Hanne Kolstø | FlashBlack

It feels like I've just put down the record player's needle (good old vinyl records, huh?); the vinyl would still feel warm from playing it; and I'd just told the world about Riot Break. Yet it didn't even take a year to release the follow-up for Hanne Kolstø's debutrecord.

FlashBlack provides ten popsongs. Partly very complex and gloomy and light and danceable on the other hand. In contrary to Kolstø's first record Riot Break the songs don't have their climax in a orchestral sphere rather in a landscape with all kinds of sounds and noises. The album is provoking curiosity as well as satisfying it - it's the 2nd of a record-triology; adding another piece to the puzzle.

Pretty Veil was the first song that was released due to the "alternative christmas calender" in 2011. It's rather trivial in its arrangement but is riveting at the same time. Gloomy but honest. Suitable to the darker and cold season of the year.

After lots of touring including gigs in Norway and abroad, the summer came. And along the first official singlerelease: La-la-la-la Lovesong. "I lay awake at night, I'm not myself. So sick and tired of La-la-la-la Lovesong." Hanne's anti-lovesong quickly made its way to Norwegian radio stations and P3 ranges it among the Best Norwegian Songs in 2012. The soundrange for this one reaches back to 80s syth-pop elements. Casio-tunes, muted strings and rich cymbal work creating the rythm. Watch here the offical video for La-la-la-la Lovesong.

It got a bit quiet around Kolstø until September came and FlashBlack finally was released. Many songs remind of Depeche Mode, late Tears for Fears, Radiohead or maybe even a mixture of it all. Especially The Scoop could be ranged into the 80s with its steady and danceable beats.

"FlashBlack" albumcover by Erik Pirolt who also did the cover for "Riot Break"

Other tracks like "Not Looking For Us" (--> goosebumps!!) and "Far Ahead" (--> watch here a live version of Far Ahead recorded by P3) mostly remind of the debutrecord. They are carried by guitar chords and bring Hanne's (and choir) voice into focus. "Sizzly" is of the same playful character as "The City" but could have very likely been released by POST [--> A pop-orchestra of four members including Hanne; they released their debut album "Common Rand Of People" in 2010; as far as I understood they're now focusing on writing their lyrics in Nynorsk instead of English, which is very cool; Nynorsk is cool].

Quite doubtless is "Carousel" the track that might leave the most impression to the listener. It's so full of engergy that it's difficult to stay seated while listening to it. It makes you dance, hop around and gets you into a good mood. Very suiting to it is the music video which just fully captured my heart. It was directed by Fred Arne Wergeland who also directed Kolstø's video to "The City" and POST's "Slow Song". Furthermore the video features drift champion Fredric Aasbø and was filmed at several locations in Norway. To me it's the best music video of the year. Best described in a way of: Hipster meets Bunad. 

All in all is FlashBlack a good follow-up to Riot Break and preview for Blue Anger (the record yet to come). It features more electronic elements than Riot Break and might require a few listenings to really grow on the music. But generally it's a good mix of soft tunes, playful chords and drums, thrilling beats and piercing Casio-sounds. Most recommended are the tracks: Pretty Veil, Carousel and The Scoop. And I would give the album a 5/6 rating.

FlashBlack was released on the 14th of September with Karmakosmetix Records. The album (even vinyl) can be bought via CDON.eu, Platekompaniet or directly from Karmakosmetix Records and downloaded from several music stores. You can also listen to the album via Spotify and Wimp.


Get connected with Hanne Kolstø: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Eksamen i norsk

Ja.... da hadde jeg muntlig eksamen i norsk siste tirsdag.
På den ene siden gikk det bedre enn jeg trodde, men samtidig passet det ikke helt til forventningene mine...

