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Aug 20, 2019 By Christopher Roberts Lindstrøm

Norwegian space disco mastermind Lindstrøm (aka Hans-Peter Lindstrøm) has announced a new album, On a Clear Day I Can See You Forever, and shared its first single, the nine-minute long “Really Deep Snow.” On a Clear Day I Can See You Forever is due out October 11 via Smalltown Supersound. Check out “Really Deep Snow” below, followed by the album’s tracklist and cover art.

The album is Lindstrøm’s sixth solo album and the follow-up to 2017’s It’s Alright Between Us As It Is. Whereas that album featured vocals and leaned into the disco part of Lindstrøm’s space disco sound, On a Clear Day I Can See You Forever more embraces the space aspect, featuring only four long instrumental tracks, with enough music for each side of a vinyl record to feature two tracks.

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Oslo, Norway’s Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, a waterside modern art gallery and venue, in August 2018 Lindstrøm performed three sold out performances there. That commissioned piece led to the new album.

“I decided to keep some of the initial ideas and develop them further. All the songs are based on long one-take recordings,” says Lindstrøm in a press release. “Also I’ve been very conscious about the music on the album not exceeding the length of the physical limitations of the vinyl-format, finding that two long tracks on each side were the perfect balance for this album.”

Lindstrøm used over 30 synthesizers and drum-machines for his performance at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter and he used a similar set up making the album, meaning it’s the first time he has “made an album entirely with hardware instead of computer-plugins.”

“The joy of making music on actual physical objects and devices makes a lot of sense to me now. After working on a computer for over 15 years, I don’t think I’ll ever look back,” Lindstrøm says in the press release.

“The title track is a 10-minutes improvisation on the Moog Memorymoog. I liked the loose feel so I decided to keep everything unedited,” Lindstrøm further explains. “The other tracks were written and arranged prior to the recordings. I then set up the instruments needed for my sessions, then recorded more or less everything in a single take. I’m really happy with the way this album came together.”

Of the album’s other inspirations, Lindstrøm says: “I’ve listened to Robert Wyatt’s solo albums and his Matching Mole’s debut album a lot lately. It so effortless, fearless and free. And not insisting. I was very inspired by this”

The album’s title, however, had a more surprising inspiration: the 1970s musical On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, which starred Barbra Streisand (as well as Bob Newhart, Jack Nicholson, and others).

Summing up the experience of making On a Clear Day I Can See You Forever, Lindstrøm says: “I felt totally unrestrained making this album.”

On a Clear Day I Can See You Forever Tracklist:

1. On a Clear Day I Can See You Forever
2. Really Deep Snow
3. Swing Low Sweet LFO
4. As If No One Is Here

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