"Where is my moon?" is the brand new single from ex-Madrugada frontman Sivert Høyem and it's also the title of his upcoming solo EP, due out September 7. Go see him on tour this fall: http://siverthoyem.com/tour/
Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me OThis isn't really my thing; it's an Oslo thing. And it's my first time reviewing a band where I gotta tiptoe and use my indoor voice. Forthright impudence almost seems like it'd offend an entire national consciousness or institution, as revered as they are. But let's not forget- Oslo's music scene is the most comfortable place in the world. No political suffering, no industrial labor strikes, and no real equivalent to the dole. Hence, dozens of well-dressed boys running bars amuck and feeding off cultural-grant breast milk, or the titties of the finest groupies you'll ever see. No matter how disparate your black metal band A is from shoegaze band B to Top 40 act band C, "we're social equals" so hey, let's all hold hands, and let's be sure to do it on TV. Norgs often blur this crucial distinction between "style" and "fashion". It's like the difference between having Hepatitis B or C. Some ailments you can be born with like a genetic inclination. Style is one's raw talent, however bizarre or mutant, possessed and created only by you. Whereas fashion, like Hepatitis C, you can catch from any motherfucker.
The obvious nods by Madrugada cohorts onwards to Blixa Bargeld and Nick Cave fits extremely well into rich, dark and brooding Scandinavian territory, and has had the self-perpetuated effect of mounting them in a tiny, yet hierarchical scene as gods. But if The Bad Seeds have done it already, is the simulacrum just another fashion? The blues noir motif encompasses everything aspired in an artist's life -- glorified isolation, mystery, sexual energy, freedom. I remember my monumental realisation when Nick Cave's "God is in the house" DVD first came out. It was a signal of the times; the inexorable musicianship of this group of MEN turning something deeply of themselves into an awe-inspiring and transcendentalizing performance. The essence of "soul".
Soul is definitely not something you can just copy, it's not like you can hire a bunch of gospel-singers and assume you'll get that effect. My impression of this album is in fact, soul-searching, which is not to say it ain't solid. It's more like wandering and jamming in the key of retro-blues. At times, it does feel so grown-up and sterile I begin imagining folks in V-necked sweaters listening to the album in their living rooms on designer couches, hi-fi stereo systems and tons of high-end drugs.
But by solid, I really mean perfect. You gotta hand it to them, a total self-awareness shines through; they know who's gonna try to get a piece of 'em, so they're armed with deadly ammunition. Pristine production, fantastic percussive elements building gigantic drones, and the excellent saxophone-playing is a goodnight cherry on top. My favourite tracks, "I've been watching you (night and day)" has an infectious boogie, like Ethiopian music from the Sixties, Tilahoun Gèssèssè, Mulatu Astatqé, etc. and "After party killer" has a Bowie-air to it that's epic, classic and hit-worthy. In fact, most of these songs are.
But back to what I was sayin', KKKMEO's not exactly my thing. So why the 9? This is not a revolutionary 9. This is not a 9 for alienated subterraneans. This is a 9 for the masses. As a reviewer I tend to detect the moment in which my pure unadulterated love for music is betrayed. In this case, the flow of the album runs like butter, the tracks are easily digestible and honed to the Nordic ear. After being frustrated by many new albums of late, hearing a record that's so un-objectionable and on a higher level of musical professionalism makes me daresay I'm not allowed to object. So I do as any humble reviewer would. Give it a 9, quietly put it back on the shelf, blast "Transilvanian hunger" and make myself a cup of tea.
- Ann Sung-an Lee
Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O, the new band featuring ex-members of Madrugada/My Midnight Creeps/Ricochets, have just released their debut single "Next" and have confirmed that their debut album will be released on June 10.
will be doing a deluxe reissue of Madrugada's 2nd album "The nightly disease" with a full bonus disc including b-sides and outtakes: http://www.emi.no/nyheter/2011/april/madrugada_-_the_nightly_disease_deluxe_edition_(cdlp).aspx
The official release date is May 13, the same day they'll also be releasing new vinyl editions of both "Industrial silence" and "The nightly disease". Please someone, send me copies of both and I'll love you forever.
How is it that I've never known about Katharina Nuttall until a week ago? With two previously released albums and numerous production credits under her belt (including Ane Brun), I feel like I've been seriously blowing it, especially since her flavor of dark, melancholy rock is exactly what I'm into. "Turn me on" is the lead single and title track from her upcoming album, due out March 23 via , and it sounds like a caustic hybrid of PJ Harvey and the barebone rawness of early Madrugada. Of course I'm way into it, how could I not? On the other hand, I must admit to being a slight more partial to her melodramatic wrist-slitting balladeering side, as evidenced by the older video posted above. But fear not should you be of similar mind! There's bits of that on the new album as well. Definitely a spring release to look forward to.
