Artist: Marybell Katastrophy
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Denmark's Marybell Katastrophy seamlessly joins the idiosyncratic staccato stabs of "Debut"-era Björk with the spacey-indie approach of Blonde Redhead's latest album, but even this broad description fails to include all the electronic quirks and other eccentric layers the artist incorporates into her compositions. There is a semblance of continuity on "This is the one", though the songs are often drastically different from their neighbors: "Hip" has a chorus that evokes the reverberated distortion of the Smashing Pumpkins' "Bodies"; "Red red" could easily hold its own against any Knife single; and closer "His desperate voice" meanders beautifully like a lost Trespassers William track. This semi-schizophrenic quality does not rob "This is the one" of its own unique personality, rather it gives hints towards what Marybell Katastrophy would be able to accomplish with a full-length effort. This EP has firmly established these Danes' place on my radar.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
"Hip" starts out sounding like a piano being dragged down stairs. Not tossed, mind you, it goes it bursts. There are hints of a cohesive melody, but it keeps shifting in microtonal increments amidst squeals and squalls. "Violent and exciting," she sings and her choice of words is apt. "Playful and distorted." The chorus however, is something else entirely, a driving rush of screeching distortion and mechanical pounding bassnotes. "Childish and obnoxious," back into the verse, this time keeping it short and to the point. It calls to mind the twisted circus atmosphere of The Paper Chase, except whereas they typically sound hunted and haunted, Marybell Katastrophy is definitely the hunter. It's not so distressing as it is celebratory. There's a certain glee to it and that makes it all the more inviting. Irresistible even.
Marybell Katastrophy - Hip
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. The Bombettes - I wanna
02. TALK 1
03. Anna Järvinen - Helsinki
04. Leütenhaven - Still life (trompe l'oeil)
05. Pay TV - Fashion report
06. TALK 2
07. Timo Räisänen - My valentine
08. Jonna Lee - And your love
09. José González - Killing for love
10. The Bear Quartet - It only takes a flashlight to create a monster
11. TALK 3
12. Kristofer Åström - The dark
13. Munck//Johnson - The streets
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Draggin' me down
15. Dieter Schöön - Warm hearts
16. TALK 4
17. Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night
18. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Ashen like the sky
19. Kazakstan - Song to the past
20. TALK 5
21. Marvins Revolt - Bugs in time
22. Menfolk - Ghosts
23. Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
24. TALK 6
25. Sambassadeur - Subtle changes
26. Stina Nordenstam - So Lee
27. Tobias Hellkvist - Abomination
28. TALK 7
29. Marybell Katastrophy - Slabiak
30. Sinikka Langeland - Høstnatt på Fjellskogen
31. David Åhlén - Wasted breaths
32. Printer - Minds out
33. TALK 8
34. Montys Loco - Wasteland
35. Lampshade - Fjäril
36. NEI - Trip to Luleå
37. Laakso - Hang me in the Christmas tree
38. TALK 9
39. Honey Is Cool - Drums and boys
Don't forget to vote for Sirius Blog Radio at the Plug Awards! Vote here: http://www.plugawards.com/general_vote.php
We are nominated under the category "Media (Obsessive) > Specialty Show Of The Year (Commercial Radio)".
Marybell Katastrophy's (aka Marie Højlund from Tiger Tunes) proper debut 10" EP "This is the one" is available for streaming via Last.fm: http://www.last.fm/music/Marybell+Katastrophy/This+Is+The+One
It comes out December 6 via Merger and will only be available on vinyl or as a paid download.
Marybell Katastrophy has posted the video for "Hip" as a free download (and stream): http://www.marybell.dk/marybell.asp?indhold=art
Danish act Marybell Katastrophy on tour in France:
04/20 - Loppart, Reims (FRA)
04/21 - La Fleche Door, Paris (FRA)
04/23 - Le Violin Dingue, Nantest (FRA)
04/24 - La Mediateque Associative, Toulouse (FRA)
Marybell Katastrophy on tour in Germany, her first shows outside her native Denmark:
12/11 - Blue Shell, Köln
12/12 - Grüner Jäger, Hamburg
12/14 - N.B.I., Berlin
No new profile piece this week, but who cares? I've got a feature interview with Marybell Katastrophy aka Marie Højlund (also from Tiger Tunes): [click here]
Marybell Katastrophy (Tiger Tunes) has posted five new songs for download: http://www.marybell.dk/
Music blog Stage Hymns interviews Marybell Katastrophy, best known by some for her work with Tiger Tunes: http://stagehymns.blogspot.com/2006/05/marybell-katastrophy-interview.html
Denmark's Marybell Katastrophy has revamped her website: http://www.marybell.dk/
Talk about a name with a built-in contradiction! Marybell Katastrophy, best known from her regular gig with Denmark's Tiger Tunes (she's "Marie"), has a first name that evokes sweetness, flowers and old-fashioned femininity, but add an unsettling last name like "Katastrophy" and you've got a major bit of conceptual duality going on. There's some of that in the music on this fascinating solo EP, too. Of the 4 songs, two ("Hey Frank" and "His desperate voice") are basically ballads, although that first song puts out a fierce burst of energy after alternating verses (MK evokes a bit of Sinead O'Connor in the timbre of her voice and a sense of fiery conviction battling with uncertain emotions). But on the other two songs, "Hidden agenda" and "Lost ship", Marybell serves up generous slices of chugging, eclectic electronica that are mesmerizing. A loopy synth loop grabs you and won't let go on "Hidden," and MK matches it with a vigorous, appealing vocal that's drenched with character. "Lost ship" has to be the highlight, though. This tune is three and a half minutes of bleepin' electropop weirdness, with smooth male-female harmonies competing for attention with the eccentric arrangement. Halfway through there's one of the most startlingly original moments I've heard on a disc in months, with an "electronic critter" making strange high-pitched utterances while tart backing harmonies and another powerful main vocal take turns blowing your mind. It's truly riveting. I was sorry this EP ended; Ms. Katastrophy definitely left me wanting more. How about a full-length, Marybell? You've got the smarts--and the art--to make that a stellar proposition
- Kevin Renick
Marie from Danish act Tiger Tunes has a new solo project called Marybell Katastrophy. Listen to four demo tracks here: http://www.marybell.dk/
Marybell Katastrophy