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Mars 31, 2007
Visiting Hours
My sister Jean writes poetry. Here's an autobiographical poem she wrote about her visit to me here in Norway, at New Year's (exactly 3 months ago). I should probably give some background before you read it, although I know that's not always necessary to do that. Basically, Jean had a weird experience here: the winter was strangely mild for a start, and then, before she could see many of the tourist sights, she got sick and spent her holiday time in two different hospitals! But they let her go eventually...
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Posted by barry at 2:53 EM
Mars 30, 2007
From the Bosom of Mother Hackney
This week I introduced yet another band to the Norwegian public. Morning Bride are an American/British 5-piece based in Hackney, East London (where I used to live). They even sing a song about it, "Mother Hackney". As usual, I arranged for all band members to stay in the building, in the apartments above Sound of Mu, for that "communal experience" or whatever you'd like to call it.
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Posted by barry at 5:46 EM
Mars 20, 2007
Nils Økland live at Sound of Mu
I always hoped this would happen! Nils Økland, hardingfiddle player, came to our little place and played a concert to an enraptured audience! Here are the picures.
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Posted by barry at 9:10 EM
Mars 14, 2007
Good Norwegian Music! (part 4)
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Posted by barry at 4:25 EM
Mars 7, 2007
Good Norwegian Music! (part 3)
More recommended Norwegian music from the 2000s! As I stated in part 1, Norway may have its fair share of unoriginal pop/rock blandness, but there is much to be said for the new and original music being made here. At the time, I mentioned "Anglo-American cultural imperialism" and I'd like to qualify what I mean by that. I do not criticize Norwegians for singing in English, or for having English-language titles to their instrumental music. This is the only way to gain an international audience, and anyway I believe strongly in cross-pollination of cultures. And I like it. There's nothing more tedious than narrow nationalism. I suppose what annoys me is when smaller nations feel they have to copy the most shallow clichés of the English-speaking world, out of some kind of twisted inferiority complex. The musicians I applaud in this blog elevate the forms of music in which they operate, and are in a great sense international.
Here's a very good example of how much fun multi-cultural juxtapositions can be. The Norwegian band called Now We've Got Members.
Continue reading "Good Norwegian Music! (part 3)"
Posted by barry at 4:25 EM