Katharina Nuttall - Turn me on
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Kurt Nilsen - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
02. Sissel - ...til deg...
03. Madrugada - The Best Of Madrugada
04. Jan Werner - One more time - The Very Best Of
05. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Rundt neste sving
06. Silje Nergaard - If I Could Wrap Up a Kiss
07. Vamp - I Full Symfoni 2
08. Madcon - Contraband
09. Odd Nordstoga - November
10. Helene Bøksle - Det Hev Ei Rose Sprungen
11. Bugge Wesseltoft - It's Snowing On My Piano
12. Hans Rotmo - Vårres Jul 2
13. Malin & Celine - Julekonserten
14. Koret på Botsen & Henning Kvitnes - Bortkomne Julestjerner
15. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
16. Silje Hrafa - Frelsesarmeens Juleplate 2010
17. Sissel & Odd - Strålande Jul
18. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
19. Narum - Ælt som var søkk borte
20. Kråkesølv - Bomtur til Jorda
10 years later, the official videos from Madrugada's landmark debut "Industrial silence" are now on YouTube in proper high quality and more are on the way: http://www.youtube.com/user/MadrugadaOfficial
Preview the new Madrugada track "All this wanting to be free" off the upcoming greatest hits collection: http://soundcloud.com/madrugadanorway/14_all-this-wanting-to-be-free
is putting out a Madrugada best-of collection on November 29 called "The best of Madrugada" which will feature 27 classic tunes as well as the requisite previously unreleased new track, which in this case is "All this wanting to be free", a song they presented to guitarist Robert Burås in rehearsal but didn't record until later after his death. Full tracklist here: http://www.emi.no/nyheter/2010/november/madrugada_med_ny_lat_og_samleplate.aspx
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
04. A-ha - 25
05. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
06. Guren Hagen - Takke Meg Tel
07. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
08. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
09. Motorpsycho - Timothy's Monster
10. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
11. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina
12. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
13. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
14. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
15. Diverse artister - Go'natt
16. Stage Dolls - Always
17. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
18. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
19. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
20. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
Updated European dates for Norwegian singer/songwriter/Madrugada frontman Sivert Høyem:
10/05 - Academy 3, Birmingham (UK)
10/06 - King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow (UK)
10/07 - Night & Day, Manchester (UK)
10/08 - Cargo, London (UK)
10/13 - Dornrosje, Nijmegen (NL)
10/14 - Tivoli De Helling, Utrecht (NL)
10/15 - Vera, Groningen (NL)
10/17 - Luxor, Cologne (GER)
10/18 - Postbahnhof, Berlin (GER)
10/19 - Beatpol, Dresden (GER)
10/20 - Musikzentrum, Hannover (GER)
10/21 - Calos-Saal, Aschaffenburg (GER)
10/22 - Principal Club, Tessaloniki (GRE)
10/23 - Fuzz Club, Athens (GRE)
10/24 - Akt Dimaion, Patra (GRE)
10/26 - Circolo Degli Artisti, Rome (ITA)
10/27 - Tunnel, Milan (ITA)
10/28 - Konzerthaus Schüür, Luzern (CH)
11/10 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Motorpsycho - Timothy's Monster
04. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
05. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
06. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina
07. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
08. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
09. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
10. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
11. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
12. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
13. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
14. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
15. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
16. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
17. Elg - Storm
18. Diverse artister - Go'natt
19. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
20. Celine - Jentekveld
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
04. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
05. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
06. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
07. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
08. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
09. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
10. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
11. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
12. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
13. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
14. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
15. StMorritz - Tusenvis av ting
16. Diverse artister - Go'natt
17. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
18. Celine - Jentekveld
19. Divin' Ducks - Best Of
20. A-ha - Hunting High And Low
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
04. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
05. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
06. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
07. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
08. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
09. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
10. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
11. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
12. Divin' Ducks - Best Of
13. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
14. Diverse artister - Go'natt
15. Celine - Jentekveld
16. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
17. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
18. A-ha - Hunting High And Low
19. StMorritz - Tusenvis av ting
20. A-ha - 25
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
04. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
05. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
06. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
07. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
08. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
09. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
10. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
11. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
12. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
13. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
14. Celine - Jentekveld
15. Divin' Ducks - Best Of
16. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
17. A-ha - Hunting High And Low
18. StMorritz - Tusenvis av ting
19. A-ha - Scoundrel Days
20. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