Natten før eksamenen sov jeg så veldig dårlig. Våknet fra et mareritt to ganger minst. Drømte av den muntlige eksamenen jeg skulle ta. Drømte at læreren min sa at han trenger en pause fra oss fordi han liker oss ikke. Seriøst?! Hva var dette? Men, men, men, men... læreren vår liker oss jo, det er jeg sikker på. Det tok noen minutter å kom til ro igjen. Men våken var jeg likevel og ja, selvfølgelig er det digg å vakne etter en tretimers søvn, når man skal ta en eksamen.

Kl. 4.30 - Vel... så hadde jeg i det minste litt tid på meg å gjennomgå de tekstene vi skulle forberede. Vi hadde massevis interessante temaer i dette semesteret. Temaer som kan godt diskuteres. Temaer som likestilling, kommunikasjon og massemedier, friluftsliv, dialekter, samer, humoristiske tekster osv. Alt kombinert med noen noveller, dikt og andre tekster. Jeg tenkte på forskjellige spørsmål læreren kunne spørre under eksamenen. Jeg tenkte på interessante synspunkter jeg kunne komme opp med. Jeg hørte noen oppmuntrende ord som kom fra stemmen i hodet mitt (?!?!) - dvs hjernen min (NB: jeg er ikke gal, jeg). Dette klarer vi, ropte den. Yes, tenkte jeg!!

Jeg var så trøtt at jeg nesten falt i søvn på benken som står utenfor lærerens kontor. Samtidig var jeg kjempenervøs og urolig. Jeg snakket med en av kursdeltakere. Han skulle ha sin muntlige eksamenen rett før meg. Og så ventet jeg. 20 minutter igjen. 10 minutter igjen. 5 minutter igjen. Tar den muntlige eksamenen virkelig så lenge, var tanken min da døren ble åpnet og ut kom den ene kursdeltakeren igjen. Inne i kontoret hilste jeg på læreren og sat meg ned.

Læreren forklarte først at gutten som hadde eksamen før meg allerede trekk et tema for meg (NB: Jeg tror jeg skal ta meg en lang prat med fyren som trekk mitt tema!!). "Ditt tema er eldre og nyere norsk historie" sa læreren da.
Eldre og nyere norsk historie, eldre og nyere norsk historie, eldre og nyere norsk historie - hørte jeg som et ekko i hodet mitt. Det var det eneste tema; det eneste tema jeg hadde aldri tatt hvis jeg hadde fått muligheten å velge selv. Ikke fordi jeg ikke er interessert i norsk historie, men bare fordi jeg synes ikke at det er et tema man kan godt diskutere om. Fortelle om... kanskje.
Og mens læreren forklarte litt nærmere hva jeg skulle snakke om hørte jeg samtidig stemmen i hodet mitt som sa: "Ja, nei, ikke mitt tema. Da har jeg tenkt å sove litt da, lykke til og snakkes senere." Og så ble det tomt og stille i hodet. Så prøvde jeg å samle noen tanker før jeg begynte å snakke (selvsikkert) med: "Ææææææ.... ja... eldre norsk historie... vel..." Skjerp deg, tenkte jeg! Men så fortalte jeg noen ting om svartedauden og hansetiden i Norge og unionen med Danmark. Læreren spurte meg om jeg visste mer om svartedauden. "Hææ?!" Jeg bare forklarte at det var en alvorlig sykdom men har så absolutt ikke tenkt på at læreren ville høre at det var pesten. For meg var det nemlig klart. Vel.. i tillegg snakket jeg litt om sagnet Jostedalsrypa. Etterpå snakket jeg litt om diktene Det Er Ingen Hverdag Mer og Tung Tids Tale og novellen Naken. Læreren spurte om novellen var vanskelig å forstå siden den ble skrevet på nynorsk (vi lærer jo egentlig bare bokmål). Det gjorde meg litt perpleks. Var det en del av evalueringen? Var eksamenen allerede over? Får jeg en dårligere karakter hvis jeg svarer med ja?! Jeg svarte at det ikke er vanskelig for meg å lese på nynorsk og at det er noe man kan vane seg til. Uff da...
Mens læreren skrev noen ting ned i heftet sitt, tenkte på all de feil jeg gjorde og tenkte på hvor gjerne jeg hadde fortalt læreren min at jeg egentlig er ganske klok!! Jeg sverger at jeg er klok!!!

