in their debt. Also contributing in a beautiful way are musicians from The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Björn Bohlin (oboe), Charles Deramus (double bass) and Lisa Ford (horn) as well as musicians and friends alike Kristin Lidell (trumpet) and Björn Synneby(vocal and sitar), he also known from the duo pacific!.
With love
El Perro del Mar / Sarah Assbring
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