Pitchfork top videos for 2010
CEO, Jonna Lee/iamamiwhoami and Röyksopp are among Pitchfork's top video picks for 2010: http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7898-the-top-music-videos-of-2010/1/
Country: Norway
Top 10s for 2010
It's December so that means it's time once again for our annual top 10 lists! First up: John Roger Olsson of The Grand Opening/Hearts No Static/Will Gambola Sing
There's still a few slots available should any readers, in the music biz or otherwise, care to contribute -- simply get in touch and we'll work out the details.
New website, free EP from Sellout! Music
Norwegian indie label has a new website and a new EP from Munn til Munn Metoden posted for free download: http://www.sellout.no/
Trust Me picks up Sacred Harp
has announced the signing of Oslo-based act Sacred Harp and will be releasing their debut full-length "Window's a fall" in mid-February. Hear a couple sample tunes/read more: http://trustmerecords.com/nyheter/sacred-harp-nytt-band-til-trust-me/
Kinda dark and rustic sounding, pretty cool.
New Lionheart Brothers album in late January
Listen to Norway reports that The Lionheart Brothers will be releasing the new album "Matters of love and nature" on January 31 via : http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010113014412330815289
Not sure why they say sophomore release though, as they seem to be forgetting "White angel black apple" from 2003.
Real Ones - Sister to all (ft. Susanne Sundfør)
Hear the new Real Ones single which is a duet with Susanne Sundfør and prepare yourself for disappointment: http://soundcloud.com/warnermusicnorway/real-ones-ft-susanne-sundfor-sister-to-all
The Silent Ballet reviews Erik K Skodvin
The Silent Ballet gives high marks to "Flare", the first release by Erik K Skodvin under his own name instead of Svarte Greiner: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/3759/Default.aspx
Hypertext to release 7" single
Hypertext's single "Ivy league" will be issued as a 7" via short-lived label with album track "Mary" tacked on as the b-side.
Ulver + Virus + Zweizz
Norwegian noisenik/prankster Zweizz has been added to the Ulver/Virus show in London at KOKO and will also be accompanying the former on a number of other dates.
Haunting the Chapel: Årabrot
Stereogum talks up Norwegian sludge act Årabrot: http://stereogum.com/584521/arabrot-interim-me/franchises/haunting-the-chapel/
Madrugada, the official YouTube channel (finally)
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
WMBR: Riding the Norse horse
There's a new Scandinavian-focused radio show on WMBR (MIT) in Cambridge, MA: http://www.track-blaster.com/wmbr/index.php?startmo=06&startyr=1984&endmo=11&endyr=2010&sort=desc&program=125
Download the last two episodes here: http://wmbr.org/www/sched-tue#norse
I Was A King
Old friends
Sounds Familyre
On their self-titled debut, I Was a King carved out a niche filled with lackadaisical charms and easily repeatable, difficult to dislike slacker melodies. A year later, the Norwegian band is back with their aptly named sophomore album "Old friends". Crafting more of the same honey-soaked tunes that play like the embodiment of your favorite, worn-out sweatshirt, the band continues their reign of simplistic pleasantries.
Their previous effort boasted a guest spot from Sufjan Stevens (relegated to piano -- but hey, you can't argue with that kind of indie star power); this time Stevens cohort Daniel Smith (Danielson Family) steps in as the guest du jour. The paring makes sense -- both bands are only a few steps away from each other on the quirky scale (with Danielson Family taking the prize each and every time), but while Smith's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mentality translates to an utterly pleasing loose ride, and his recording digs contribute to an undeniably warm and immediate sound, the tunes themselves plateau at merely enjoyable.
With the longest track clocking in at three-and-a-half minutes (and the shortest -- "Kontrari" -- demanding a scant fifteen seconds of your time), it's nice to know that some bands still know better than to overstay their welcome. But while brevity is the soul of wit, achieving it shouldn't come at the cost of stunting idea development -- an unfortunate issue that dots many of the otherwise most enjoyable tracks. "Forgive and forget", in all its classic pop glory could have benefited from an extra verse or two, and the pulled back freak-out of "Unreal" is so adroitly crafted, it would have merited grandstanding. However, the stars do briefly align on "Snow song", a lightening-bolt of a piano ballad that blossoms into to an angular shower of electric guitars. With moments as impressive as this, is it greedy to ask for a bit more?
- Laura Studarus
New album from Lasse Marhaug via Smalltown Superjazzz
will be releasing Lasse Marhaug's new album "All music at once" on December 6, his third solo release for the label. Read more: http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2010/11/18/lasse-marhaug-music-6-december/
Guest musicians on said record include Jon Wesseltoft (Thorns, Maja Ratkje, Hild Sofie Tafjord and Stian Westerhus (Puma).
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Rundt neste sving
02. Madcon - Contraband
03. Vamp - I Full Symfoni 2
04. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
05. Odd Nordstoga - November
06. Hans Rotmo - Vårres Jul 2
07. Ole Ivars - Stjerneklart
08. Sissel - ...til deg...
09. Ida Maria - Katla
10. Sigvart Dagsland - Bryllups- og Begravelsesorkester
11. Malin & Celine - Julekonserten
12. Trine Rein - Seeds Of Joy
13. Tone Damli Aaberge - Cocool
14. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
15. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
16. Didrik Solli-Tangen - Guilty Pleasures
17. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
18. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
19. A-ha - 25
20. Skambankt - Søvnløs