The beginning, 1995
It started in September 1995 when songwriter Bo Christo “kidnapped” some friends and took them into the studio over a weekend to record some songs just for fun. The first songs recorded were “Keeps,” “Are You Still There,” and “Horses.” At that point, they hadn’t yet started talking about any album releases (but eventually, all three songs ended up on three different albums).
The first lineup was Patrik Sviberg (drums), Johan Werner (guitars), Jochum Forsell (guitars and vocals), and Bo Christo on bass and vocals. But soon, more people kept pouring into the sessions. And they kept coming. Today, twenty years later, over 40 different musicians have been involved with Un Rodo Cora at some point.
The band’s loose fit is a result of the frustration Bo Christo felt with many of the bands he played with in his youth, where a fixed setting often became a limitation when the songs never sounded as fantastic in real life as the embryo did in his head. Instead of writing songs for the band, he decided to form a band for the songs.
First album: Paris-Stockholm
In 1996, Un Rodo Cora started working on what was to become the debut EP, “Aerial Vault” (released in ’97) and the debut album, “Paris-Stockholm” (’99).
The album title was taken from the “hidden” last track of the album, a sound collage made with two synchronized tape recorders simultaneously recording sounds in different locations in Paris and Stockholm. Those audio tracks were then mixed together with the sounds of Paris in one channel and Stockholm in the other.
The original lineup was still involved in the process, but now they were complemented by a number of new contributors, like Patrik Lindqvist (keyboards), Stellan Wahlström (drums), and Arvid Krantz (guitar).
In 1999, the band also released a 5-track EP (“Je ne parle pas nepalais”), with some songs from the full-length album and a couple of leftovers from previous releases. By then, the band had already started to work on their second full-length album, “New York-Barentsburg.”
Second album: New York-Barentsburg
On “NYB,” the journey continued with the title spawned from the songs “Iridium” (a jazz club in New York) and the weird celebration of the mining town Barentsburg – a Russian settlement in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, in the middle of the Arctic Sea. Among the new regulars in the band were Danielle Dahlström (guitars and vocals) and Patrik Hedqvist (bass).
This time the sound and the songs were a bit more polished compared to “Paris-Stockholm,” but the main recipe was unchanged: listen to the song and add whatever ingredient you find necessary, regardless of what you already have or don’t have in your fridge.
Third album: Beijing-Bangalore
In 2008, the band released the first new song in over four years – “Protection” – as a first taste of the forthcoming album “Beijing-Bangalore.” But it wasn’t until December 2012 that the album was finally released, containing songs recorded over almost a decade. Some of them were initially meant to be featured on “New York-Barentsburg,” but they just didn’t make it in time. The album also included a couple of remakes of some of the earlier songs; “Shark Tooth Town” and “Je ne parle pas nepalais.” Among the new faces in the lineup were names such as Chino Mariano and Mats Wigerdal (both well-known on the Swedish music scene for years), New Yorker Amy Madden, and Swedish-Indian writer Zac O’Yeah.
The Perfect EP
Two years later, in March 2014, Un Rodo Cora was back with a concept EP. Or not. Although all four songs on “The Perfect EP” have the word “Perfect” in the title, the inspiration draws from many different sources, lyrically as well as musically. From the very personal to universal issues like alienation and religion. From classic pop to garage rock to some kind of twisted folk-inspired love duet. Among the new faces in the circle was drummer Niklas Janzon from Le Fever and Mount Liberation Unlimited.
Fourth album: Love Thy Neighbor
In 2016, Un Rodo Cora released their fourth album, “Love Thy Neighbor.” This album is a departure from previous trips. Where earlier albums were inspired by geographical locations, with titles like “New York-Barentsburg” and “Beijing-Bangalore,” the focus here is rather on a journey with religious and political overtones.
As always, we are introduced to new traveling companions, such as Patric Westoo (Latvian Radio) and Janne Perning (Ace of Base, Secret Service). The album was recorded in Stockholm and Bengaluru, and mastered in Los Angeles by Reuben Cohen.
Fifth album: Titles and Frames
In December 2020, the band released their fifth album, “Titles and Frames.” Here they take on the really big questions in life: Friendship, Love, and Loss. And a bit of Death. The new names in the lineup included Göran Westling (Pud Alone & The Congregation) and Mats Grönmark (Broken Filters, Eve and The Last Waltz).
Sixth album: Infants on Ice
Un Rodo Cora has now released their sixth studio album, ‘Infants on Ice.’ This latest work showcases a shift towards a slightly heavier, slower, and darker tone, while still retaining their flair for strong melodies. The new names in the lineup includes Tony Lind (Billy Momo, Linger) and Ulf Berlin (Pud Alone & The Congregation).
The planned sequel is named “Toddlers in Tweed.” A little ADHD sibling will be a bit faster, a bit punkier. That’s the plan.
Almost thirty years after that first one-off weekend, the band seems to have no plans on quitting. And the loose fit structure is as solid as ever.
