News from the Origami network

The Origami Republika network has been an interactive network for musicians and have for the last twenty years shared music for free through the website. As it is shutting down, Origami Republika is looking for a new web solution. From the website:

"kunst.no have hosted our online web archive for ten years,
as they close down now, we are looking into more interactive options

origami republika is indeed very active outside this web archive,
and we celebrate our twenty year anniversay with
several new releases, artworks and performances

so do not despair, find us here:
myspace: origamirepublika
twitter: origamiHQ
facebook group "origami republika"
e-mail: origamirepublika :at: gmail.com
yours, coordinatore (aka boe)"

Still a lot of fun coming from the Origami Republika network though, and to make the wait for a new website shorter, the Trass MP3 releases are still online, co-released and and hostet by Norwegian label Ambolthue. The latest release being the Origami Binarika - Windung Zu Selbst Mit Traum (below).



Two new limited acetate releases also out now, the Origami Boe/Cock E.S.P. "Berlin Wedding" 7" and the Origami Boe/Origami Tacet "Split" 10" (Origamie Boe show from Dresden 2007 plus a drone track with him and Michael Duch including backyard recordings from where Bowie and Iggy lived in Berlin). Order from tchartan -att- yahoo.com

Improvising in Bergen

Next week Bergen (NO) will see two days with various musicians, improvising being the only common aspect of them all. First Bergen Kunsthall will be visited on Tuesday the 27th of April by Will Guthrie (AUS) (left) & Mikko Savela (S), who will present their avantgarde-rock-jazz plus the duo Sainct Laurens (CAN) who by their home-made electronics and acoustic instruments will create feedback and ancient spanking new music.

On Wednesday the 28th Norwegians in Lemur (below) will meet musicians from The N Ensemble (from the N Collective) at Galleri 3,14. Lemur is described as a norwegian all star quartet of composers and improvisers. Combining their work from classic composition, noise, chamber music, free jazz etc - the four instrumentalists of Lemur creates a highly surprising blend of contemporary sound and attitude. While The N Ensemble consists of classically trained chambermusicians, composers and improviser, focusing on merging electro-acoustic, chambermusic and improvisation. For this gig, Lemur and four musicians from The N Ensemble will explore the art of collaboration and create new acoustic music.

John Cage exibition at HOK - 3rd concert

At Høvikodden Art Center John Cage is being tributed with a big exibition that opened in February and will go on until the 30th of May. The Anarchy of Silence – is the largest exhibition about Cage that has been held since his death in 1992. It is also the first time that an exhibition puts his work into political, artistic and historic context. In addition to his own works, the exhibition features works that he created in collaboration with other artists. Throughout the exhibition period, the commissioned work Studio by Deathprod (Helge Sten) will be on show in the Studio as a permanent sound and light installation. As a finale, Deathprod will hold one of their rare concerts inside this very installation at the last concert day, this Sunday the 25th of April. Also performing on the day is Lemur with Tom Løberg, who will read his Norwegian versions of Cage's Indeterminancy texts. Andrea Neumann will present a reconstruction of Cage's TV piece Water Walk, with a live collage of bathtub splashing, wine bottles and boiling water.

Monolithic in Italy

Norwegain extreme noise metal duo Monolithic is doing some gigs in Italy the next few days. Whatch out as the pure complex energy these guys are presenting, will make volcanos nice.



Ashes to Ashes Italy Tour
21.04 Monolithic - Milano (Ita) - Magnolia
22.04 Monolithic - Roma (Ita) - Traffic
23.04 Monolithic - Verona (Ita) - Esposta
24.04 Monolithic - Brescia (Ita) - Latteria Molloy

Vocokesh - Electric Indian Blues LP (Review)

Label: Pure Pop For Now People
Catalog#: Pure 04
Format: LP, Album
Country: Germany
Released: July 2008

I have started reviewing some underground vinyl releases not only Norwegian. My love for the vinyl format will always follow me, and I figured that should count in developing this blog also.

This is my first Vocokesh experience, but will not be the last in account of this release. The LP is beautifully done with a handmade cardboardcover. Limited to 200 copies, there are only a few left at the label.

Side A starts off with a bluesy, untidy, short- just over 3 minutes track. The overall sound is off-tune, with lovely disharmonies between guitar and sitar, which bears very little of typical indian sitar sound.

The next track gives a change of mood and tidyness. No Sitar. Almost 9 minutes, slow blues, harmonies, ambient soundscapes. More spacelike mood, but then it changes mood, almost a very early 70s PF blues rhythm. It is clearly very similar to the chords and bass lines of PF, and this track is one of my favourites on the LP.