Og så var eksamenen over. Oj.. nå kommer det! Jeg trodde læreren vil si at eksamenen min var helt dårlig, ufattelig dårlig for én som har lært språket i nesten to år, men han sa at det var okej. Jeg gjorde noen feil når det gjelder ordstillingen og uttalen - men samtidig var de gode delvis ihvertfall. Jeg brukte noen tyske ord under eksamenen. *facepalm* Men han sa også at innholdet var god og han liker tonefallet mitt. Hehe, jeg nesten ble rød i ansiktet. Ihvertfall fikk jeg en god karakter for den muntlige prøven. For en god følelse det var etterpå! I tillegg fikk jeg noen hyggelige ord om mine skriftlige oppgavene. Så fint!! :)

Og nå må jeg bare klare den skriftlige eksamenen på torsdag.

Så norsk som mulig

Hvis man er blitt forelsket i et land, så er det naturlig at man prøver å få med seg mest mulig av landets språk, kultur og vaner. Man kan reise, ja. Eventuelt flytte. Men det er ikke så lett, fordi ofte er det jobben, universitetet, skolen eller familien man er knyttet til. Jeg tror, at jeg klarte egentlig ganske godt å bli litt mer norsk i den siste tiden- dvs. for én som ikke bor i Norge.

Og det er så spennende å ha befatning med noe norsk bortsett fra språkkurset. Men jeg må innrømme at norskkurset er faktisk en viktig og sentral del av mitt liv. Ikke minst fordi de fleste av mine norske aktiviteter er mer eller mindre knyttet til kurset.
Så på en måte er det utfordrende og anstrengende å lese til prøvene, å gjør leksene, å forberede noe eller lage en presentasjon. Å være oppmerksom i timen. Å jobbe med forskjellige tema. Og det kan være knallhardt.
Men på den andre siden er det så utrolig fint å høre språket. Å høre på det læreren forteller. Eller å diskutere med de andre kursdeltakere. Og det fineste er de aktiviteter vi gjør utenfor kurset. Utenfor kurset, men sammen som gruppe, som venner - selv når læreren er med.
Til og med er det norsk læreren vår som organiserer og motiverer oss til å gjøre noe utenfor kurset. Det er faktsik helt kult å ha en så engasjert og snill lærer - jeg setter enormt pris på det.

Okej da.... og nå kommer det noen fortellinger: Bortsett fra den legendariske kvelden med Ibsen-forestillingen og karaoke-klubben (jeg skrev om det allerede!) for bare få uker siden ble det litt senere en filmkveld på universitetet. Vi så "Oslo, 31. august" som har fått mange gode kritikker i den norske pressen. Ja... det var en god film - litt trist også. Den ble jo hovedsakelig filmet i Oslo, så var det så bra å se all disse kjente steder igjen.  De fleste så jeg selv da jeg var i Oslo for nesten to år (!!!) siden. Men jeg har gode minner på det. Jeg selv gikk rundt på mørke gater etter å ha vært på Blå (tenk deg - Oslos berømte Blå!!). Jeg var i Vigelandsparken og passerte Frognerbadet (hvor Thelma & Clyde hadde sin fotoshoot til White Line, hehehe). Åh, Oslo, min vakre by!! Det føltes så hjemlig å se filmen. Ja, og den kan anbefales.

