IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Top 10s for 2011: It's a Trap!

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

The prospect of whittling down my list of 2011 favorites to a standard top 10 or even 20 just didn't seem quite so appropriate this year so I've opted instead to break up my selections into a few compartmentalized and highly subjective niches. When I reflect back on the year just passed, this is the method that makes the most sense to me, and besides, music is not a contest and many of these records simply cannot withstand side-by-side scrutiny. Hopefully you'll agree, but if not, there's always the comments section.

BEST ROCK/POP

For lack of a better signifier, here are a few of my favorite releases that don't fit neatly into a clever subgenre.

Peter Bjorn and John - Gimme some
I feel bad for everyone who can't move beyond "Young folks". PB&J has always been and continues to be a fantastic powerpop band and their latest album might just be their best.

Penny Century - Friends and family
A grower, not a shower. I found myself returning to this record time and time again, discovering new things to appreciate almost every time. A deeply nuanced work masquerading as sweet indiepop.

Cut City - Where's the harm in dreams disarmed?
A fitting swan song that their final release should be a perfect encapsulation of modern goth/pop/postpunk.

Kaka - The two
Brilliant, addictive and secretly subversive once you start digging into the lyrics.

BEST SCENE: Black Hole Crew/Nekromantik Norway

Excellence in consistency, consisently excellent. While no one release blew me away quite like Okkultokrati's "No light for mass" or Haust's debut LP "Ride the relapse", the Oslo horde has been regularly churning out some of the finest punk/metal/hardcore in the world today.

Key selections:
Dark Times - s/t CS
Årabrot - Solar anus
Årabrot/Okkultokrati - split 12"
Okkultokrati - Ingen veit alt 7"
Okkultokrati/Haust - Black Hole X-mas 7"
Problems - 2011 CS

ALSO SEE: Hubro & HOOB Records

Allow me to step outside my confort zone a moment to also recommend to you the not-exactly jazz labels Hubro and HOOB Records, based in Norway and Sweden respectively. Both are delivering an amazing array of excellent genre-breaking music and, while I may not be intimately familiar with the circles they travel in, I can confidently say that almost every single release they've put out is well worth investigating.

Key selections:
The Splendour - Delphian palace
Thus:Owls - Harbours
Splashgirl - Pressure
Huntsville - For flowers, cars and merry wars
1982 - Pintura

BEST INSTRUMENTAL/SOUNDTRACK

Matti Bye & Mattias Olsson - Elephant and castle
Wheezing vintage organs and the clatter of clever percussion combine to create one of the most satisfying and creepy albums of the year.

BEST METAL

Execration - Odes of the occult
Much in the same way that Obliteration's "Nekropsalms" stood head and shoulders above the rest back in 2009, Execration's "Odes of the occult" expands on the same template established by their countrymates and adds a hefty does of epic doom to their filthy death metal, thus easily enabling them to (ahem) obliterate the competition.

ALSO SEE:
Dödsvarg - Livet är en dödsorsak
Mr. Death - Descending through ashes
Rising - To solemn ash

BEST EPs

2011 was an amazing year for EPs and many of these titles I have listed make up my absolute favorite releases of the year.

Grande Roses - Hide
Hands down, the best rock record of the year. Vital and passionate in an era when so many feign indifference or hide behind irony, no one else comes close.

Kite - IV
Even if you think that they'll never write another song as good as "Ways to dance", or even if you think they already did, Kite has never had a 100% fully satisfying release until this. Five songs, all synthpop anthems.

The Psyke Project - Ebola
As said before, forget the other half of this split -- it doesn't exist as far as I'm concerned. The Psyke Project is brutality personified; every time you think they couldn't get any heavier, they do.

In These Woods - s/t
Technically a late 2010 release, but who is really paying attention to anything new in late December? Classic Swedish indie guitar-rock is saved from extinction yet again.

