Í Hakanum/Octopus

Í Hakanum is the 1980 studio album of Mezzoforte on Steinar released in Iceland.[1] The September 1981 UK release, titled Mezzoforte, had a different cover artwork, but – since their first album, released only in Iceland, was also called Mezzoforte – Í Hakanum was usually referred to as Octopus,[2] what became the title of the 1996 CD re-release. Seven of the eight tracks were included in 1983 on the compilation album Catching Up With Mezzoforte which also included 7 songs from their third album, Þvílíkt Og Annað Eins and peaked at #95 on the UK Album Chart.[3] The song Shooting Star was released in 1982 on a double A-side single with third album’s Dreamland.[4][5] Midnight Express was released on a single in 1983 along with its live version from the Spelllifandi album.[6]

Í Hakanum/Octopus
Studio album by
Mezzoforte
Released1980 (1980)
Recordedmid August – mid October 1980 at Hot Ice Studios Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
GenreJazz-Fusion, Jazz-Pop
Length36:17
LabelSteinar
ProducerGeoff Calver
Mezzoforte chronology
Mezzoforte
(1979)		 Í Hakanum/Octopus
(1980)		 Þvílíkt Og Annað Eins
(1981)
Singles from Í Hakanum/Octopus
  1. "Dreamland / Shooting Star"
    Released: 1982
  2. "Midnight Express (live) / Midnight Express"
    Released: 1983

Background[2]

Though still in their teens, members of Mezzoforte were already working as session musicians in Iceland, playing in various bands and backing singers. After their debut album as a quartett, Bjorn Thorarensen joined Mezzoforte as a second keyboard player. Í Hakanum was the first Mezzoforte album, produced by Geoff Calver. Recordings took place at Hot Ice Studios in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland from mid August to mid October 1980 with some additional recordings and mixing in London’s Red Bus Studios in late October. The album features Kristinn Svavarsson on sax, who became a full member of the band in 1982.

Cover

The cover of Í Hakanum’s original Icelandic edition was changed for the international release. Since then the album was usually referred to as Octopus[2] (see also the lead section), under which title it was re-released on CD in 1996 with its 1981 cover redesigned in accordance with the art concept of the reissue series. Ron Aspery’s surname is misspelled on all editions as Asprey.[7]

Í Hakanum original Icelandic cover art

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Icelandic titleLength
1."Humoresque"Eythor Gunnarsson, Fridrik KarlssonGletta3:41
2."Midnight Express"Fridrik KarlssonMiðnæturhraðlestin3:35
3."Danger High Voltage"Eythor Gunnarsson, Johann AsmundssonHáspenna Lifshætta4:05
4."Octopus"Eythor GunnarssonEftirsjá5:31
5."Shooting Star"Eythor Gunnarsson, Johann AsmundssonStjörnuhrap5:14
6."Northern Winds"Fridrik KarlssonVindur Úr Suðri5:32
7."Rendez-Vous"Fridrik KarlssonFyrstu Kynni5:57
8."Finale"MezzoforteNiðurlagið2:29

Personnel[7]

Mezzoforte:

  • Fridrik Karlsson – Guitar (Yamaha electric, Martin acoustic, Eko classical)
  • Eythor Gunnarsson – Keyboard (Rhodes, Mini-Moog, Yamaha and Roland Synthesizers)
  • Johann Asmundsson – Bass (Yamaha electric, Kramer fretless)
  • Gulli Briem – Drums (Premier drums, Gravier fire extinguisher)
  • Bjorn Thorarensen – Keyboard (Roland Jupiter, ARP Odyssey)

Additional musicians:

  1. not credited on the 1981 and 1983 issues

Technical:

  • Ernst J. Backman: Original International Artwork
  • Geoff Calver: Producer, Engineer
  • Jonatan Gardarsson: Editor
  • Eirikur Ingolfsson – 1996 Liner notes
  • Seventh Heaven: 1996 Artwork and design
  • Oskar Pall Sveinsson: 1996 Digital Remaster

Release history[8][9][10]
Year Format Label Country Note
1980 LP Steinar (Steinar 039) Iceland Titled Í Hakanum
MC Steinar (Steinar 039)
1981 LP Steinar (Steinar LP01) UK Titled Mezzoforte
1983 Steinar, Promusix (PRO S.T.L.P. 009) Portugal
1996 CD CNR Music (2002975) Netherlands Titled Octopus,

Remastered

ZYX Music (ZYX 10041-2) Germany

References
  1. "Mezzoforte". Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  2. liner notes
  3. "MEZZOFORTE - Artist - Official Charts". Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  4. "Mezzoforte". HBH. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. "Mezzoforte - Dreamland / Shooting Star". Discogs. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  6. "Mezzoforte - Midnight Express (Live) / Midnight Express". Discogs. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  7. as on album cover
  8. "Mezzoforte - Í Hakanum". Discogs. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  9. "Mezzoforte - Mezzoforte". Discogs. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  10. "Mezzoforte - Octopus". Discogs. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
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