Oskar Hallbert – »1123581321345589« (Zymogen)

Lo-fi Folk Scribbles // Zymogen has been a little quiet for the last six months. After the Summer down, however, the label is back with a beautiful record. The artist’s name is Oskar Hallbert and he brings forth a new shade to the monochrome Zymogen label sound. Lo-fi Folk scribbles, you kidding? No.

Oskar Hallbert - “21 (Unsent Letter)”

Oskar Hallbert - “03 (From the Stockholm Tape 2)”

Oskar Hallbert is a Swedish composer who does not only incorporate instruments like piano, guitar and woodwinds in his music but intensively focuses on blurry field recordings and the warm hiss you got from cheap microphones. Beauty, in case of Hallbert, seems to happen as in passing. Like not intended. In a sudden, harmonies cross and form melodies, then move apart again. A moiré effect.

This is wonderfully fragile- and the more you don’t expect a song to touch you the more you’re moved if it does, eventually. For me, Oskar Hallbert is a kindred spirit to Vienna wunderkind David Schweighart whose album is online for free with 12rec. Netlabel and worth every second as well.

Hallbert’s EP “Sids Apartment” (ZIP link!) was out on Rainmusic in 2008. You easily will agree that the French label is the perfect place for music like his. “1123581321345589” was released on an US CDR label before, now luckily Zymogen re-publishes the 10 + 79 tracks (!) for free. Take your time and enjoy this tender trip into bliss and beauty!