Eric Berglund: Weirdo of my Dreams

CEO should stand for Commendable Ear Orgasm.

I've been a listener of The Tough Alliance since their first album The New School was released in 2005. I remember my ex boyfriend, a Swede himself, walked into my work and dropped a CD on the table. "You should listen to this," he said. I did listen, and have been a devoted fan and listener ever since, keeping up to date on their labels progress over the years. The Tough Alliance is Eric Berglund and Henning Fürst, who together make some of the most acceptable sounds I've ever heard, pairing them with lyrics that are simple but marvelously effective. Berglund has since established himself not only as co-owner of the label Sincerely Yours (Air France, jj), but as a solo artist.
He calls himself CEO.
The album White Magic hit last year, and is similar to the sounds of The Tough Alliance, but less boyish and a touch more on the darker side, yet still managing to be gorgeous and uplifting. When does the next album come out, you ask? It's very hard to tell. Berglund is a mysterious character, and doesn't talk much about his projects. I recently saw this video, which features Russian tennis demon Maria Sharapova. It's a love letter of sorts, made just for her. The song is of course Maria, by Blondie, though Berglund titles it "Ave Maria," restating his adoration of the Venus-esque iconic athlete. To see more behind the mask, check out The Tough Alliance or CEO on youtube, or grab the albums . The videos alone will make you cry. Oh, and do read the lyrics. _____________________________________________________