Alouatta - DIY
Melodic mid-tempo punk played by dudes who are old enough to know better, but also old enough to do it just right.

FOREIGN JUNK

Not appropriate to waste words on these here, in this forum, but these records are all excellent and well worth checking out:
Austra - Feel it break
Charles Bradley - No time for dreaming
The Devil's Blood - The thousandfold epicentre
Royal Headache - s/t

MP3: Splashgirl - Creature of light

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:38:51 -0800

When your bassist is also billed as "drone commander", I'm pretty much sold from the get-go. Hubro continues to champion acts that occupy the peculiar space of "drone jazz" -- see also Huntsville or the likewise excellent V. Sjöberg New Jazz Ensemble whose 2010 album "Lover man" was a serious sleeper hit -- and Splashgirl is yet another exemplary example of the genre. Unlike the stereotypical notion of jazz being focused on the individual virtuoso or even the lock-step ensemble arrangements of a big band, this is music that is primarily obsessed with mood and feeling. Dynamics, texture and space are key. More and more I'm finding this to be my go-to music when I can't decide what else to listen to as it's always perfect.

Huntsville For flowers, cars and merry wars Hubro

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:33:04 -0800

This experimental Norwegian trio have taken a decent stab at the drone genre, generally opting for an askew folk/jazz aesthetic rather than the subsonic metal rumblings that often accompany the style. Its opening title track gives the impression that this could be a contemporary soundtrack to "The wicker man", which is down to the unison of Kongsberg-native Hanne Hukkelberg's eerie vocals and the uneasy nature of the music itself. The second of the recording's two major pieces, "Ear/eye connector", really needs to pull something strong out of the bag and, while it's a great background piece when played at subdued volume, it's something of a disappointment when given one's full attention. It makes a fundamental mistake in the grand scheme of music -- that of the false build up that leads nowhere. For a good deal of its almost 13 minute running time the implementation of drum and sample patterns gives the impression that we're leading into one hell of a driving beat; the pulsating feedback would remain the same but with a beat over it that would just kill. Sadly, it's not the case, which renders the track a good background listener rather than a great piece of sonic genius. It's actually something that could be said of this release as a whole, with "For the working class" seeming like a pointless entry and closer "Star spangled pillow" failing to intrigue on a concentrated listen. If it's a backgrounder you're after, though, this will do the trick. Definitely!

Hubro to release new album from 1982

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:22:54 -0700

Coming soon via Hubro, "Pintura", the sophomore album from Norwegian improvised chamber act 1982, an ensemble consisting of harmonium, drums and Hardanger fiddle: http://www.hubromusic.com/index.php?cmd=17
Considering Hubro's other stellar recent releases (see: Splashgirl, Huntsville), I have to say that I'm extremely excited to hear this.

MP3: Huntsville - For flowers, cars and merry wars

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:29:31 -0700

Love, love love Huntsville and can listen to them pretty much endlessly. Their music lends itself to such applications very easily in fact. In the same way that Vladislav Delay with Moritz von Oswald Trio explores the sounds of minimalist drone/techno as a live band, so does Huntsville; albeit with a slightly more accentuated acoustic/jazz bent and less of the cold dubbiness. While active listening can be quite rewarding, I prefer to turn it up and let it effortlessly drift by. Before you realize it, this song (the title track of the band's latest album) will have passed you by and you'll be left wondering where the last 19 minutes went.

Hubro to release Huntsville/Splashgirl split

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:07:43 -0700

Hubro will be releasing a series of limited edition LPs starting with a split featuring Huntsville and Splashgirl, both of which also have full-length albums of their own out now on the label. Anyhow, said split will contain previously unreleased material and only 200 copies total will be made for sale. More info and preorder details: http://www.hubromusic.com/

For flowers, cars and merry wars preview

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:10:26 -0800

Check out a sample of the new Huntsville album "For flowers, cars and merry wars", due out April 1 via Hubro: http://soundcloud.com/huntsville/for-flowers-cars-and-merry

New Huntsville album in March

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:18:41 -0800

Norwegian drone/jazz act Huntsville has announced that their new album "For flowers, cars and merry wars" will be released this coming March via the Grappa Musikkforlag imprint Hubro.

