Manuel Gottsching / Nick Drake / Tim Hardin / Brian Eno / Yann Tiersen / Van Morrison / Gustavo Santaolalla / Ennio Morricone / Andrea Morricone / Kraftwerk / Wim Mertens / Rene Aubry / Arthur Russell / Ry Cooder / Michael Nyman / Chic / Sparks & Pink Floyd
Video for the 1. single "directed by: Ellen Von Unwerth
DENMARK’S ORIGINAL SPACE CADET
PETE TONG (RADIO 1) – “Legendary Danish DJ and producer Kenneth Bager continues to innovate and turn heads with his latest incarnation of ‘Fragments From A Space Cadet’.”
Welcome to The Kenneth Bager Experience. A weird and wonderful happy place where Balearic electronica soundtracks scenes of decadence, beautiful women frolic in lacy underwear, white rabbits are regarded as equals and the man conducting the party is dressed as Mozart with his iconic glasses. Don’t be scared, everyone’s welcome…
For those who’ve come across Kenneth in the past, which will be many, none of this will surprise you. Mr. Bager is a man who likes to stand out from the crowd, a man with a vivid imagination and a leader of a whole generation of dancers and music lovers.
Kenneth first appeared in the public eye in the late 80s in his home city of Copenhagen as the organizer of the now legendary ‘Coma’ acid house parties (The Danish equivalent of London’s ‘Shroom’ and ‘Spectrum’ parties). Having grown up with music from an early age and been fascinated with the electronic sounds that had developed throughout the 80s, it felt natural for Kenneth to become a DJ and surround his life in dance culture; his life would never be the same again. Regarded not only as a musical tastemaker but also as a cultural trendsetter, Kenneth quickly became a go-to guy for his thoughts and ideas as well as his musical knowledge.
With the dawn of the 90s and the whole world now tuning into the repetitive rhythms of house music, Kenneth took his next step and launched his own band ‘Dr. Baker’. Discovering his natural ability as a producer and musician, he had his first pan European hit with ‘Kaos’, a true anthem in 90/91 and later sampled by the likes of MAW, FSOL, The Shamen and David Morales, with Carl Cox listing it in his all time top 10. Many more productions and remixes followed (as well as some mad music videos with him lying under an elephant and eating living worms) and as Kenneth’s tastemaker status developed so did the size of his post bag, with more and more demos arriving each day. Kenneth’s next career-defining decision was to launch his label (also called Coma) and become A&R to a new age of talented producers coming through in the early-mid 90s.
He signed The KLF, The Shamen, Moby and Dance to Trance for the territory of Scandinavia and had a huge run of chart success, helping to shape and influence the careers of all the artists he worked with. He also signed local act Mental Generations who released the chill out classic “Café Del Mar”. Whilst his life had progressed in different directions he always stayed true to his love of partying and DJing. Promoting wilder and more outlandish ‘Coma’ parties, Kenneth was responsible for bringing the likes of Sven Vath, Metro Area, Paul Oakenfold, Norman Jay, Coldcut and The Orb, to name but a few, to Denmark for the first time. His influence on Danish and European club music/culture can never be underestimated.
Fast-forward to this decade and Kenneth continues to influence many. Although his hugely popular radio show for Denmark’s P3 Radio Station (the equivalent of Radio 1 in the UK) is no longer on the airwaves its worth noting that many of Kenneth’s fans come via the radio. He’s worked on national radio in Denmark since the 80s, throughout the 90’s and into the new millennium (again drawing comparisons with Pete Tong and Rob Da Bank). His main focuses now are producing music, promoting the Coma parties (they’re still as wild and debauched as they were 20 years ago!) and running his ‘Music For Dreams’ label, which is where he originally released the critically acclaimed ‘Fragments From A Space Cadet’ LP in ‘07. Not only was the release rewarded with global praise and a Grammy nomination in Denmark (with Kenneth performing at the show wearing a mask to make him look 90 years old and accompanied by 200 kids on stage dressed-up as him) but it also showed a natural progression for Kenneth Bager. In 1987 he pushed boundaries making and playing electronic music inspired by funk, pop and disco, in 1997 he made and released music inspired by house and techno but with original personality and in 2007 he created an album not designed for the dancefloor, an album of songs, re-inventing chill-out and maturing his sound in tandem with his own personal life. It wouldn’t be right for Kenneth to still be making fast, dancefloor music 30 years after he first made his name doing just that.
Now in 2009, it’s A&M’s turn to ride The Kenneth Bager Experience, feeling quite rightly that it deserved more exposure than its original Music For Dreams release. With Kenneth feeling that he has more to say, he decided to re-visit certain tracks and develop new songs for what he regards as its real release. Where the Music For Dreams release was the wonderful rehearsal heralded by the critics, this is now the grand opening and the adjustments have only improved an already brilliant album.
