Live at the Office: Katzenjammer

Check out Katzenjammer doing the Live at the Office thing for Listen to Norway/NRK at the Norwegian HQ of Spotify. Great band, very recommended!

2011 Spellemann nominees

The nominees for the 2011 Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian Grammy, have been announced and here are a few hightlighted categories:

Female artist:
Ane Brun - "It All Starts With One"
Hilde Marie Kjersem - "Let's Let Go"
Marit Larsen - "Spark"
Siri Nilsen - "Alle Snakker Sant"

Male Artist:
Bernhoft - "Solidarity Breaks"
Jonas Alaska - "Jonas Alaska"
Odd Nordstoga - "Bestevenn"
Sivert Høyem - "Long Slow Distance"

Pop Group:
Eva & The Heartmaker - "Dominoes"
Katzenjammer - "A Kiss Before You Go"
Montée - "Rendition Of You"
Real Ones - "First Night On Earth"
Team Me - "To The Treetops!"

Rock:
Honningbarna - "La Alarmane Gå"
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - "Det Nærmeste Du Kommer"
Kaizers Orchestra - "Violeta Violeta Vol. 1"
Oslo Ess - "Uleste Bøker Og Utgåtte Sko"
Rumble In Rhodos - "Signs Of Fervent Devotion"

Metal:
Insense - "Burn In Beautiful Fire"
Shining - "Live Blackjazz"
Taake - "Noregs Vaapen"
Vreid - "V"
Årabrot - "Solar Anus"

Electronica:
Biosphere - "N-Plants"
Bugge Wesseltoft & Henrik Schwarz - "Wesseltoft Schwarz Duo"
Casiokids - "Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen"

Hip-hop:
Joddski - "Bensin På Bålet"
Lars Vaular - "Du Betyr Meg"
Son Of Light - "War Of The Worlds"

Folk/Traditional:
Hekla Stålstrenga - "Makramé"
Juusk - "Juusk"
Ragnhild Furebotten - "Never On A Sunday"
Øystein Sandbukt - "Normør"

Jazz:
Helge Lien Trio - "Natsukashii"
Håkon Kornstad - "Symphonies In My Head"
Mats Eilertsen - "Skydive"
Nils Petter Molvær - "Baboon Moon"
Ola Kvernberg - "Liarbird"

Open Class:
Bárut - Inga Juuso - "Balggis"
Biret Ristin Sara - "Áidnen"
Fargespill - "Fargespill"
Skáidi - "Headland - Skáidegeahci"
Susanne Lundeng - "Mot"

Lyrics:
Jonas Alaska - "Jonas Alaska"
Lars Vaular - "Du Betyr Meg"
Maria Mena - "Viktoria"
Martin Hagfors - "I Like You"
Odd Nordstoga - "Bestevenn"

Composer:
Ane Brun - "It All Starts With One"
Hilde Marie Kjersem - "Let's Let Go"
Marit Larsen - "Spark"
Rolf Wallin/Lundeng/Torjesen/Bodø Symfonietta/Eggen - "Wire And String"
Synne Skouen - "Call-Notes"

Newcomer/Gramostipend:
Honningbarna - "La Alarmane Gå"
Jonas Alaska - "Jonas Alaska"
Ragnhild Hemsing - "Yr"
Razika - "Program 91"
Team Me - "To The Treetops!"

Read more: http://www.spellemann.no/index.php?option=com_winner&Itemid=29&year=2011