Hovedpersonen Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie) i "Oslo, 31. august"

Noen dager senere fikk jeg en stoooooor pakke fra en venn som bor i Fredrikstad. Alltid spennende å få post fra Norge, men denne gangen gledet jeg meg som et barn på julekvelden. Pakken var nemlig fylt med massevis lakris. Yaaaay!!! Lakrissjokolade hadde jeg aldri smakt på før, men... herregud, hvor ubeskrivelig deilig - serriøst!! Det finnes ingenting bedre i verden enn lakrissjokolade. Jeg sverger. :)
Vanlig er jeg litt skeptisk når det gjelder saltlakris men disse Salte Rockere smaker absolutt herlige. Ikke for søt og ikke for bitter. Og tyggegummi med lakrissmak er uansett genial!

Pakka jeg fikk.

Søndag, 13. mai var jeg sammen med noen venner fra norskkurset på Susanne Sundfør konserten her i Wien. Det var egentlig veldig overraskende fordi jeg har av og til sjekket nettsiden hennes, men aldri stod der at hun kommer til Østerrike. Og plutselig kom hun hit. Jeg gledet meg så stort til konserten, fordi hun er en av de beste norske musikere for tiden og en av mine favoritter i lang tid. Susanne Sundfør stod helt på toppen av min "norske band/musikere jeg MÅ se live"-lista.
Konserten selv overgikk forventningene mine. Det var mystisk, dypt, intenst, magisk og utrolig vakkert. I tillegg stod jeg rett foran scenen og der var bare 30 andre mennesker i publikum. Det var nesten en privatkonsert!! Kan du tenke deg?!

Susanne Sundfør @ WUK i Wien. Jeg tok bildet under konserten.

Å høre Turkish Delight live var en av de beste opplevelser i livet mitt. Helt dynamisk. Og for en fantastisk trommis som spiller i bandet til Sundfør. Jeg snakket litt med både Susanne og trommisen hennes etter konserten. Jeg har ikke vært så nervøs i lang tid. Hehehe... 

På mandag etter konserten kom det noen norsk-lærer på besøk. Kollegaer av norsk-lærern min; noen av dem ihvertfall. Det var litt spesiellt. Vi måtte forberede noen artikkler vi kunne snakke om sammen med lærene. Artikklene handlet om språksituasjonen i Norge - egentlig ganske interessant å lese og diskutere om. 

Det som gjorde situasjonen litt ukjent for oss var at vi visste ikke hvilke forventninger de hadde til oss eller hva læreren vår fortalte dem om oss. I tillegg ville vi ikke at læreren vår får negative tilbakemeldinger.

Uff da... men det gikk bra og det var interessant å snakke med andre mennesker, å høre forskjellige meninger osv. Jeg skulle gjerne ha snakket med dem litt lengre.

Noen "norske" billetter. ;)

Kvelden før 17. mai gikk jeg på kino - sammen med noen fra norskkurs og læreren vår. Det var i forbindelse med en "nordisk filmuke" her i Wien. Så det ble vist flere nordiske filmer og på kvelden vi gikk var det "Vegas"-filmen som var veldig digg og morsom men også dramatisk og rar - en god kombinasjon. Den MÅ ses!! I alle fall må dere se denne legendariske scenen her av filmen --> "fest, krangel og Casiokids". Ihvertfall gir filmen gode eksempel på hvilken måte man kan bruke ordet "føkk" på. Ja, ja, disse ting læres ikke i kurset. Hehehe..  ;)

Etter filmen gikk vi til en pub hvor vi tilbrakte flere timer. Jeg tror det var en god måte å starte 17. mai på!! ;)

Hovedpersonene Thomas (Jørgen H. Nilsen), Marianne (Karoline Stemre) og Terje (Sindre K. Jacobsen) i "Vegas"-filmen.

I disse dager er jeg i gang med å lese en norsk kriminalroman - en slags lekse til norsk-kurset. Boka heter "Operasjon Helena" og ble skrevet av Mostue & Brenna. Hmm... Jeg valgte den fordi det stod på baksiden at den er hyperspennende og realistisk. Jeg skal se hvordan den kommer til å bli...

Bortsett fra norsk musikk og norske aviser hjelper all disse aktiviteter å føle meg veldig norsk her om dagen. Hurra!! :)

NB: Jeg beklager de x-tusen feil i teksten! Jeg prøver så godt jeg kan å bli bedre i norsk.