The last track before turning the vinyl is more than 10 mins, with lovely guitar sound. They use a bit more use of fuzz and feedback. The track seems more untidy. Halfway it gets more slow bluesy like track two, moving closer to that PF mood, but still more daring use of guitar without loosing it, and without being to prominent and it gives me some chills… as it moves to the end.

Side B starts off with the title track. The sitar is back (electric), slow blues, just over 7 minutes. There are more harmonies, and it is a well built track. Not much happening first, but the eastern indian sound qualifies the name. Good combination of the PF bluesy style and indian moods and harmonies, some organ, lovely track (one of the best also imho).

The next and also last track of the album, is more than 14 minutes. It starts with wind, bass, guitar, quite a long intro. No specific rhythm other than bass. The guitarist is using some stereo echo, which sounds nice. The combination of synth effects and electronics, makes it improv sounding with some jazzy use of drums. Halfway it moves into some blues rythms with some synth, and strange use of effects and guitar. A wonderful bass line-represents the melody, and nice use of the guitar wich feeds here and there without being overwhelming, makes a great finale!

Jazkamer - Self Portrait CD (review)

Label: Pica Disk
Catalog#: PICA017
Format: CD, Album
Country: Norway
Released: April 2010

We’ve come to the April edition of Jakamers monthly, and of the previous being quite electronic, "Self Portrait" is the complete opposite. A pure acoustic Jazkamer release must be of the rare kind.

This album consists of three untitled tracks, the two first almost 11 minutes each and the last just over 16 minutes. The first impression of the album makes me think of some kind of metal furniture being pushed around at random, and microphones recording whatever happens in the room. Whatever pieces of equipment they use, it certainly comes out deep and multilayered, and feedback-like, dark ambient sounds are still evident. The first track seems to be highly improvised, making the track not going anywhere, but clarely the performers seem to be exploring the sounds that appear as they “move the instruments” about.

The second track starts out sounding almost exactly the same, but after a while it is clear that we have some rhythm. Rhythm being slow moving, but still it is kind of looping going on, same patterns being repeated over and over again. The third and last track is completely different, as Jazkamer moves to some kind of strings. Again slowly moving patterns creating a track that is very relaxing and soothing. So, a very ambient sounding track completes the release of quiet acoustic noise, if ever there is such a thing. All in all a very ambient record.

Sound sample here.

Løver & Tigre re-release

Plastic Strip Press announces a re-release of the Norwegian punk classic Grr... by Løver & Tigre. Løver & Tigre was an Norwegian post-punk outfit that consisted of members from the Norwegian new wave band The Aller Værste! (Sverre Knudsen & Chris Erichsen), the string-swing band Hot Club de Norvége (Jon Larsen, Ivar Brodal, Per Frydenlund & Svein Aarbostad) and Betong Hysteria (Geir "Bulle" Underdal)

The release comes with seven new bonus tracks, new linernotes and unseen photographs. It will be a Digipack CD with 12 page booklet and it will be in stores on the 3th of May 2010. The album was originally released in 1983 on Knudsen own label entitled Plateselskapet Norge. The first pressing of 2000 copies were all handpainted from scratch in a gigantic one day DIY painting session. This obscure record is now regarded as one of Norways finest post-punk releases and one of the strangest combos of musicians that ever has appeared on a record together.

This re-release of Grr... also includes seven tracks from an unknown live recording, made at the Henie Onstad Art Centre in 1983, which features Audun Strype on bass and Nils Økland playing the fiddle.

Lasse Marhaug Japan tour April 2010

Lasse Marhaug starts his Japan tour tomorrow. Here the details:

APRIL 11:
MarhauGomi [Lasse Marhaug + Pain Jerk]
Maranata/Kelly Churko
Miclodiet/Ito Atsuhiro
Kubota Kazuma/Endo Kazumoto
Kunt
Ichiraku Madoka
Soup, Tokyo.

APRIL 13:
Lasse Marhaug/Pika (Afrirampo)
Jojo Hiroshige with 821
Maranata
Tatsuhiko Matsuura
ALCHEMY NOISE EXPO 2 @ Bears, Osaka.


APRIL 14:
Lasse Marhaug [solo]
Maranata
Akira Toyonaga
Deie
Takuji Naka
Socrates, Kyoto.


