Europa (Molly Nilsson album)

Europa is the second studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter Molly Nilsson, released on 17 June 2009.

Europa
Studio album by
Molly Nilsson
Released17 June 2009 (2009-06-17)
Recorded2009
StudioLighthouse Studios, Berlin
GenreSynth-pop
Length36:29
Label
  • Dark Skies Association
ProducerMolly Nilsson
Molly Nilsson chronology
These Things Take Time
(2008)		 Europa
(2009)		 Follow the Light
(2010)
Singles from Europa
  1. "Europa"
    Released: 9 June 2009

Background and themes

The album marked the formation of Nilsson's self-run label Dark Skies Association.[1] The flag of Europe is used as the logo of the label.[2] In an interview, Nilsson said the following about Europe and the EU:

The idea of the EU – and by that I mean a unified and peaceful Europe and not some of the political realities – is something beautiful, visionary. The simple message of working together instead of fighting each other in competition or warfare.[2]

Europa was conceived against the backdrop of the Great Recession and the then-incoming 2010s decade.[3] The album has been described as idealistic, hopeful, and dealing with the ideas of "having no borders to imprison people" and "people coming together to make things better".[3]

Production

Europa was written and recorded in 2009.[3] Nilsson described the album's production as "kind of difficult".[1] It was the first of her releases to be recorded in her own Lighthouse Studios in Berlin.[3]

The song "Berlin, Berlin" is notable for being in Nilsson's native Swedish, as opposed to her usual English. She has not written any songs in Swedish since.[4]

Release and reception

Europa was originally self-released through Nilsson's label Dark Skies Association on CD and vinyl on 17 June 2009.[5][6] It was her first release on vinyl, and it marked the formation of her self-run label. The album did not sell as well as she had expected.[1]

The album was released as a digital download on 12 March 2021.[3] A reissue on both CD and vinyl followed in April 2021, co-released by Night School Records.[7][8] For its 2021 reissue, the album was remastered by James Plotkin.[3] Europa was the last of Nilsson's entirely self-released albums to be reissued on Night School Records.[3] As of 2021, 25% of the album's profits are said to be donated to Sea-Watch.[3]

Looking back at the album in 2022, Nilsson gave a mixed opinion, calling it a "transitional record" and a "middle child" between These Things Take Time and Follow the Light, while noting that there are "some songs" on Europa that she loves.[1]

Promotion

A music video for the title track "Europa" was released on 9 June 2009.[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Molly Nilsson.

Europa track listing
No.TitleLength
1."In the Mood for a Tattoo"3:04
2."The Revenge of the Stalker"3:20
3."More Certain Than Death"4:18
4."When I Have No Words"3:00
5."Berlin, Berlin"3:18
6."Europa"1:16
7."I Whisper in My Ear"4:06
8."The Crisis"2:02
9."Asleep in Stockholm"4:28
Total length:36:29

References
  1. Blair, Ed (24 January 2022). "Where to Start Exploring the Dazzling World of Molly Nilsson". Bandcamp. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  2. Uthoff, Jens (23 May 2017). "Neues Album von Molly Nilsson: Heute nicht, Satan". Die Tageszeitung (in German). Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  3. "Europa - Molly Nilsson". Bandcamp. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  4. Weirdo, Bobby (25 November 2018). "Molly Nilsson on New Album Twenty Twenty, The Importance of Context, and Excitement for the Next Decade". Weirdo Music Forever. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. "Molly Nilsson - Europa (2009, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  6. "Molly Nilsson - Europa (2009, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  7. "Molly Nilsson - Europa (2021, White, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  8. "Molly Nilsson - Europa (2021, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  9. Dark Skies Association (8 June 2009). "Molly Nilsson 'Europa'". YouTube. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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