In the early 80s, there were a tape-movement in the norwegian underground scene. Only a few alternative bands had the money to release their own albums, - some could afford a single, but rarely more than that. The cassette tape was the rescue for a lot of underground artists, and this was also the way WHITE LORD JESUS made their dark electronic music available back then. The band was originally started in Oslo by Tristan Christ
(Arvid Skancke-Knutsen) and Tognazzi (Thomas Robsahm)
the autumn of 1983. In 1984, White Lord Jesus released a legendary tape called “Amen”, - and this is the tape that the duo now in 2005 has reworked and released on CD. The cd release marks the 20 year anniversary for the band’s split-up. Originally the two had planned to release the tape on cd as it was, without any rearranging and reworking, but when Tristan Christ started to copy the tracks over to his computer, he couldn’t resist putting on some extra layers and adding some bits and pieces to the music. Back in 84, they wanted to put strings on the tracks, but couldn’t afford it. Now the strings are very much present on the new recordings… There are also 6 extra songs on the CD.
After the split up from White Lord Jesus, Thomas Robsahm has made a career in norwegian film as a director, and Arvid Skancke-Knutsen is now the chief editor of the norwegian music business magazine Ballade.

And this was what they looked like 20 years ago:

Here are some songs from the 2005 edition of “Amen”:
White lord Jesus - song for a dark girl
White Lord Jesus - back in mary’s room
White Lord Jesus - beautiful diseases

Morningside records has some very interesting artists, and you NEED to hear this! The text in this article is based on quotes from the bandbios, because I have nothing else to say today… I need to listen, - got no time to write!

[Bio:] Delicia Mini is a danish/icelandic quartet resident in Aarhus who released their debut album “Skuggi” in 2004, to much acclaim. Delicia Mini, named after the Czech organ-type keyboard which also plays an important role in their music, integrates many genres and a great stylistic variety in their personal and coherent sound. Wry guitar themes and drum rhythms give the music an energetic flow and the band’s motive power, Icelandic born Kristjan Eggertson, who with his charismatic voice sings in both English and Icelandic, adds a Nordic tone to the music.
Delicia Mini - Gluggi

I am bones
[Bio:] I Am Bones‘ primary engine is Johannes Gammelby. Since 2001, he has written countless songs in his bedroom and recorded them, playing all the instruments himself. However, this is not your typical bedroom-DIY-lo-fi package, the intention was to write aggressive pop. Anti-indie, if you will. (Define ‘indie’?! ed.) It is all about seeing how far it is possible to go, in one given direction, with a short attention span. Thus, the debutalbum succeedes in combining hard-core, folk, hip-hop, new wave and just plain ol’ rock ‘n’ roll.
I am bones - talk to the hand

Figurines

[Eardrums note:] Figurines play energic and melodic indierock in the veins of modern bands like Interpol/Bloc Party. [Bio:] Figurines was formed sometime in the mid 90s by the three childhood friends Christian Hjelm, Andreas Toft, and Claus S. Johansen. In 2001 they recorded the EP “The Detour” and shortly after that they were signed to Morningside Records. Later that year Kristian Volden (AKA Volle) joined the band, completing the ensemble that we see today. In the end of 2002 they released “Shake A Mountain”, and two years later Figurines released their second full-length album “Skeleton”. It was released April 11th 2005. The album was recorded in Tambourine Studios in Malmö and Destruction Studios in Aarhus. The song “The Wonder” was #1 on the Danish Alternative Chart for a couple of weeks in April 2005 and “Silver Ponds” has been on heavy rotation on Danish national radio. “Skeleton” is scheduled for release in Germany, Switerland, and Austria in June 2005 on German record label Pop-U-Loud.

Figurines - the wonder
Figurines - rivalry

Jomi Massage
[Bio:] Jomi Massage is called the queen of noise, venues book her before they know what she is up to, she is a rebel-face when it comes to discussing music in different national medias. She discovers new talents and helps them grow, among these, Morningsiders Strumm. She started out back in 1995 forming various Murmur who blew punk rock of stage with their uncompromising wall of noise. March 2004 she released her first full-length album “Aloud” this time with only English lyrics, but still the same uncontrollable, angry, yet loveable Jomi Massage behind the steering wheel. [Eardrums note:] Musically, this is somewhere in the area of Björk and Stina Nordenstam, - beautiful experimental pop/rock/art with very expressive vocals and some scary areas… Interesting


Jomi Massage - bruises and disasters
Jomi Massage - opposite of nothing
Jomi Massage - like weather

Larsen and furious jane
Larsen & Furious Jane is a seven-piece band from Aarhus, Denmark centered around singer and songwriter Torsten Larsen.
larsen and furious jane - take off