APRIL 15:
Lasse Marhaug [solo]
Maranata
At Hall, Oita.


APRIL 17:
Lasse Marhaug [solo]
Maranata
Corrupted
Fucked
Against Extreme Music Festival, Fukuoka.


APRIL 18:
Merzbow/Hair Stylistics/Marhaug
Maranata/Sayaka Himeno
Lasse Marhaug [solo]
SuperDeluxe, Tokyo.


http://lassemarhaug.no/


New album out now:
Lasse Marhaug: The Quiet North [CD]
Second Layer Records

Easter egg from Ambolthue

Ambolthue records hands from time to time out a seasonal release. This easter we get one track from Torstein Wjiik as MP3, but make sure to download as it is only available during easter, more spesific until April 4th. Holiday noise from guitar, synth and voice makes the sunny days even sunnier. Available here.

NXP / TheDeadPlayers video

NXP has started a collaboration with videomaker TheDeadPlayers, and creating sounds to a cpouple of short films. Let's hope we'll see some more! The latest here:



And here is the first.

Nødutgangfestival 2010 news!

From the festival website:

Artists are booked!

Faust


As part of the celebration of the fact that this is the 5th Nødutgang Festival, and by popular demand, we have invited Faust back. They have changed some of the crew, and appears today as even more experimental, improv as well as tight and samspilt while rocker merged by the majority.This year, Faust consists of Jean-Hervé Peron, Zappi Diermaier, James Johnston and Geraldine Swayne.

Read more...

DEL

DEL is a Norwegian drone-space-freak-psychedelic-noise-out-rock band formed in 1996. Kjell Runar "Killer" Jenssen, Per Gisle Galåen, Lasse Marhaug and Fredrik Ness Sevendal.

Read More...

Bendik

Bendik is actually Silje Halstensen. She plays on everything from organs to guitars, and uses many types of machines, to create a delicious harmony.

Read More...

More news from Ambolthue

Norwegian label Ambolthue announces the following releases:

CDr by O. Melby titled Marsipan.

From the website: "The second CDr is Dag Stiberg (Maranata, Now We Got Members, My Midnight Creeps), and it's titled Monolithic Time. Better dark-jazz is hard to find!

The last CDr is a singles collected release from Fisk På Disc, and it's titled Fishfingers. This is one of the heavyest release on Ambolthue in my own opinion, and it's good to listen to one or two tracks a day. Strange as only the fishy duo can make it.

Then we have the MP3 release. It's from a new duo called Stegofon (John E. Sandli & Håkon Nordheim), and it's titled Eldorado Paranormal Activity. Beautiful artwork and very good music. Download for free now!"

Torstein Wjiik - Wjiik Let Angreben Af Influenza CD (review)

Label: Synesthetic Recordings / Ambolthue
Catalog#: Syre 021 / Ambolt -90
Format: CD, Album, Limited to 220 copies
Country: Norway
Released: February 2010

Apparently this is the debut CD of Torstein Wjiik, which is really hard to believe when you look at his discography, where you can find lots of MP3 and CDr releases. Wjiik is the alias of Norwegian experimental artist Kjetil Hanssen. Knowing that this young man has been around and producing sound since 2004, some would say it is about time he appeared on the proper CD format. However, this is usually no guarantee of a more proper listening experience.

The title suggests that Wjiik is slightly attacked by influenza, just like Ibsen was described when his health got worse 6 years before his death, and the tracktitles can certainly be a cronology of getting the flu. Firstly the “Gag Reflex” followed by “The Flu Has Come”, “Screamer”, “Headache”, and so on. Some of the titles are also descriptive. When the title is Gag Reflex, you get, yes a recording of someone gagging (I’m guessing the artist himself). And the track “Oslo Tram”, is a recording of trams in Oslo, nothing more. In between these recordings there are wonderful full on feedback and whitenoise recordings. The track “Brekninger & Feedback” is a wonderful combination of a recording of gagging or vomiting and feedback. You can barely hear the person doing it as it is brilliantly hidden in the feedback.

So, is this CD meant for the noise audience or those who like field recordings or just strange recordings? I believe neither. It seems like Wjiik here has made something he wants to present rather than point it to someone specific. A mix of the said gagging, harsh noise, low-fi recordings and outside field-recordings can seem a bit random at first, but to me the cronology and the way the tracks are mixed proved it differently. Listen to this alone on a cold dark, snowy winter night as I did, you’ll make sure to keep warm avoiding the flu come and get you.

