Í Hakanum/Octopus

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 ==Track listing==

Source: 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: • Kristinn Svavarsson – Saxophone (2, 7) • Bobby Harrison – Congas (5) • Ellen Kristjánsdóttir – Voice (2, 5) • Shady Owens – Voice (2, 5) • Ron Aspery – Saxophone (3, 5) • Louis Jardim – Percussion, Bits And Pieces Here And There • Mezzoforte – Claps and snaps 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==