New release: Kevin Tosca (words) & Janne Karlsson (art) Jessica Lange (Svensk Apache Press, 2021) 48 pages

 

Jessica Lange is Kevin Tosca’s eighth chapbook, following others published by Analog Submission Press and Holy & Intoxicated Publications. The chap features 21 pieces of micro fiction, together with 22 illustrations from the zany Swedish artist Janne Karlsson. 

 

Karlsson’s surreal drawings appear on the left side of the page, Tosca’s prose scribblings on the right. Although there is a unity within the art of the two men, they work independently. In most pieces, the writing does not appear to incorporate the central images of the illustrations and vice-versa. 

 

Yet the chap works! Karlsson’s weird, sexually charged drawings full of tits & cock are complimented by Tosca’s oddball, sexually-obsessed musings. The collection is a wild and wonderful collaboration: incredibly funny but tinged with a terrible sadness.

(click on the image to enlarge- posted with the publisher's permission)

Karlsson says of the project and of Tosca’s contribution, “This book is really the result of a joint effort. Kevin put a great amount of time, money, and above all patience with me and my procrastination on this project.

 

“As I recall it all started with Kevin reaching out to me by 2019, expressing interest in the Svensk Apache Press. I wasn't too familiar with his work by then. 

I've really come to love his writing. He's a force of nature. One thing that I think particularly makes him stand out in the poetry scene is his ability to completely change his writing style from time to time. It's fascinating. From book to book you never really know what Tosca stuff you're about to read.”

 

Tosca, who presently resides in Berlin, to date has declined all requests to talk about his work. Instead of clarifying the concepts and intention of his art, he refreshingly leaves it to the reader to make up their own minds. 

 

The title Jessica Lange derives from the title piece ‘Tired of Right and Wrong’ in which the name of the American actor is mentioned:

 

I can watch Bob Rafelson’s Postman remake All. Night.

Long. They just don’t make ‘em like Jessica Lange

anymore.

 

Tosca’s fragmentary, sometimes surreal micro-fiction appears linked through the common theme of women. The narratives alter between first and third person and tersely comment on ex-lovers, the wives of Dali and Hemingway, a mother and women in general. Some sport titles. Others don’t.

 

The writing is short, each piece is typically 2-5 lines. Each is an experiment in form and idea. Many progress one sentence at a time, drawing unusual associations as the narrative advances.

 

Some of the more transparent fictions parody clichéd notions of female behavior or of male/ female relationships. In the following, Tosca mocks female insecurities about their appearance and also the male’s tendency to play the game:

(click on the image to enlarge)

Sadly, Janne Karlsson confirmed recently that his Swedish publishing company Svensk Apache has folded, “Yes, this is the last Apache publication to be published. It’s been a fantastic ride over more than a decade, but as we all know, it takes a shitload of time and work and people simply don't buy books anymore!”

 

Asked about what is next for him, Karlsson says, “I will probably continue to publish fanzines under a new banner. Just need a better printer and for that I need to work more. And bloody hell do I hate working, hahaha.”  

 

 

To buy Jessica Lange or to see other Svensk Apache titles, visit www.svenskapache.se or www.lulu.com

 

To directly contact the publisher, email: svenskapache@gmail.com

New Release: Jan Karlsson/15 poets The Bones of Nirvana, Svensk Apache Press, Latvia, 2016 (56 pages).

This is the latest mad book by the Swedish artist Janne Karlsson. He combines his considerable talents with fifteen poets from around the planet.

Karlsson, in his characteristic style, says of the anthology:

Find three poems in this hit & run accident by me, including this one, "Burial":

In our post-Trump President-elect world, purchase the book here while you still can: http://www.svenskapache.se/?page_id=270

Find Janne's new blog here: http://nouw.com/svenskapache

New Release: John Yamrus BURN. Illustrated by Janne Karlsson. Svensk Apache Press, 2015 (32 pages)

The American poet John Yamrus and the Swedish artist Jan Karlsson again join forces to inflict literary mayhem on the Western world. This chapbook consists of 12 poems by Yamrus together with 12 full page illustrations by Karlsson.

As in his last four full-length Epic Rites Press books, Yamrus’ work is characteristically minimalistic, confessional, didactic, steeped in cultural allusions & is hilariously ironic.

Yamrus loves kicking the backside of the literary establishment. In this volume he condemns the uselessness of writing workshops, the seriousness to which some poets take their craft & the lack of what most ultimately have to say or actually achieve.

In the poem ‘when’ Yamrus playfully questions the very nature of what Art is:

(Reprinted with the permission of the publisher)

Karlsson’s visual representations of Yamrus’ poems add a layer of complexity and humour to Yamrus’s work. Karlsson’s world is inhabited by simple but zany ghost-like folk who shriek in pain or laughter, but who in the end, like Yamrus, just want to get on & enjoy life.

                                    
                              (Reprinted with the permission of the publisher)

This chapbook is beautifully smooth to hold & provides a brief, original take on life by two of the world's best practitioners of their art.

Find out more about John Yamrus’ poetry on his site here: http://www.johnyamrus.com/

Find the artist Janne Karlsson’s web page here: http://www.svenskapache.se/

New Release: Wolf Carstens (poetry)/ Janne Karlsson (artwork) ONLY THE DEAD. Latvia, Svensk Apache Press, 2015 (36 pages)

This short graphic poetry chapbook aptly sums up Canadian Wolf Carstens' take on existence as represented in his earlier poetry, such as his first major collection crudely mistaken for life.

The chap consists of two sections. The first ironically contrasts the voices of the living with those of the dead. While the living are preoccupied with trivial everyday concerns, the dead show gratitude for every experience & celebrate life “above blades of grass.”

The second section is a direct appeal to the reader to wake up to themselves & to realize we are here only for a short time & to live life to the fullest. It consists of Carstens' essential aphorisms- life is too short to waste, be ruthless in your pursuit of happiness and the like.

(reprinted with permission of the artist)

The Swedish artist Janne Karlsson has been collaborating with Carstens for a few projects now and their words & images excellently complement each other in this collection. Carstens' language is raw & didactic, Karlsson's illustrations are quaint in a transformative, highly symbolist way. Karlsson's best panels of drawings appear in the latter part of the chapbook. As in the 'Life is...' illustration above, he represents & intensifies for the reader a core Carstens' idea (that life should not be wasted) through a variety of ironic cut & pasted perspectives.

Despite its low $7 price tag this is a quality book. The cover has a smooth tactile feel to it and the illustrations & text are sharp and well positioned on the page.

To get your hands on a copy of ONLY THE DEAD follow these links: 
Janne Karlsson’s webpage:  www.svenskapache.se

Janne Karlsson’s email: svenskapache@gmail.com
Wolfgang Carstens: http://boomfiretruckers.weebly.com/only-the-dead.html