Biography and interviews

ConSono biography

Formed in Södertälje, Sweden, 1990 by Jens Lindh and Magnus Bjärlind - disbanded in 2006.

1991 saw the release of their first cassette Onus Uteri, featuring eight tracks ranging from tribal sounds to experimental industrial. Onus Uteri was released on Sound Source, a side label of Cold Meat Industry.

ConSono contributed to a number of international compilations between 1991 and 1995, such as Le Cenacle, Karmanik Collection, Death Odors and more... Some of the tracks were reissued in 1995, when the album Hymns of Deceased Deities was released on Cold Meat Industry. The first edition was released in a special digipack sleeve with a 14-page booklet.

1998 brought the Ignoto Deo album, which was a substantial change in musical direction. The change in style was described by a lot of reviewers - one example was Outburn (USA): "[the]music itself is sensuous and alive, full of quirky rhythms that seem to slip away into darkened alleys; of cadences that whisper and timbres that breathe; of sonorous vocals that narrate the tales that compliment the delicate atmospheres created here; of lyrics that further enhance the mood". Another reviewer wrote: "NeoClassical-tinged compositions with a touch of Goth here and there and excellent evocative male vocals".

Interviews

Fever Pitch (USA)

LT (Sweden)

Rutto zine (Finland)

Erzebet (France)

The Black box (Spain)

Przemyslaw (Poland)

Black (Germany)

and more...

Fever Pitch (3/97)

When did ConSono form?

In 1990.

Do you have other releases than "Onus Uteri" and "Hymns..."?

We have not made any other albums or cassettes other than "Onus Uteri" or "Hymns..." We have participated on several compilations during the years, for example: " And Even The Wolves Hid Their Teeth" (CM I, Sweden) , "Le Cenacle" Harmonie, France), "Death Odors" (Slaughter Productions, Italy).

Is the "Hymns..." CD a story in a way?

No, "Hymns" is a collection of different works recorded 1990-1993. There are some recurrent themes in the lyrics, but they are not arranged in a special order. The tracks on "Hymns..." deal with different moods and also with problems connected with some metaphysical and religious ideas.

The song "Fluidum" is incredible, what sounds did you use to make it?

We used some digitally processed human voices to produce the disturbing, "splintering" sharp sound.

Are you working on your second CD?

Yes, we are currently recording our 2nd CD called "Conspectus". Consono has been practically inactive for the last two years, but during the autumn I winter 1996 we have been recording new songs.

Will your sound change?

Yes, the sound will be more structured and focused in conparison with the sound on "Hymns.." We try to incorporate melody and rythm in a more "natural" way than before, but without destroying the atmosphere. ConSono's sound has always been a mixture between different musical elements and ideas, and we try to retain that mixture.

What instruments/devices do you use for your sound past and present?

During the "Onus Uteri" recordings, we used a variety of instruments and objects such as acoustic guitar, metal objects, pipes and samplers.Nowadays we use sampling technology as our primary instrument.

Will your new CD be on Cold Meat Industry?

That question is difficult to answer right now. CMI is interested in releasing the new CD, but we have not decided yet under which conditions the record should be released
.
Will you ever or do you see yourselves writing an instrumental album with no voices?

We have no plans at the moment concerning such an album, but it is possible that we will make instrumental solo albums somewhere in the future.

Do you write music as a solo artist on the side, or is ConSono your only project?

I (Jens) have been involved in some other projects with goth I folk / experimental elements and Magnus has made some music for exhibitions. I and Magnus had a musical project together before ConSono was formed. The project name was "Orizaba" and we made some recordings 1989-1 990 and a release on a "Mechanik Cassette" compilation.

Has ConSono played live?

No, we have never played live. When we release the next CD we will maybe play live in Sweden or possibly at other locations in Europe.

What bands influence ConSono?

As I said before, ConSono's sound is a mix between different musical elements and that is a reflection of the variety of musical influences that we have. It is difficult to rank and even list the influences. The influences can either have a textual or a musical structure.. I think that our music can be described as open.

Any last words?

I hope that we will finish our recordings soon, and that the next CD will be released during the winter 1996 / 1997. I think that ConSono's activities will be intense for a long period of time.