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LARS HOLLMER

RIO/Avant-Prog • Sweden


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Lars Hollmer picture
Lars Hollmer biography
Lars Gustav Gabriel HOLLMER - 21 July 1948 (Linköping, Sweden) - 25 December 2008 (Uppsala, Sweden)

His name is very familiar to a fair number of RIO fans as the keyboard/accordionist and (arguably) backbone for much loved Swedish eccentrics SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA and their various offshoots. On top of the SAMLA/ZAMLA discographies, however, Hollmer has proved himself to be a highly inventive solo artist and a valued collaborator with countless avant-garde/progressive musicians, including the legendary RIO godfather FRED FRITH.

His solo work, which is what this entry concerns, is characterised by an unsurprising dominance of accordion and keyboards, avant-garde sensibilities tempered by a superb understanding of harmony as well as disharmony, an abundance of folk, jazz and classical influences and a playful sense of humour.

Amongst his most notable solo records are his solo debut "XII Sibiriski Cyklar", "Door Floor Something Window" - the collected live recordings of LOOPING HOME ORCHESTRA (an (intentionally?) short-lived band project), the comparatively recent "Andetag" (for which he won an award) and the ambitious "SOLA".

The music of Lars Hollmer is highly recommended to fans of RIO who still know how to appreciate a good melody once in a while. His work is absolutely essential to any but the most casual of SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA fans.



Why this artist must be listed in www.progarchives.com :
Ambitious, charming, avant-garde but highly accessible, constantly straddling the line between harmony and disharmony... Lars Hollmer is avant-prog through and through. Anyone who considers the accordion to be little more than a joke instrument should listen to Hollmer's records. They'll find themselves drastically reconsidering.



Discography:
XII Sibiriska Cyklar, studio (1981)
Vill Du Höra Mer, studio (1982)
Från Natt Idag, studio (1983)
Joggingcharleston, single (1984)
Tonöga, studio (1985)
Vendeltid, studio (1987)
The Siberian Circus, compilation (1993)
Door Floor Something Window: Looping Home Orchestra Live 92-93, live (1995)
Vandelmässa, studio (1995)
Andetag, studio (1998)
Utsikter, studio (2000)
Autokomp A(nd) More, EP/rehearsal material (2001)
SOLA: Lars Hollmer's Global Home Project, Studio (2002)
Live and More, Live (2003)

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LARS HOLLMER discography


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LARS HOLLMER top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.86 | 13 ratings
XII Sibiriska Cyklar
1981
3.80 | 10 ratings
Vill Du Höra Mer
1982
3.91 | 11 ratings
Från Natt Idag
1983
4.19 | 12 ratings
Tonöga
1985
4.09 | 14 ratings
Vendeltid
1987
3.85 | 13 ratings
Vandelmässa
1993
3.86 | 7 ratings
Andetag
1997
4.00 | 10 ratings
Utsikter
2000
4.50 | 2 ratings
Autokomp A(nd) More
2001
4.60 | 5 ratings
SOLA: Lars Hollmer's Global Home Project
2002
3.60 | 10 ratings
Viandra
2008
4.00 | 5 ratings
With Floury Hand (Sketches)
2012

LARS HOLLMER Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.04 | 7 ratings
Door Floor Something Window: Looping Home Orchestra Live 92-93
1995
5.00 | 2 ratings
Live And More
2003

LARS HOLLMER Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

LARS HOLLMER Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 1 ratings
The Siberian Circus
1993

LARS HOLLMER Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

5.00 | 2 ratings
Boeves Psalm
1981
5.00 | 1 ratings
Du Luktar Jäkligt Gott
1984

LARS HOLLMER Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Viandra by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.60 | 10 ratings

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Viandra
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 stars. Lars Hollmer will need no introduction to RIO fans out there, considering he was a founding member of Sweden's own SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA, and part of the various off shoots of that band. He had a nice solo career as well, and part of that was his LOOPING HOME ORCHESTRA project I quite enjoyed. This was indeed his final album before passing of cancer in December of 2008. He was diagnosed with severe lung cancer in May of that year. This album was released in 2008 but recorded and mixed between 2001 and 2007.

There are some guests on here like Michel Berckmans on bassoons, english horn and oboe. Next to Lars playing mostly accordion, keyboards, melodica and more, Berckmans is next in line with his performances. Santiago Jimenez adds violin and Andreas Tenberg adds cello, and they both also play throughout this 50 minute album along with Michel and Lars. We do get some guests on single tracks like Morgan Agren on drums, Coste Aptrea on mandolin and Ulf Wallander on tenor sax. Hollmer has three of his grandchildren singing on one song while one of those also sings on the track "Alice".

Having his grandchildren on here, and including on the front and back cover art an inside look at the Chickenhouse which was the studio where Lars lived was sentimental. It's been a long time since I've been so fascinated with an album cover, plus the back when you open it up. All the pictures and items on the walls, the instruments, people etc. just so much to take in. Combine that with the top half of the pictures where we get such a contrast. I mean it couldn't be more perfect. Easily in my top ten of favourite album covers. Then when you open the liner notes and see the two panel picture of the Chickenhouse from outside on a blistering cold morning. Just so reflective and nostalgic, like Lars knew his time was coming to an end.