Thelma & Clyde | Back2Black

The Norwegian electropop duo Thelma & Clyde is back with a new single - Back2Black.

Released on the 18th of May, therefore about 1,5 years after their last release - their debutrecord White Line, the new single Back2Black gives a flavour of what might await us on the sequencing record.

One and a half year is quite some time to wait for something new, but Back2Black stands out with a dancable, resounding rhythm, catchy lyrics and a slight touch of the 90s. This makes the single suitable for both being played in a club as well as on the radio.
Not surprising either is the quality of the song itself - the way it is mixed and the particular elements and beats are put together. Just like you're used to it from previous Thelma & Clyde songs.

I can imagine well how the new album will be built around the sound of Back2Black. Just can't wait to hear more of the new material!!



Thelma & Clyde single Back2Black released on the 18th of May 2012 with Karmakosmetix Records. Music written and produced by Hanne Kolstø and Trygve Tambs-Lyche.
Follow Thelma & Clyde on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.

You can stream Back2Black on Spotify, Wimp, SoundCloud or YouTube.
Or buy the song on iTunes or Platekompaniet.

Takk for sist!

Siste lørdag (28. april) var vi på teateret. Vi, det vil si, noen av oss fra norskkurset og læreren. 
Men det var bare en liten del av en finfin kveld.

Vi så Ibsens "John Gabriel Borkman" @ Theater in der Josefstadt her i Wien. Jeg husker egentlig ikke siste gangen jeg var i en teaterforestilling. Og det betyr enten at det var lenge siden eller stykket jeg så var ikke godt nok for å huske. Men ihvertfall var det interessant å se Ibsen-stykket på tysk etter å ha lest det på norsk. Forestillingen selv var litt modernere enn måten original-teksten ble skrevet i. Også var det litt minimalistisk. Og morsommere enn originalen. Skuespillerne gjorde en fabelaktig jobb på scenen - det var litt som de aldri har gjort noe annet enn å spille rollene sine i dette Ibsen-stykket. En god opplevelse!!

Her et bilde av forestillingen: John Gabriel Borkman og Fru Borkman. 

Hmm... morsomt egentlig at jeg fant bildet på mitt kamera fordi jeg er sikker at jeg tok d'ikke - det var jo forbudt å fotografere eller filme! *hyyysj*;)

Det var kanskje klokka 10.15 om kvelden da teaterforestillingen var slutt og så bestemmte vi oss å dra noensteds for å drikke noe. Været var perfekt for å sitte utendørs. Og etter en stund gikk vi videre til en liten jazz-pub. Åh, fantastisk!! Ingenting er bedre enn å sitte sammen med venner (og læreren), drikke øl og prate om alt mellom himmel og jord. Man blir kjent med hverandre og man kan diskutere om et tema vi vanlig får ikke tid til å snakke om i kurset. Og ikke minst det norske språket - musikk i ørene mine! :)
For moro skyld prøvde vi å lære læreren vår noen typiske østerrikske uttrykk - en liten innføring i dialektene våre, so to say! Han klarte det egentlig ganske godt.

Litt senere fikk vi ideen til å gå til en karaoke-klubb som var rett i nærheten. Som sagt, som gjort!! Og da ble det vilt på en god og morsomt måte. :) Selv læreren vår fikk vi til å synge "Der Kommissar" av Falco sammen med oss! Herre!! Det er vanskelig å tro hvis man ikke har hørt og sett det, men heldigvis har vi fotodokumentarisk bevis på det. Hehe... må si at vi var fantastisk bra. :) Høydepunktet var det da en fyr fra kurset "performte" til Right Said Freds "I'm Too Sexy" - vel... det var meget underholdende. :D

Kl. 5 om morgen forlot vi klubben og dro hjemover. Kl. 6.30 kom jeg hjem. Wow!
Jeg håper bare at vi tar det igjen snart og vil takke for en fantastisk legendarisk kveld.


