Lukestar says goodbye

Norwegian indierockers Lukestar are sadly calling it quits after 10 years as a band and will play their final show on August 31 at Parkteateret in Oslo. Read their final statement here.

New SJ5 album in April

Norwegian postrock act The Samuel Jackson Five have announced that their new self-titled album, their fourth overall, will be released on April 27 via Denovali Records. This will mark the first time the band will be heard on record with vocals, as the new album will feature songs sung by guests such as Truls Heggero (Lukestar, Truls and the Trees), Pål Angelskår (Minor Majority) and Thomas Bratlie (Rumble in Rhodos), in addition to new band member Jonny "the Captain" Knutsen. Samples soon?

Lukestar release new EP, stage remix contest

Norwegian indie greats Lukestar have a new EP out this week featuring the single "Great bear" along with a four outtake tracks, two from current album "Taiga" and two from the sessions of their last album "Lake Toba". They're also doing a remix contest with the tune "Flying canoes", the best of which will be included on a Spotify mixtape the band is releasing this summer: http://lukestar.com/archives/301

Lukestar - Posers of doubt (video)

Here's Lukestar's brand new video for "Posers of doubt". Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1frs3A1Klc

MP3: Lukestar - Flying canoes

Though Lukestar's latest record "Taiga" didn't quite blow me away like I had hoped (it's still good, I don't mean to put it down), lead single "Flying canoes" gets better with every listen. I understand the androgynous falsetto vox are a turn-off for some, but they wouldn't be Lukestar without 'em and the melisma hook on this tune is unstoppable. Great buildup too, especially in the way the drum patterns change from part to part, all culminating in a triumphant a capella break. Still have absolute no clue what the song's about though -- does it matter?

Lukestar - Flying canoes

Lukestar streaming at Facebook

"Like" Lukestar to stream their new album "Taiga" on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lovelukestar?sk=app_7146470109

Lukestar live at Lydverket

Watch excellent Norwegian indie act Lukestar perform three tunes for NRK Lydverket: http://www.nrk.no/lydverket/bonusspor-lukestar/

Statoil nominees announced

The nominees for this year's lucrative by:Larm Statoil Grant have been announced and they are Harrys Gym, Ulver, Ost & Kjex, Kvelertak, Montée, 120 Days, Jenny Hval, Turns, Lukestar and I Was A King. Knut Schreiner aka Euroboy will be heading the jury making the final decision.

Lukestar - Flying canoes

This is Lukestar's new video for "Flying canoes", the first single off their forthcoming album "Taiga", one of my most anticipated releases of 2011. Download the track in exchange for an email at the band's website: http://www.lukestar.com/
The official release date of said album is February 28.

Martin Senter - På tal om allting + EL-SD news

As with all proper singles, Martin Senter's new track "Elak" has a flipside: http://soundcloud.com/martinsenter/pa-tal-om-allting
And speaking of Martin, he told me recently that his band EL-SD will begin recording an album in January with the esteemed Carl Vikman, a very talented producer/engineer who should send me the new Lukestar album despite what that band's management says. Anyhow, there's no agenda or label associated with EL-SD at this point, but I should hopefully be able to share some demos or something at some point soon.

New Lukestar gets mastering date

The new Lukestar album will be mastered on October 25. I don't have any other details beyond that, but I'm stoked to hear it.

MP3: Monzano - Cold waters

Monzano never made much of an impression on me in the past, but their new record "By this time last year every thing will seem younger" (due out February 15 via Spoon Train Audio) is easily the best new thing I've heard so far in 2010. "Cold waters" was previously featured on volume 2 of the "Oslo" comp series and is the first song the band recorded for said album, an obvious example of leading with your best foot forward. I hear it as a toned-down take on the same sort of indie/rock territory covered by countrymates Lukestar -- similar androgynous vocals, similar twisting melodies and interweaving guitar lines, but with everything notched down a smidge. They never truly "rock out" per se, but they don't really need to (like the mandolin wasn't an immediate tip-off). As for the "Islands in the stream" references, this is definitely not anything close that duet's adult contemporary/soft-rock vibe, but I think they do emulate a bit of those Barry Gibb harmonies and a touch of his melodic lilt here. Say what you will about the Bee Gees, I think that's a good thing; this is a good song. Oh and good thing I picked up a Dolly Parton 7xLP boxset last weekend, or I might not have been able to cross-reference. I can't hang with most of her 80s output (cocaine sure did bad things to country back then), but there's more than enough good stuff in there to make it worthwhile.