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:59:19 -0700

Rune Grammofon has now posted some details on the new Huntsville album "Eco, arches & eras", due out September 22: http://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/huntsville/rcd-2079---huntsville_-eco_-arches---eras-_2cd_

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:52:32 -0700

Huntsville have posted a few sound clips from their upcoming 2CD album "Eco, arches & eras" at their website: http://www.huntsville.no/
They also revealed that Norwegian singer Sidsel Endresen appears as guest on the album along with American artists Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche.

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:21:04 -0700

Norwegian drone artists Huntsville will unveil their new double-disc album "Eco, arches & eras" on September 22. I assume they are still working with Rune Grammofon, so unless I hear otherwise I'd presume that's the label. The group also says there will be "three visitors" on the album, but provide no further details at this time.

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:38:53 -0700

Look for Rune Grammofon to release the new album "A killer for that ache" from singer/songwriter Hilde Marie Kjersem in mid-August. Also on the way later this year are new records from MoHa!, Huntsville (+ special guests), Susanna (of Susanna and the Magical Orchestra) and Humcrush (live) as well as the sequel to the "Money will ruin everything" art-book/2CD compilation.

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:40:21 -0800

The New York Times reviews a Rune Grammofon showcase in NYC featuring Opsvik & Jennings and Huntsville: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/arts/music/15opsv.html?ref=arts

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:50:01 -0800

Rune Grammofon has announced that their first release for 2008 will be from Box, an international supergroup of sorts featuring Raoul Björkenheim (Scorch Trio), Ståle Storløkken (Supersilent, Humcrush), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, John Zorn) and Morgan Ågren (Zappa's Universe, Mats/Morgan, Flesh Quartet). No exact release date yet, but I'll keep you posted. Also on the way is a new 10th anniversary edition of their excellent "Money will ruin everything" compilation + book set featuring 2 CDs of mostly exclusive material from a wide range of Rune Grammofon artists - I have the first one and it is excellent. Later on in the year, look for new releases from Skyphone, Scorch Trio and Humcrush in the spring and then Arve Henriksen, Susanna, Huntsville and Jono El Grande later on. Plus a few TBA surprises, of course.

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:18:24 -0800

MIC Norway profiles drone act Huntsville ahead of their upcoming European tour: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007110716031228597390

Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Cokemachineglow talks to Norwegian drone/experimental act Huntsville: http://cokemachineglow.com/feature/interview/huntsville.html

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Dusted reviews the latest from Norwegian minimalist/drone act Huntsville: http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/3471

Huntsville For the middle class Rune Grammofon

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800

There's a kind of madness in the best instrumental rock records; it's just something you notice after listening to a lot of them. Norway's Huntsville are clearly miles above most of their competitors, and the difference must be down to their inspired playing, creative brinksmanship on the edges where electronica, post rock and jazz come together, and yes - a bit of madness. There is nothing ordinary about "For the middle class"; it contains music that's constantly in motion, looking for the least-traveled road to take you down. "Add a key of humanity" is 22 minutes long - a real mind-fry of a track featuring frantic percussion, jittery keyboard sounds that contrast in interesting ways, and of all things, a banjo. It's absolutely riveting, and so is the 15-minute "Appearance of a wise child", which, with its upright bass and locomotive-like rhythm, sounds like a train ride through some war-torn country. Without a doubt, though, Huntsville take you on a wild, often psychedelic ride, making every overlapping sound matter. This is a major release in the realm of Nordic soundscape music.

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Rune Grammofon will release new albums from Huntsville and In the Country this fall. Read more: http://www.runegrammofon.com/
Listen to Huntsville here: http://www.huntsville.no/radio/mp3player.html