We get 16 tracks of mostly accordion led music, and this is a melancholic record, so sad a times. Especially that closer that tugs on my emotions with the strings dominating. And while I feel that this is a special album considering the circumstances, the music here is 3 stars in my world. My top two are the back to back "Paztema" and "Prozesscirk". The first mentioned is the first track that I really liked. And a lot of that has to do with the tenor sax from Wallander who I remember from guesting on some of those THE FLOWER KING records. The next song is a little different too with the strings, bassoon and piano leading the way. "Snab"(Fast) is the one with Morgan adding some beats plus this one is brighter and more uptempo than the rest. Lots of piano. "Alice" is somewhat happy with vocals that blend in with the music and mandolin from SAMLA's guitarist Coste Aptrea, and lots of accordion.

This will be going with my 4 star cds because of the pictures and sentiment, despite the fact I'm not that into the music. By the way the Chickenhouse was where bands like VON ZAMLA, SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA and ZAMLA MAMMAZ MANNA recorded their albums but also MIRIODOR recorded some of their "Parade" album there. And I have no doubt that was a thrill for them, being big fans of these Swedish bands I mentioned.

 Door Floor Something Window: Looping Home Orchestra Live 92-93 by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Live, 1995
4.04 | 7 ratings

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Door Floor Something Window: Looping Home Orchestra Live 92-93
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Lars Hollmer was the keyboardist and accordion player for SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA and it's various incarnations. Lars had a nice solo career releasing ten studio albums, four in the eighties, two in the nineties, and four in the 00's. Plus he had this project called LOOPING HOME ORCHESTRA. He released one studio album in 1987 under this name, along with a followup live recording that I'm reviewing now. This was released in 1993 and consists of songs from three different countries they were on tour at. Germany, Sweden and Canada. The shows were performed between October 1992 and May 1993.

This has a different lineup than the studio release other than Ollie Sundin who is back on keyboards and percussion. This is a six piece with Lars playing keyboards and accordion, we get the guitarist and bass player from SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA(Eino Haapala and Lars Krantz), Jean Derome on flute, baryton and sax, and finally Fred Frith on guitar and violin. I was surprised with the Canadian connections as they played in Victoriaville, Quebec and this is released on the Victo label out of this city. The Victo label lists in the liner notes some 33 cds they had released including ones by Zeena Parkins, Lindsay Cooper, Fred Frith, NON CREDO, Keith Tippett and so on. Impressive!

So we get 15 tracks worth over 63 minutes. Eight tracks from the German concerts, two from Sweden, and five from Quebec. I have a top four including "Quickstep" from the Uppsala concert. Dissonant sax and it's humerous as a fast paced rhythm section kicks in. Some flute here as well before the accordion leads. It turns chaotic and avant before that impressive guitar solo around 4 minutes. Also "Parallell Angostura" makes that four. This one is from Canada and is a powerful violin driven piece. My favourite is "Ett Tungt Ok" from Germany. Again, I love the violin and again, it's powerful but darker as well. "Plinga" from Germany rounds out my top four. Piano leads early and it's uptempo but there's so much going on. The last couple of minutes are avant and very impressive.

I would highly recommend Lars' final solo album before his passing from 2008 called "Viandra'. It has Michel Berckmans adding bassoon and Lars himself playing harmonium, it is a dark record. Also this live recording is something I highly recommend as well when it comes to music from Hollmer, other than SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA of course. I like that Fred Frith(HENRY COW) and Michel Berckmans(UNIVERS ZERO) and other members of the original five RIO bands still had relationships long after that first RIO concert they were all at in 1978.

 XII Sibiriska Cyklar by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Studio Album, 1981
2.86 | 13 ratings

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XII Sibiriska Cyklar
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Andis

2 stars While sitting and listening to this album to write a review for my own record collection, I find myself thinking "why am I listening to this?". The logical answer to that question is that this is an album from one of the main men from Samla mammas manna, one of the worlds best RIO bands. Unfortionately a couple of songs into this album, I can not find one single good answer to why I am listening to this. If I wasn't going to write a review, I would have turned the album off a while ago, about two songs into the album. I am a big fan of Samla mammans manna, I also am swedish, but this music... I cannot defend this. This is rubbish. Yeah, I said it. The album consists of 13 songs that sounds like leftovers from a Samla album that they didn't want to use. For a reason I presume. This is 13 short songs that goes nowhere. 13 songs of silliness, with influences from cirkus and folkmusic with plenty of doses of avantegarde-accordion in a lonely french café with zero listeners. What is this? Too narrow, too thin genre-wise and too undeveloped to have any listeners. Why am I listening to this? I have no idea. Weak and very uninteresting. Oh, yeah, it has some fun lyrics if you understand swedish. I do, but still I am not amused. I payed for this, I shouldn't have done that. Avoid.
 With Floury Hand (Sketches) by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Studio Album, 2012
4.00 | 5 ratings

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With Floury Hand (Sketches)
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Swedish composer and musician Lars HOLLMER is a well known name in progressive rock circles. Especially amongst dedicated fans of RIO, a movement Hollmer was a founding member of. Besides that his tenure in Samla Mammas Mamma is perhaps what most people will remember him for, as well as his solo productions and collaborations for some 30 odd years. "With Floury Hands: Sketches" is a posthumous production, released by the US label Cuneiform Records four years following Hollmer passing away due to cancer.