Monzano - Cold waters

MP3: Kråkesølv - Skredder

I'm working in an office in SF this week, so in case you haven't already noticed, posting will be a bit on the lighter side. I don't intend to leave you completely empty-handed though, so to follow up on Friday's post praising Tiger/Diger/Fysisk Format, here's another fine act that came to me through them. Can't say I know much about Kråkesølv, but they sound like a restrained version of Lukestar so of course I'm all about it. They don't rock out quite as hard and the vocals stay within normal human range, but they've got similar styles as far as noisy-leaning indierock with busy drums and charming melodies go. "Skredder" is the lead track from new album "Trådnøsting" and it's a perfect introduction, layering on subtle vocal harmonies as it builds to a halting climax. I have to be honest, 80% of the new music I hear from Norway tends to be mediocre garbage that's always erring on the wrong side of tame. This is not.

Kråkesølv - Skredder

Spellemann 2008 winners

Here are the winners of this year's Spellmannprisen, the Norwegian Grammy:

Female Artist: Maria Mena - Cause And Effect (Sony Music)
Male Artist: Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now (Voices Of Wonder)
Pop Group: Real Ones - All For The Neighbourhood (Warner Music)
Electronica: Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound)
Contemporary Classical: Ellen Ugelvik - George Crumb: Makrokosmos I-Ii (Simax Classics)
Rock: Lukestar - Lake Toba (Phone Me)
Blues: Orbo & The Longshots - High Roller (Blue Mood/Grappa)
Country: Ida Jenshus - Color Of The Sun (Universal Music)
Metal: Enslaved - Vertebrae (Indie Recordings)
Hip-Hop: Karpe Diem - Fire Vegger (Bonnier Amigo)
Folk: Gjermund Larsen Trio - Ankomst (Heilo)
Jazz: Helge Lien Trio - Hello Troll (Ozella/Musikklosen)
Ballad: Halvdan Sivertsen - Mellom Oss (Nordaførr/Emi Music Norway)
Open Class: Farmers Market - Surfin' USSR (Ipecac)
Lyrics: Odd Børretzen - "Paradise Bay" Fra Albumet Syv Sørgelige Sanger Og Tre Triste (Big Box Music As)
Popular Composer: Thom Hell - "Darling" Fra Albumet God If I Saw Her Now (Voices Of Wonder)
Contemporary Composer: Risto Holopainen - Garbage Collection (Mere Records)
Music video: Madcon - "Liar" (Bonnier Amigo Music), dir. Kaveh Tehrani
Hit: The Blacksheeps - Oro Jaska Beana (MBN)
Newcomer: Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart (Nightliner/Universal Music)
Spellemann: Espen Lind
Export prize: Madcon

More here: http://www.spellemann.no/

Spellemann 2008

The nominees for the Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) have been announced: http://www.spellemann.no/
Here's a few of the categories:

Female artist:
Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons (Det Er Mine)
Ingrid Olava - Juliet's Wishes (EMI Music Norway)
Maria Mena - Cause And Effect (Sony Music)
Marit Larsen - The Chase (EMI/Virgin)
Male artist:
Bjørn Eidsvåg - Pust (Petroleum/Sony Music)
Julian Berntzen - Rocket Ship Love (Universal Music)
Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now (Voices Of Wonder)
Åge Aleksandersen og Sambandet - Katalysator (EMI Music Norway/Solregn)
Pop group:
Lester - This Village (Deaf Ear Records)
Real Ones - All For The Neighbourhood (Warner Music)
The Margarets - Twenty Years Erased (Division Records as)
Electronica:
Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound)
Mental Overdrive - You Are Being Manipulated (Smalltown Supersound)
Skatebård - Cosmos (Digitalo Enterprises)
Rock:
Grand Island - Boys & Brutes (Racing Junior)
Lukestar - Lake Toba (Phone Me)
Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments (Rune Grammofon)
Tommy Tokyo & Starving For My Gravy - Smear Your Smiles Back On (Warner Music)
Metal:
Benea Reach - Alleviat (Tabu Recordings)
Enslaved - Vertebrae (Indie Recordings)
Keep of Kalessin - Kolossus (Indie Recordings)
Jazz:
Helge Lien Trio - Hello Troll (Ozella/Musikklosen)
Mathias Eick - The Door (ECM/Grappa)
Moment - Paradiso (Schmell)
Radka Toneff - Butterfly (Curling Legs as)
Open class:
Annbjørg Lien - Waltz With Me (Heilo)
Farmers Market - Surfin' USSR (Ipecac)
H.K.H. Kronprinsesse Mette-Marits Utvalgte Salmer - Sorgen og Gleden (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
Lars Horntveth - Kaleidoscopic (Smalltown Supersound)
Best newcomer:
Erlend Bratland - True Colors (Sony Music)
Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart (Nightliner/Universal)
Ingrid Olava - Juliet's Wishes (EMI Music Norway)
Katzenjammer - Le Pop (Propeller Recordings)
Best video:
Beady Belle - Self-Fulfilling (Jazzland Records/Sonet/Universal)
Madcon - Liar (Bonnier Amigo Music)
Madrugada - Look Away Lucifer (Malabar Recording Company)
Maria Mena - All This Time (Sony Music)
Thom Hell - My Heart Is Longing For A Soul (Voices Of Wonder)