Puzzle by The Second Hand Orchestra

"The Second Hand Orchestra is stepping out with an album of original compositions, composed democratically and recorded in a spirit of friendly collaboration. The 13-strong ensemble sounds organic and loose, making this Puzzle a joy to put together" A Closer Listen, Sept 2025

Recorded two days in April 2025 on reel to reel tape by Alexander Pierre at Örnsbergs Musikstudio, Sweden.
Mixing also by Alexanser Pierre.
Mastered by Kramer, Asheville NC, US.
Artwork by extraordinaire artist Lisa Jonasson.
Produced by Karl Jonas Winqvist

All music performed live in the studio with some overdubs here and there.

All orchestra members brought one sketch/idea/track with them to the sessions. Due to time limit (two days) Everyone had one hour to present their contribution to the others, play it around a little and then put it to tape and then leave room for the next one..
Democratic music at it's finest.
Recorded in the same order as the tracklist.

"We're all part of the puzzle"
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"Puzzle"is following up the praised "Slow Summer EP" release earlier this year which saw the always evolving orchestra take on well-known tracks from Bananarama, the kinks and Lana Del Rey and rearrange them in their own unique, slow and quirky instrumental mix.

Now, to free themselves from doing covers and recording other's music (they've released two instrumental Christmas albums in 2023 and 2024 with traditionals etc, recorded as a backing band for Scottish maestro James Yorkston on his last two Domino records releases), the orchestra leader Karl Jonas set up some rules within this very free flowing orchestra, for this new project:

- To compose original compositions and since the orchestra members are all amazing artists and musicians on their own, Karl Jonas asked everyone to bring a sketch/idea/track each to the recording sessions.

And since the orchestra involved 13 musicians for this session,they needed to not get stuck on some parts as time in the studio was limited (two days).

So, everyone was given one hour to present their track to the others, play it around a little and then put it on tape.
Spontaneity over production!

Of course, this could easily have turned into a chaotic recording, but since the orchestra is used to this recording method (more than five albums) and have devoted itself to improvisations and in the moment-recordings - this session turned into one of their greatest experiences so far.

- Another title for our forthcoming album could be: "The democratic album". Because it really is. From beginning to end. Everyone composed a track each and had the director's cut.Thirteen players in the room means 13 tracks being recorded. All decision-making and everyone switching instruments from track to track, I dare AI to come up with something like this. This ep is the first three tracks that was recorded. It was great to see everyone step forward and shine! And also heartwarming to see how everyone fully committed themselves to help out the others on their tracks, says the orchestra leader Karl Jonas Winqvist.

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The Swedish DIY orchestra (with a loose line up of ace musicians coming and going) is led by musician Karl Jonas Winqvist who also is the label founder of Sing a song fighter and a producer (James Yorkston,the Senegalese acts Wau Wau Collectif, and Assiko Golden Band De Grand Yoff, Vumbi Dekula's "Congo Guitar" and many more..).

The Second Hand Orchestra has previously released a handful of inventive, charming instrumental albums (UK label and record store Honest Jon's described the debut album as a "lo-fi, homegrown mix of unreleased demos from Penguin Café Orchestra and Moondog" and others have compared them to Langley Schools Music Project.

The orchestra have recently made the soundtrack for Sven Blume's award winning documentary "Det krokiga och det raka (crooked lines of beauty)" which was aired on Swedish national Tv and is now making the film festivals rounds.

In 2024, parts of the second hand orchestra (who also feature saxophone star Lina Langendorf from Langendorf United on horns) backed up Scottish maestro James Yorkston on recordings for his latest album on Domino Records ("Songs for Nina and Johanna").

The Second hand orchestra was also the backing band on James Yorkston's last two critically praised albums and have also been on some sold out UK with him the last years.

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