PS: Halloooo?!?! Da skrev jeg jo på norsk. Jeg er selv litt overrasket... men okej! De som finner de 57 feil i teksten får gjerne å beholde dem. ;)

Vi snakker bare norsk! Del 3.5

...og da snakker vi enda mer norsk! And it's interesting how much one can learn in just some time and how four months can appear so much longer. And suddenly is course no. 3 over (well soon - after the written and oral exams on Wednesday and next Monday) and soon I'm going to write about course no. 4!

When I think back on the topics we went through since October it actually seems to be a lot we learned. It wasn't much of new grammar we learned, actually. Sure, some new vocabulary, but that came quite automatically when learning about a new topic. But most of all it was probably a progress in the way we express ourselves in this language - the way we talk, the way we write.

Selv-evaluation?! Hard to tell. Of course I notice that the texts I write now sound, let's say, smarter than those I wrote in previous courses (doesn't mean though, that I'm not making any mistakes). But I definitely feel more comfortable writing in Norwegian! Understanding spoken Norwegian got easier. Speaking myself?!? Mhm... it's something I should do more often, I guess!

The third course now was definitely more challenging in its tasks and demands but on the other hand it was filled with interesting literature and discussions. Have you ever read "Den misunnelige frisøren" by Lars Saabye Christensen? I loved it. It's just a short novel but very nice to read. Christensen has a fantastic style of writing!! (That's a recommendation!!) Or you could read Norwegian fairytales - it's a beautiful kind of language: "Til værs, til værs, over mønsås og kirkespir, over land, over vann, over berg, over dal, til min kjæreste som venter meg i fjellet i natt." (--> taken from one of my favourite Norwegian fairytales "Følgesvennen") And what about "Lukten av propan om morgenen" by Levi Henriksen!? Very visualizing!! Or stories by Jon Fosse if you're into Nynorsk.

Oh, the "new Norwegian" - that actually goes hand in hand with dialects and slang. This is something I love to learn about. Kinda important, too. Most of the time I understand my Norwegian friends (thinking of the stuff they're writing) but have you ever met a person writing in a Trøndersk-dialect? Or just in Nynorsk? And it's a comfortable feeling to know a couple of "slang" expressions. Although I understand that certain expressions just can't be taught in a course. Hehehe... thank God for having helpful friends! :)

But no matter how interesting or challenging a topic is, it often depends on the teacher. The teacher I have (now since October) seems very dedicated to his job and is doing a lot to make the lessons as interesting as possible - that's the impression I got. Fortunately (or unfortunately?!) that makes it difficult to grouse when we get lots of homework. Well, I would get a bad conscience knowing that he'd invest lots of time in all his preparations and corrections. All in all, I think there should be more teachers like him.

In addition to all that: Over the past months I came to realize more and more that the Norwegian language is making me happy. Just the language. I start to grin as soon as I hear Norwegians talking to each other. I could jump of happiness when I meet Norwegians (doesn't happen too often, though). It's fun to write in Norwegian with friends. And going to the course is usually the highlight of the week. Isn't that a bit funny?! :)

That's how studying for norsk looks like.

Top 5 Norwegian Releases In 2011

I know, I know, I'm late!! I apologize but here we go again! Another year is over and... WOW, wasn't 2011 a fantastic year considering all the Norwegian releases?

And indeed we find many jewels among the releases this year and it's difficult to put them in an order, especially if you're trying to pick the 5 most exraordinary ones. However, tastes differ but you should definitely make sure to check out these Norwegian releases from 2011!