Maschine Krank
Mine fires
Stop/Start Records

If there's one word that describes Sweden's Maschine Krank it's "odd". On top of that "odd" there's a heady dose of punk-pop with the slightest tinge of metal in places. If you can imagine a mix of Daisy Chainsaw, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Katzenjammer, Atari Teenage Riot, System Of A Down and Primus you get pretty close to what the Malmö quintet have created in their latest release. That's an eclectic list of bands there, but Maschine Krank nod toward all of them -- and more -- here. It's difficult to honestly say that "Mine fires" is a great album; rather it's an enjoyable album that one only fully appreciates after quite a few listens (although there's an immediate satisfaction to be had on the first go). Where they fall down a little is in their limited use of the elements that really work best; maybe it's from fear of overuse, but if the band has erred on the side of caution they've slipped up this time around. Get dug into those heavy, caustic moments that make "Don't look now" so damn killer and embrace the off-kilter synth moments that give "Sometimes I do good things for you" that unique character. More of that on top of their quirky foundations and there's something big to talk about here. If they jump in with both feet next time rather than simply tread on water they could be on to a serious winner. On a sidenote, "Get yourself an air limit!" is where they have it totally nailed.
- John Norby

Katzenjammer back to the UK

Listen to Norway profiles Katzenjammer ahead of their much-anticipated return to the UK on December 4 at Dingwalls in London: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2011113011154691228656

Katzenjammer - I will dance (when I walk away) (acoustic live video)

Watch Katzenjammer perform a fun acoustic version of their latest single "I will dance (when I walk away)".

Katzenjammer on the road

Katzenjammer are doing a few international dates in September:

09/11 - Bestival, Isle Of Wight (UK)
09/13 - Monto Water Rats, London (UK)
09/17 - Essen original, Essen (GER)
09/18 - 3sat festival, Mainz (GER)

Katzenjammer - I will dance (when I walk away) (video)

Kinda weird to watch a screen capture of this video when Katzenjammer's site is MIA and other locations are locked down, but fans will make do with what they can. Look for their new album "A kiss before you go" to be released on September 9.

New Katzenjammer on the way

Norwegian pop/folk act Katzenjammer will be releasing a new album later this year and the first single "When the laughter is gone" is out now http://www.propellerrecordings.no/katzenjammer-releases-first-single-in-norway

Propeller receives Export grant

Music Export Norway has awarded their 2nd Export Program grant to label Propeller Recordings (Moddi, Katzenjammer, Far From Tellus, etc.): http://www.musicexportnorway.no/propeller-receives-export-program.4888137-149133.html

PopMatters reviews Katzenjammer (again)

PopMatters reviews the long-overdue US release of Katzenjammer's excellent album "Le pop": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/127828-katzenjammer-le-pop/

99 Minutes #3

The latest episode of Listen to Norway's podcast series "99 minutes" is up now: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010061414132951596246
Featured artists include Hanne Hukkelberg, Håkon Kornstad, Ost & Kjex, Katzenjammer, Arve Henriksen, Motorpsycho and Karin Krog.

Sirius playlist week #24

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Randy - Who's side are you on?
02. TALK 1
03. Randy - Freedom song
04. Far From Tellus - Rosemary
05. Chicagojazzen - 18 år i en ruttnande kropp
06. TALK 2
07. Andreas Söderlund - Hawaii
08. Noisebud - Truck driver
09. Montys Loco - Heavy
10. TALK 3
11. Maim - Maimed
12. Turboweekend - Sweet Jezebel (Efterklang remix)
13. Pearl Fiction - The ruby fever
14. Meleeh - Hells mouth
15. TALK 4
16. Oranssi Pazuzu - Korppi
17. Brutus - Swedish lady
18. Entombed - Something out of nothing
19. Katzenjammer - To the sea
20. TALK 5
21. Robyn - Dancehall queen

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Katzenjammer - A bar in Amsterdam (live video)

PopMatters is excited about the official release of Katzenjammer in the US and is premiering a new live video from the band: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/126780-katzenjammer-a-bar-in-amsterdam-popmatters-video-premiere

Listen to Norway profiles Katzenjammer

Listen to Norway profiles Katzenjammer ahead of a busy summer which will see them touring internationally and releasing their album "Le pop" in the US (on June 29 via Nettwerk): http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010060910043788814373
I plan to attend the upcoming show in Seattle later this month.

New website for Katzenjammer

Norwegian folk/pop act Katzenjammer has a new website: http://katzenjammer.no/
Check the concert listings for some upcoming US dates.