The nominees for the 2009 Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian Grammy) have been announced:
Female Artist: Ane Brun - Live At Stockholm Concert Hall (, ) Hanne Hukkelberg - Blood From A Stone () Julie Dahle Aagård - Stompin' Feet () Noora Noor - Soul Deep ()
Male Artist: Alexander Rybak - Fairytales () Martin Hagfors - Men and flies () Sivert Höyem - Moon Landing () Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio (//)
Pop Group: Datarock - Red (/) Donkeyboy - Caught In A Life () Kings Of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence (/) Kråkesølv - Trådnøsting () Montée - Isle Of Now ()
Electronica: Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas - 2 (/) Mungolian Jetset - We Gave It All Away (/) Röyksopp - Junior (/) Vinter In Hollywood - Outbreak (/)
Rock: DumDum Boys - Tidsmaskin (/) Heroes & Zeros - Simian Vices Modern Devices (//) John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt () Motorpsycho - Child Of The Future () Skambankt - Hardt Regn ()
Metal: Code - Resplendent Grotesque () Immortal - All Shall Fall () The Cumshots - A Life Less Necessary () Årabrot - The Brother Seed ()
Hip-hop: Chris Lee - Love Ghost (/) Lars Vaular - D'e Glede () Tommy Tee - Studio Time ()
Jazz: Håvard Stubø Quartet - Way Up () Kim Johannesen/Svein Magnus Furu/Tore Sandbakken - Kayak () Nils-Petter Molvær - Hamada (/) Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons (/) Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Restored, Returned ()
Open Class: Crimetime Orchestra - Atomic Symphony () Kristin Asbjørnsen - The Night Shines Like The Day (/) Knut Reiersrud - Gitar (/) Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea (/) When - Homage Series Vol.1: Sun Ra ()
Lyrics: Anne Grete Preus - Nesten Alene () Kjartan Kristiansen/Aslak Dørum - DumDum Boys; Tidsmaskin () Stein Torleif Bjella - Heidersmenn () Sverre Knudsen - La Det Brenne () Tønes - Sobihob ()
Best Newcomer: Alexander Rybak Donkeyboy John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen Kråkesølv Vilde Frang
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: https://starvingartistkokebok.blogspot.com/
Indie/hardcore dudes attempting to play metal is a dicey proposition, hence me approaching Danish act Rising with extreme caution, especially considering the "true fucking metal" banner they fly on myspace. However, in their favor I will concede they have a legit metal brother in guitarist Jacob Krogholt (ex-Withering Surface), but is he enough to offset the potential poseurtude of drummer Martin Niemann (Marvins Revolt) and bassist/vocalist Henrik Hald (Trust)? Or maybe those dudes are just slumming it with their other bands, finally able to let loose their inner-hessian with Rising? It's not an unreasonable question because I must concede that yes, they do successfully bring the heavy. Rising leans a bit towards the angular sludge of Unsane or Årabrot more than, say, the true metal glory of Manowar, but that's not such an awful digression IMO. If you're still in doubt, just wait for the solo section on this track and your opinion might be swayed. And really, I'd much rather hear a band like this than any 4th-rate thrash revival, even if it isn't exactly denim-vest and bullet-belt material or the truest of true. It's heavy and I like it, that's enough.
Coming on September 7 via Fysisk Format: Nernes/Skagen - Ad Undas 2LP. Full details (in Norwegian) are here: https://fysiskformat.tigernet.no/?cmd=16
Also on the way from the label this fall:
10/05 - Dominic - Nord
10/19 - Årabrot - I rove
11/16 - Haust - tba
Norwegian sludgerockers Årabrot are starting to confirm US dates:
03/18 - Spiros (SXSW), Austin, TX
03/22 - need help
03/25 - Death By Audio, NYC, NY w/USA is a Monster
03/26 - Middle East Club, Cambridge, MA w/Ehnahre (ex-Kayo Dot)
03/28 - Bagel Czar, Richmond, VA w/Gangland Buries Its Own
Norwegian sludgerockers Årabrot are streaming a new track at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/arabrot
The band's new Steve Albini-recorded album "The brother seed" will be released soon via Norway Rat Records. Also keep an eye out for US dates around SXSW - the band will be touring with Scully and The USA Is A Monster.
Årabrot (NOR) Baskery (SWE) Benny Crespo's Gang (ICE) Blood Red Throne (NOR) Bloodgroup (ICE) Casiokids (NOR) Dmitry Fyodorov (SWE) Grande (NOR) Adam Heldring (SWE) Jaakko & Jay (FIN) Kaka (SWE) Kakkmaddafakka (NOR) The Latebirds (FIN) Love:Fi (NOR) Mixtapes & Cellmates (SWE) Peter Bjorn and John (SWE) Kristofer Ragnstam (SWE) Sprengjuhollin (ICE) Steed Lord (ICE) Steso Songs (SWE) The Shitsez (NOR) The Tallest Man On Earth (SWE) Sofia Talvik (SWE) Those Dancing Days (SWE) The Tiny (SWE) Wildbirds & Peacedrums (SWE)
Norway Rat (Årabrot, Noxagt) has signed punk-rockers Lydia Laska and will be releasing the new 7" "Could I have a go on your girl, please?" b/w "Mandy", a new version of the old track from their "We're nothing compared to ourselves" EP. Guests on the a-side include Emil Nikolaisen (Serena Maneesh) on guitar and Sissy Wish on backing vocals. Expect it sometime in November. The band is also working on a new full-length with an eye for a February release.
Norwegian noise duo Nernes/Skagen (ft. members from Ryfylke and Årabrot) are touring the US as support for Insect With Tits:
06/24 - Velvet Lounge, Washington DC
06/25 - Scary Studios, Baltimore, MD
06/26 - Adventure Island, Philadelphia, PA
06/27 - tba, New York City, NY
06/28 - Lowell Noise Fest, Lowell, Massachusetts
06/29 - Cagibi, Montreal, Quebec
06/30 - Vintage Records & Tapes, Toronto, Quebec
07/01 - Potential Life Studios, Rochester, NY
07/02 - Bela Dubby, Cleveland, OH
07/03 - tba, Chicago, IL
07/04 - 517noise 4th of July Show, Lansing, MI
07/05 - Muscle Beach, Allentown, PA
07/06 - Garfield Artworks (3pm matinee), Pittsburgh, PA
07/07 - The Bridge, Charlottesville, VA