is reissuing The Loch Ness Mouse's 1999 debut album "Flair for Darjeeling" on July 5 in a new remastered version with an additional CD containing 11 bonus tracks, including two previously unreleased songs. To celebrate, the band will be playing the entire record live on July 1 at Egersund Visefestival in Egersund, Norway. More info plus a few samples: http://hypecity.no/?p=806
A group of Oslo-based artist expats (2 Australians, 1 Canadian) have put together something called the "Starving Artist Kokebok", or "cookbook" for the Norwegian-impaired, a book and CD package featuring artwork, stories and of course recipes from 37 fellow Oslo-based bands, artists and journalists. Also included is a 19-track CD:
01. Simon Says No! - Sleeping Heart
02. Death is Not Glamorous - Clear Lines
03. Lionheart Brothers - Bring it Down (Kokebok Edit)
04. Maribel - Soothe
05. Pica Pica - The Man with the Magic Hands
06. CCTV - We Belong (Radio Edit)
07. Einar Stray - Arrows
08. Pilemil - Ghost
09. Hiawata! - Valley Boys
10. Happy Dagger - 2012
11. Manhattan Skyline - The Below
12. Spirits of the Dead - White Lady Black Rave
13. Årabrot - The Minute
14. The Bee's Niece - Stolen Bike
15. Norma Sass - Japan
16. The Loch Ness Mouse feat. Stella Mwangi - New Graffiti (Single Edit)
17. Center of the Universe - Sing it Again
18. Rosix Noir - Binden Sie Meine Hnde (Remix)
19. The White Tiger Prepade - Powerful fast forward knowledge pushing scared inprinted gem stones levitating by seemingly apathic sound movement reactions
Other contributors include Benea Reach, Haust, Je Suis Animal, Lydia Laska, My Little Pony, Silver and lots more. There will be a release party on November 18 at Rubber Soul featuring an exhibition of the original artworks followed by a show at Revolver later in the evening. More info: http://starvingartistkokebok.blogspot.com/
Galant Records is releasing a new comp entitled "Leaving la-vida lo-fi" on September 1 featuring many acts such as Sgt. Petter, The Loch Ness Mouse, Professor Pez and many more. Full details: http://www.galantrecords.com/galant/index.php?entry=entry070812-151037
Jørn Åleskjær of Norwegian act The Loch Ness Mouse is collaborating with Brooklyn-based band The Ladybug Transistor, to be released later this year via Merge Records. This isn't the first time the two have worked together either - Ladybug Transistor frontman Gary Olson played trumpet live with the band at Øyafestivalen and on their album "11-22".
Loch Ness Mouse sounds like Steely Dan. A lot like Steely Dan. The Norwegian quintet, with its first release since 2002's "Key West", offers another set of well-constructed pop songs that sound destined for 70s radio--thirty years too late, in this case. The Åleskjær brothers channel Becker and Fagen throughout the album, especially on "Golden trumpets, silver saxophones". If jazzy soft rock is your thing, look no further than "11-22" -- unless you already have anything by Steely Dan, that is...
- Matthew W. Smith
Download two new songs from Norway's The Loch Ness Mouse off their new album "11-22":
01. Swung 2 lo
02. Friends & fenders