Sometimes a band or song or album that you haven't listened to in aeons will pop into your head and spark you to give it a casual listen. Whatever the reason, be it a yearning for an adrenaline injection or a desire to experience a distant, heartfelt memory, the uniting factor that draws us to do this is a love -- or even a passing fondness -- for the music in question. Regardless of the genre, from the most minimalistic ambient music to the most complex extreme metal, the music must have that certain something that inspires us and compels us to listen every once in a while. The thing about this third album by the Norwegian "dronejazz" trio is that there's not much on it that would make the average Joe -- jazz-inclined or otherwise -- decide to give the thing a spin on a whim. It's often melancholic in the way that television soundtracks like to portray sadness or hurt and the occasions where the jazz elements come into play are reminiscent of the type of seedy lounge bar music that would usually play over a noir actor's closing monologue. We could go on forever about layers and textures and guest contributions on "Pressure" and, yes, there seems to have been a lot of thought put into creating it, but at the end of the day there's nothing on this almost average album that makes me want to come back and listen ever again. - John Norby
New Norway-centric webzine Bad Sounds opened its virtual doors today: http://www.badsoundsmagazine.com/
Among the first batch of content is a by:Larm primer and an interview with David Daja of Pirate Love.
New stuff on the way from Susanne Sundfør? See: http://www.thesiliconeveil.com/
I do believe that a new single called "White foxes" is on the way and will be officially released on February 24.
Tragic news: drummer Anders Askildsen Eikås of rising Norwegian punk/rock act Honningbarna was killed in a car accident last night. He was 20 years old.
Listen to Norway's first new episode of 2012 of their excellent podcast series "99 Minutes" is now online and features an interview with Ivar Peersen of Enslaved, as well as the usual diverse array of Norwegian music: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2012013011222443117418
New Converge-esque hardcore outta Tromsø from a band called Die X Legend. The band's debut LP "VS. Goliath" will get a proper vinyl release on February 3.
Presenting "Conexions", a new Norway/UK concert series spearheaded by Fiona Talkington of the BBC3 program "Late Junction": http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2012012614283734992904
The series kicks off on February 4 and will include John Paul Jones and Nils Petter Molvær with future events to feature Norwegians such as Christian Wallumrød, In the Country, Food, Jaga Jazzist and more.
Check out a sample clip from the upcoming film "Oslo Jazzed Out" featuring saxophonist Håkon Kornstad performing "Symphonies in my head". Other performers to be featured in the production include Bugge Wesseltoft, Nils Peter Molvaer and Tord Gustavsen, among others.
Splashgirl