Uncompromisingly put together it can easily be labeled as a release someone didn’t quite know what direction to choose, but Wjiik has many talents, as he has proved before in his massive amount of other releases, and here he shows but a few. Is he making fun of us or is it a well put together concept album? For me it will have to be the the latter, and in contrast to Ibsen he is certainly in good health, although the CD finishes off with the title track.

Jazkamer - The Monroe Doctrine CD (review)

Label: Pica Disk
Catalog#: PICA016
Format: CD, Album
Country: Norway
Released: March 2010

“The Monroe Doctrine” is the March edition of Jazkamers 2010 monthly abum series. This CD is a 30 minute track with full on noise rock free jazz improv beat hysteria. Performers are the regular four piece of Gross, Hegre, Marhaug and Drønen. Beautiful artwork by José De Diego.

To make it short, the album immediately striked me as something heavy but lovely, a full on wow-factor after just a few seconds, it knocked me way back in my seat, pushing enormous amounts of energy inside me. And it didn’t stop until the full half hour came to an end. Reviewing this CD without emotions is impossible, but I’ll try to describe some of what I heard.

It starts off with a massive wall of sound from guitar, drums, electronics, and I’m guessing, keyboards of some sort. The soundwall is heavy and loaded with bass and lower midrange frequencies, but still it is possible to hear the drums and guitar, although they are not in front of the sound image, but well blended in. Nothing is piercing, and you have to really listen carefully to separate out details. I can hear Coltrane, Hendrix, trains, traffic, cricket singing, jet fighters, blistering feedback sounds, although sometimes it is well hidden, almost subtle inside the mass. Jazkamer produces a fantastic amount of energy all the way through, they never slow down, especially the drums are pounding at an enourmous energy, speed and power.

The title made me wonder if it is meant as a political full on statement, as the original doctrine was made to stop colonising any countries of the western hemisphere. Or is it just a full on statement?

The CD is very well produced and mixed by Jørgen Træen, no noise overtakes the drums or guitars and opposite. The sound in my ears is fantastic, and very rarely noise/rock releases give me just as good experience as a live show, but “The Monroe Doctrine” really does. In fact I might have a new favourite hangover repair album. I am sad when it stops on 30 minutes sharp, and I had to go repeat…

Compact cassette rising

As CD sales are declining and prophecies about the format vanishing completely, other formats as vinyl is of course coming back to peoples minds and shelves. What is more surprising is that the compact cassette has not vanished, but in fact sales of blank tapes are rising, and some labels release more and more cassettes. Some new labels are solely specializing in releasing cassettes, and here in Norway Tape Rape Records, a sublabel to Ambolthue, and Kassettkultur has been delivering high quality releases of the magnetic tape in recent years. To celebrate one of the most released artist in Norway the last years, certainly on cassette also by the way, Tape Rape just released Lasse Marhaug "Camellia Sinensis", a four tape box including a 64 page illustrated book. Only limited to 100 copies, this beauty is bound to go fast. Marhaug himself owned the TWR tapes label and has been dedicated to still release his works on the said format.

Jazkamer - Musica Non Grata CD (review)

Label: Pica Disk
Catalog#: PICA015
Format: CD, Album
Country: Norway
Released: Feb 2010

From the website comes this information: "The February edition of Jazkamer's 2010 monthly CD-series. "Musica Non Grata" is a feedback-fest. Armed with guitars and analogue synths and an arsenal of amps, Hegre, Gross and Marhaug locked themselves into Duper Studios in Bergen, exploring how feedback-timbre sounds like when recorded on an analogue 24 track 2" tape-machine. The three long tracks that makes "Musica Non Grata" are slow-moving long-form meditations on feedback that will be bliss for a select few and hell for most listeners. February is not an easy month . CD in digipak cover. Photos by Martín Escalante."

Musica Non Grata is the second release in Jazkamers 2010 monthly series, and the CD has three long tracks. To make it clear and save you wasting time reading further: this is a study in feedback! Those who are still reading might like to know that this full length CD from the trio again being Marhaug, Hegre & Gross, is very much different from last months Solitary Nail. When the latter was one 30 minute track of cut and paste, Musica Non Grata is slowly moving, changing over long periods of time, making the change barely noticable.

The first track “Honda Sound Works” is more than 30 minutes of high pitch guitar, synth and electronic feedback. By insanly slowly altering the sounds, they make the track go on for the full 30+ minutes, and making it sound right. It is not very wide ranging, and the sound stays for most of the trak up in the high frequency range, making it challenging to follow all the way.