Oh no ono
[Bio:] Oh No Ono is a gravity-defying quartet from Aalborg, Denmark. The band was formed in 2003 by Kristoffer Rom (drums), Aske Zidore (guitar, vocals, samples), Kristian Olsen (keyboards etc.) and Malthe Fischer (vocals, guitar and samples). All with different musical backgrounds that span from classical, country, rock and punk. Oh No Ono is constantly in search of something new. Some loves to have their ears challenged – some prefers things the way they were. This band guarantees a unique experience whether you like them or not.
Oh No Ono’s fanbase is quickly expanding due to concerts around the country played with confidence and infectious energy. The company of Oh No Ono leaves nothing left but to surrender to the hasty beat and dance your ass off.
oh no ono - fat simon says

Funch is a band from Copenhagen, Denmark, who recently won “track of the day” over at garageband.com with this great track, “noizy summer / silent kill”. They also have a page at MyMusic.dk, where you can hear more of their songs and download some of them if you register. The songs at MyMusic shows a slightly calmer side of the band, - also very good.

I have heard so much good new music lately, but haven’t got the time to write about it… Some of it has come to me by mail, and some of it has just been stumbled upon. Keep sending me those e-mails! I need good recommendations for new bands and music! And thank you to all of you who tell me about their band or a band I should write about. (eardrums@lindbjor.net).
So, here’s a large post catching up on some of the stuff that’s been on my desk for some days now:

The tah-dahs
The tah-dahs has made one of my favourites this week, the song “the cute band”, - so charmingly sweet and sharp kicking at the same time, - and a nice story in the lyrics. I love vocals like this, - pushing their limits to the edge. Great music with both beauty and energy! This weeks favourite band!… one of them at least…
The Tah-dahs has released one album, “Le Fun”, where you can find this great track. They are on the fine new indielabel Undeniable records, where you also can find The Happy Bullets that we featured on our last mixtape (see mixtape 7 in the mixtape area of eardrums).

the tah-dahs - the cute band

Loveninjas
Loveninjas will have a new EP out on Labrador records on november 16. It’s called “keep your love”, and the music is fine poptunes about broken hearts and broken penises. The story about this swedish band (or “concept” as they like to call it) is quite funny.
Listen to how the band was born (from their website):

“Now that I had a song I figured I might as well start a fake band. I decided on writing about death, sex and Japanese girls only. It’s a good way stimulate creativity. A really intense period of writing and recording followed. I got the feeling Loveninjas would be fun live. So I asked my friends if they wanted to join. The question was: Do you want to be on stage dressed in costumes singing silly songs about murder and sex? Three of them said yes. Olle got to be the heart while the rest of us were transformed into little black friends with dirty hair and coloured hearts attached with glue. Loveninjas was now ready for action.”

Here’s the title track for free, - and a tiny preview of the song about the broken penis.
Loveninjas - keep your love
Loveninjas - she broke his penis in two (a few seconds preview only)

Anthony and the Johnsons
I’m not going to say much about Anthony, - he’s all over now and he deserves the success. I just wanted to share with you one of my favourites from his lates album, - the incredibly beautiful duet with Boy George, “You are my sister“, - his latest single.

Venice is sinking
This five piece band from Athens, GA. They will be releasing their debut full-length on One Percent Press in March next year; and right now they have a split EP out with the Atlanta band What We Do Is Secret. Their music could be described as something like a combination of the Cure’s basslines, the strings of the Go-Betweens and the melodies of Grandaddy, - and on top of that you can add a dash of Echo and the Bunnymen and some unknown and probably very secret spices that make it all taste great together. Here are two tracks from the band, - one of them has also been made a video for that is available on the bands website.

Venice is sinking - pulaski heights
Venice is sinking - undecided

Amestory
This is a band that I know almost nothing about, other than that they come from Thousand Oaks, CA, and that they play emotional orchestral rock that’s got some interesting arrangements and a touch of melodrama. Some of this is very good! They have a website and they have some songs for download:
Amestory - north
Amestory - constants
Amestory - they’re telling you you have been alive

Duplomacy
Duplomacy is making music in the quieter regions of the alternative pop- genre. The band started as a soloproject for songwriter Andy Flynn from Minneapolis, but has grown into a full band. Andy has got some producer help from T.W. Walsh (Pedro the Lion), and the music can soon be ordered from their website. Fans of the quieter songs of Death Cab for Cutie may like this.
Here are some songs:
duplomacy - photograph
duplomacy - coppertone
duplomacy - about a lie

and last but not least, an “oldie” I found as a new track at Tonspion. It’s “these are your friends” by Adem. Still a great song. Adem was once a part of the semi-electronica/post-rock project Fridge together with Kieran Hebden, now more famous as Four Tet.

Pitchfork’s Nick Sylvester has written about norwegian bands again… This time he gives Ungdomskulen good reviews in Pitchfork’s track reviews. Four mp3s from Ungdomskulen’s 7″s are posted on this page, including the track Pitchfork mentioned, “I’m on top” (Sylvester gives it 4 stars).