Across the 15-track experience there are numerous highlights, although being a true album that is best served from start to finish, ‘Fragment One’, the first single, is a real standout combining Tricky-esque downbeat vocals with a beautiful timeless summer melody. Is it the catchiest tune of of the year? Probably. You will have heard either Giles Peterson, Rob Da Bank or Pete Tong playing it on their Radio 1 shows, but check out the video by the world famous fashion photographer Ellen Von Unwerth who’s previously shot videos and photos for the likes of Madonna, Bjork, David Bowie and Britney. The second single ‘I Can’t Wait’ will be released at the end of January 2010 featuring vocals from Kenneth’s long time collaborator and friend Thomas Troelsen who sung on Junior Senior’s top 5 UK single ‘Move Your Feet’. The Rob Da Bank favourite Eberg features on ‘Time Is Up’ and ‘Fragment Two’ displays the wonderful vocal talent of Julee Cruise, who joins various vocalists on the album that also includes Camilla Munck, Gisli, Nikolaj Grandjean, Jazz legend Jean Luc Ponty, The Hellerup Cool School Choir and French Canadian singer/songwriter Syd Matters. In fact each and every track plays its part, like ingredients to a gourmet recipe, it just wouldn’t the same if they weren’t all in place.
In 2007 Denmark’s Kenneth Bager released his critically acclaimed and commercially successful debut album ‘Fragments From A Space Cadet’ on his own Music For Dreams imprint. The balearic ‘Fragment One (…And I Kept Hearing)’ with its downbeat rap, ambient electronica, acoustic guitars and catchy harmonica, originally kicked off an eclectic collection of epic productions on the album; many of which went on to be licensed to TV trailers, commercials and a new British film “Poppy Shakespeare” (from the producers of “The last King Of Scotland”). The video from the single was also famously shot by fashion photographer Ellen Von Unwerth. Now the single is ready to invade the world’s dancefloors including a fine set of remixes from The Glimmers, Robot Coupe, Jazzbox, and Jerry Dimmer. Kenneth Bager is a man with serious music history. He became a legendary trendsetter and DJ in the late ‘80s in Copenhagen where he formed the acid house ‘Coma’ parties, the Danish equivalent to London’s Shoom and Spectrum parties. From 1990 he became famous for his own band ‘Dr. Baker’ who had his first pan European hit ‘KAOS’ (later sampled by the likes of MAW, FSOL, The Shamen and David Morales) and as an A&R person he signed The KLF, The Shamen, Moby and Dance To Trance to his Scandinavian Coma label and had a big rundown of chart success. Kenneth was also the club promoter responsible for bringing new acts and DJs to Denmark for the first time: Paul Oakenfold, Norman Jay, Gotan Project; Sven Våth, Metro Area, Bob Jones, Coldcut, The Orb, etc. He currently runs Music For Dreams (whose biggest release to date is the 100,000 plus selling Bliss) and is a Dj playing an eclectic blending of genres as diverse as World, Electronica, Techno, Klezmer, Dub, House, Classical, Soul, Film Scores, obscurities, rarities and other ditties.
Kenneth about music for dreams (Jiwa interview)
1/ When did you create the label ?
I did a compilation in 1994 called Music For Dreams a double cd, that is a classic and sought after collectors item today. I worked later at Emi/Virgin and this idea of creating a timeless label started to float around in my head and I signed some of the first artists in 1998 and the first release was in 2000 a double cd compilation book with various artists. The first album we released was Bliss – Afterlife.
2/Why did you create the label?
I created the label because I wanted to make a label out of Denmark that could over a time period be known around the world for putting out timeless and quality music.
3/ Why did you choose this name, Music For Dreams?
The name comes from watching the sea, where music can create dreams inside your head and I also wanted a link to my favourite producer Brian Eno and his ambient albums. I was discussing these things with a good friend of mine called Niels and he suggested the name. Thanks Niels.
4/What is the importance of dreams in your life?
I love to dream about good or bad things during my sleep, and in general life I always try to have positive dreams, I am a natural positive person.
5/ Let us know about the musical direction of MFD ?
The musical direction is: Everything is good, being rock n roll, ambient electro pop, movie scores, pop, folk – it could be anything - as long it has quality and great melodies.
6/ How do you choose the artists on the label ?
They should be personal, have an ear for great melodies, be nice persons and we should kinda have the same dreams and goals.
Jeg håber det går godt for dig :) Jeg har endelig fået indspillet ny sang. Det ville være mig en stor glæde, hvis du ville komme forbi min profil og høre den. Også meget gerne smide en kommentar...
Hey og tak for sidst.. Det var en sand fornøjelse at dele så mange weekender med dig ;) -Tænk vi var venner her først ha ha.. Anyway håber at se dig igen og om ikke andet, så holder Nynne fest i KBH d. 17 og du er meget velkommen :) Take care og håber vi får fornøjelsen igen. Kærligst Monja
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Your music is sso goooddd!!! I love it, you are one of my best friends now :)
Thanks for the friendship!!! and welcome on my page if u want to listen my crazy new songs :)