Good Norwegian Music! (part 2)

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Two more selections from Norway’s recent past, emphasising original and special music.


The White Birch Star is just a sun (Glitterhouse, 2002)
Wish I was small in sunny days/a summer light breeze could lead me further/someone would call from beyond the maze/of winter breeze and draw me to her. These are the evocative opening lyrics. The music is quiet, atmospheric, occasionally with an unexpected sense of impending drama, a slow dance to infinity. Simple, repetitive, keyboard and vocal melodies dominate, sometimes backgrounded by mysterious tapping and blowing sounds.
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Maja Ratkje Voice (Rune Grammofon, 2002)
Apparently the source for every sound you hear on this, no matter how electronic, is Maja’s voice. Some might find this a difficult listen – electronic noise, a woman screaming – yet this is one of the most uplifting, liberating albums I have heard. She screams her head off, but then laughs. One particular word she sings out loud and clear: “joy”. One time I met her at a party, and asked her if I was hearing some text from Richard Brautigan amidst some speeded-up talk on the album. She answered by quoting from the recording, with the speeded up voice. This woman doesn’t need machines at all!
Other acts I’ve written about:
Deathprod
Portrait of David
Salvatore
Supersilent
Susanna and the Magical Orchestra
Nils Økland

barry
Barry Kavanagh writes fiction, and has made music, formerly with Dacianos.

Contact him here.