"With Floury Hands" is a production that easily merits a description as something else. A collection of more or less worked through ideas and some songs that appear to have been completed, carefully assembled four years after the death of the creator. The accompanying DVD, while of high quality, feature contents of a somewhat limited overall appeal, I guess. As such there's not much here that will appeal broadly. Existing fans of Hollmer and those with a taste for the unusual and uncommon will find plenty of interesting material however, and as long as you are aware of the context of this production it is a highly recommended one to this select audience.

 Viandra by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.60 | 10 ratings

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Viandra
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Rune2000
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars I was very surprised that this final Lars Hollmer solo-release was not listed on Prog Archives, fortunately that minor inconsistency was easy to fix and now more people can learn of this great swan song of an album!

Viandra follows in the same vain as many of Hollmer's previous solo albums where he plays accordion/keyboards and the tracks feature a couple of guest appearances but there are a few subtle differences this time around. Granted that Lars Hollmer's previous albums never sounded forced or uninspired I would actually like to state that this release feels to me even more heart felt and genuine than the artist that I've heard on the previous albums. At first Viandra might seem like just a simple accordion driven album but there is a lot more to it all than meets the eye (or ear). If you tap along with the music while listening you'll notice some really odd rhythm patterns that should impress even the most technical bands out there.

One of the more obvious progressive compositions is Snabb (Fast) which features an excellent guest appearance by Morgan Ågren of Mats/Morgan who does some mesmerizing drum work on here without overshadowing Hollmer's original composition. Only a few other compositions feature percussions which in my opinion really sets the mood for this truly timeless music.

I would also like to mention that this album is available on Spotify so if you are one of the few lucky ones who happens to have an account I definitely recommend listening to this album.

***** star songs: Viandra (2:49) Mirror Objects (1:19) Snabb (Fast) (4:19) Merged With Friends (1:47) Konstig (Strange) (4:41) Strutt (Strut) (1:54) Lilla Bye (Little Bye) (2:50)

**** star songs: Sök (Seek) (2:09) Moldaviska (1:09) Påztema (3:51) Prozesscirk (4:34) Baladeis (2:51) Första 05 (First 05) (3:33) Alice (4:11) Överdagö (2:28) Folkdron Menad (5:24)

 Utsikter by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Studio Album, 2000
4.00 | 10 ratings

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Utsikter
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Yurkspb2

4 stars Utsikter is another very strong album by Samla Mammas Manna leader Lars Hollmer. It has all authentic Lars Hollmer features: the music is a mixture of totally different moods (from opening pastoral 'Augustins tema' to saddest 'Brev (Letter)', from energetic 'Voilapük' to experimental 'Drums, mm...'). Almost most music is instrumental and more acoustic than other maestro's later albums, accordion being the leading instrument. Highly recommended for fans of Samla & everyone who likes heartfelt music and / or accordion.
 Tonöga by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Studio Album, 1985
4.19 | 12 ratings

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Tonöga
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Yurkspb2

4 stars Another amazig solo album by Lars Hollmer of Samla Mammas Manna. The album features a lot of styles and emotions, all delivered with unique Lars Hollmer style. I would say the first part of the album is more experimental (Onk Kch Onk Kch being the example), the second part contains more melodical and traditional music which is a mixture of folk, prog, RIO, jazz, tango and God knows what else. There is a lot of accordion all over the album, my favorite tracks are Lilla Pas du Valse & Harmonium III, but the rest is also very solid. Having heard only 2 Hollmer solo albums (this and Vendeltid) I must admit that Vendeltid is a little bit omore consistent than Tonöga. 3.5 stars really but I like it very much so I give it 4.
 Vendeltid by HOLLMER, LARS album cover Studio Album, 1987
4.09 | 14 ratings

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Vendeltid
Lars Hollmer RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Yurkspb2

4 stars Lars Hollmer's Vendiltid is in my opinion one of the best progrock records from 80-s. The music is less complicated and "crazy" than Samla but it doesn't make it worse. Hollmer put real feelings into every composition on this album - sadness, joy, humor. The album has a lot of wonderful melodies with unmistakable Hollmer touch Strongly recommended for everyone who like Samla Mammas Manna and progrock in general.
Thanks to Trouserpress for the artist addition. and to Rune2000 for the last updates

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