Mika Häkki Premieres “Take This Light Away” Video; New Album Mørker Coming Soon
Posted in Bootleg Theater on February 18th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
The second solo album from Mika Häkki, Mørker, is on the way via Majestic Mountain Records. Best known to heavyheads as the bassist of Monolord — perhaps you’ve even stood in front of a stage and been flattened by his tone and/or the utter delight he takes in the delivery thereof? — Häkki released his solo debut, Vemod, in 2022, touching on aspects of classic country and singer-songwriterism alongside post-everything atmospheres and nascent arrangement flourish. Mørker, with a more confident range in terms of style and an apparent firmer grasp on what it wants each of its seven included tracks to be doing, positions Häkki as something of an auteur at the center of its material. He’s the presence that draws together songs like the dreamy beachy post-prog pop of “When You’re Old” — guitar like goth surf — and the cool-like-earliest-Stooges-and-no-less-dripping-with-attitude-or-tripped-out prior single “Couch Anthem.”
Each piece, from opener “Take This Light Away,” for which an atmospheric-type video is premiering below, to the seven-minute strum-and-sing-along finisher “Weighted Daze” that closes with shades of later-cocaine Neil Young and Nick Cave‘s Grinderman alike, has something to offer to stand it out from among those surrounding. “Take This Light Away” takes an almost Opethian angle on folkish ’60s psych-pop, where the synth of “When You’re Old” gives more of a ’70s prog vibe early, like Floyd keeping the conversation light and just talking about personal decay and “Time Stood Still” shifts to an electronic beat and airier guitar tone to suit the
wistfulness of the vocals. As noted, “Couch Anthem” very much is a centerpiece — one can’t help but be reminded of the early 2021 Monolord single “I’m Staying Home” (discussed here) — and the solidification of a persona for Häkki as a songwriter as much as for the malleable nature of his actual craft. Vemod was not without this sense of reach, but Mørker makes it clear Häkki learned from his first solo outing and, with this follow-up, he affirms a creative progression underway distinct from that of his full-time band or the respective solo-projects of Monolord‘s other members, Thomas V. Jäger and Esben Willems.
And yes, persona and quirk are for sure an aspect of what Mørker has to offer the listener — neither is a thing to complain about — but later in the album, Häkki reaches deeper into singer-songwriterism, with “Makes No Sense” finding a strident mood in declarative acoustic guitar and “Another Reason to Stay” reminding of some of late-’70s John Lennon‘s full-scope arrangements, filled out with keys as it is that border on the choral. These are the two shortest pieces on the record, both right on either side of three and a half minutes, but they emphasize just how much Häkki is able to get out of that time in terms of atmosphere and creating a memorable impression on the listener. Yeah, it’s cool when “Weighted Daze” takes off and all that, but that’s ultimately just one of the places Häkki steers Mørker and the real highlight is getting there. Multifaceted in its composition and performance, Mørker is a strong answer to Häkki‘s first record, sure, and it builds on the accomplishments there, but more, it lays out a forward path for continued realization without feeling like a blueprint for settling into a sound so much as a guidepost for the listeners who’ll follow Häkki on this longer-term journey.
Enjoy the video “Take This Light Away” below. More info follows from the PR wire:
Mika Häkki, “Take This Light Away” video premiere
Mika Häkki on “Take This Light Away”:
An imagined world where the sun doesn’t rise again. Where even the slightest source of light is devoured by dark.
This was a fun song to both write and record. Klas-Henrik Hörngren plays the Harpsichord on the song which really gives it a cool vibe on the verses.
”Mørker” was recorded at LÜXFÄLLAN Studios, produced by Kristoffer Ragnstam. All songs written by Mika Häkki, but guests on a few songs were Klas-Henrik Hörngren on keys, Krister Selander on bass and Kristoffer Ragnstam on drums and backing vocals. I’ve really found a great way to work in the studio with Kristoffer Ragnstam that is both creative and fun. Bouncing ideas and trying out different solutions on the go.
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