Next up is the title track, starting off where the first finished, but here the track is coloured by lower frequency sounds making it very much “easier listening”. Sometimes a mid ranging squeal is mixed in the background. It is however very industrial sounding, and sounds of circular saw and various powertools appear, although I think none of them were ever used.

Last track “Feedback Fans” is a more evident guitar based track, although I suspect other sound sources are used. By pounding, hitting or touching the guitar in some way, a slow rhythm appears from time to time, making the track vary more. The second half of the track is also less full on, and the study of feedback becoms even more evident.

So, was February an easy month? It certainly wasn't bright, but Musica Non Grata has made more turns than normal and made my life brighter and easier in comparison. Musica Non Grata is also worth a try if you think the world of feedback needs further explorations.

Independent record store day

Good, independent, alternative and experimental quality music need similar good, independent, alternative and experimental distribution channels. Henie Onstad Art Center, highlight this, to celebrate the three most influential independent record stores in Norway. Sunday the 7th of February there will be concerts with Montée, Pow Pow, Alfabulator, and the best opportunities to buy some quality music on vinyl and cd.

Big Dipper, Tiger and Looop are three Norwegian stores as uncompromisingly has promoted alternative, experimental quality music for years. The three stores are and have been a vital channel of distribution and source of income for young artists and record companies in Norway, that does not usually get shelf space and radio play. These three independent record stores are a focal point and meeting place for music enthusiasts, and make an unprecedented effort to spread quality music, serve up a musical diversity and a very interesting music scene.

In order to highlight the work of independent record stores are doing, have Henie Onstad Art Center asked Big Dipper, Tiger and Looop choose themselves their own band to play concerts on Høvikodden on the 7th of February. The audience will recieve a full day of concerts, vinyl and CD sales. Big Dipper selected band Montée who in 2009released their debut album, "Isle of Now" to critical acclaim.

Tiger have chosen the instrumental band Pow Pow as with their debut album, "Leaving Las Palmas" in 2007 made many headlines and was a welcome new addition to the Norwegian post-rock. The band plays a kind of instrumental rock that is reminiscent of Tangerine Dream and Jean Michael Jarre who meets CAN in Tago Mago mode.

Looop has put together the band Alfabulator especially to this event, consisting of Per Gisle Galåen, Kai Mikalsen, Martin Powell and Petter Flaten Eilertsen.

Supporting Haiti

All over the country artists wants to support the victims of the disaster in Haiti, by participating in concerts. So also here in Bodø. The support concert is arranged by Parkenfestivalen, and it will be on this Thursday, the 4th of February @ Sinus. Tickets are NOK 200,- , and all ticket sales will go directly to Prosjekt Haiti. So anyone close enough to be there, be there! Line-up is: Bobleplast, FipPellektormonic, Kråkesølv, Lady Midday, HumdinGer and Æ. More info (in Norwegian) here.

Lasse Marhaug & John Wiese US west coast tour

This tuesday Norwegian noise master Lasse Marhaug meets up with John Wiese in LA to start a short west coast tour. A new duo album "Country & Western" will be available at the gigs. The announced dates are as follows:

02.02
KXLU 88.9FM at Midnight
Los Angeles, CA

02.06
w/ Gerritt Wittmer
The Lab (23Five Presents)
San Francisco, CA

02.07
w/ Ryan Jencks, Michael Gendreau
Terminal
Oakland, CA

02.10
w/ Dried Up Corpse, Physical Demon
The Black Lodge
Seattle, WA

02.11
w/ Sex Negatives, The Rita
Hotel Gallery
Vancouver, CANADA

02.12
w/ Zbigniew Karkowski, Daniel Menche
Reed College
Portland, OR

02.14
w/ Seven Depressions, Joe & Joe
The Smell
Los Angeles, CA

Metal Merchants Festival this weekend

Metal Merchants Festival kicks off on this friday the 29th @ John Dee, Oslo. They promise a weekend filled with metal, screams and pounding drums. Starting off in 2009, they wanted to bring back heavy metal heroes from the past, heavy metal hopes for the future, and heavy metal maniacs of all ages. Line up:

OMEN (US)
TANK (UK)
SLOUGH FEG (US)
THE LAMP OF THOTH (UK)
NECRONOMICON (GER)
DARK QUARTERER (ITA)
ANIHILATED (UK)
TORCH (SWE)
SOLITAIRE (FI)
LAMENTED SOULS (NOR)

More details on the festival website.