1. Hanne Kolstø - Riot Break

Combine a fantastic singer/songwriter, a sunny summerly day where one's playing acoustic guitar, the gloomy atmosphere an empty street gets during the night and lyrics to sing along and to listen to closely with bells, claps, keys, effects, guitars and some orchestral-like arrangements. What you get is this album. A great debutalbum. What makes it so good is that the songwriting itself as well as the music around was done so extremely well. Not to forget Kolstø's ability to play with the moods, not only from song to song but also during particular songs.
And it's not surprising that this album got so many good reviews: "Riot Break turns out to be both irresistibly playfull and extremely sophisticated at the same time" writes Musikknyheter. "She's one of the greatest vocalists in this country, with a husky, powerful and unique voice that itself sounds more seductive than the most things in this world" said NRK Lydverket.
If you want to read an extended version of what I'm thinking about this album, you can read my "review" on my blog. I just can say that I'm deeply in love with Riot Break!

Released: 16th of September 2011 with Karmakosmetix Records
Listen to the album on Spotify. It can be bought on CDON.eu (physically as CD or vinyl) and on iTunes (digitally).


2. Jonas Alaska - Jonas Alaska

The young talent with the great lyrics!! Spellemann-awarded as newcomer of the year. And indeed there was a lot in the press and media in general about this 23-year old boy from southern Norway. Just listen to the lyrics - I need to put preassure on that! The music is embracing the texts. It's a sensitive and genuine style of music. A sort of pop mixed with country - lots of acoustic guitar in the main-appearance of the songs combined with decent and modest percussion, drumming, keys and harmonica. Liverpool-style!! You see, Jonas is a songwriter. Maybe he's not making people aware of critical aspects of life or politics or whatever BUT he's telling stories.
All in all a good and solid debutalbum. I recommend to listen to "October" even though it might break your heart a little.
PS: I can't even tell how happy I am to have seen him live once!
Norway can be proud of Jonas!!

Released: 23rd September 2011 with Jansen Plateproduksjon
Listen to the album on Spotify. It can be bought on CDON.eu (physically as CD or vinyl) and on iTunes (digitally).


3. Lama - Endless Repeats

I have heard of Lama before. Listened to a couple of songs. It would be hard to criticize them because musically seen, they're quite flawless. Fine rock music. But, for me, the music couldn't light a fire.... until I heard Endless Repeats!! It blew me a bit away. And, personally, I think it's the whole package that has taken on me: the style - this very "clear" kind of rock with the adequate amount of guitars, drums and keys. This kind of minimalism (thinking of their album cover, for example) - you get what you need and the album won't overflood you. I must also mention their music video to "Flashes" at this point: I love it!! Just as the music or their CD-cover, the video is clear and not too much! And "Flashes" is a killer-track.
A bit oddly actually that my favourite track on the album is "One Million Times" - must have heard it a million times actually!
A fantastic and surprising album! Many thanks to you six guys in Lama!!

Released: 30th September 2011 with Spoon Train Audio
Listen to the album on Spotify. It can be bought on CDON.eu (physically as CD) and on iTunes (digitally).


4. Team Me - To The Treetops

They're young, they're loud, they're happy and they're energetic!! And what a cool debut album they released there in 2011. To me they appeared out of nothing. Suddenly they were there - a band I really just discovered last year. What I love about their music is that they create an interesting mix of pop - pop orchestral sound, actually - with parts from rock, alternative, post-rock and fill it up with bells, lots of drums and keys. This music is sooooo rich in its sound, you'll get the feeling of listening to a whole freaking orchestra even though the band is just consisting of six - still, during concerts, those six people are moving more on stage than a whole orchestra, as a matter of fact. It's a rainbow of music (or something like that) and it makes you move.
You should definitely check "Weathervanes and Chemicals" as well as "With My Hands Covering Both Of My Eyes I Am Too Scared To Have A Look At You Now" (what a title!!).
Good debutalbum with rich and energetic sound - very unique!!!

Released: 14th October 2011 with Propeller Recordings
The album can be bought on CDON.eu (physically as CD or vinyl) and on iTunes (digitally).


5. Bernt Moen - Closure

Jazz?! Now we're talking!! "Closure" is one of the three studio albums Bernt Moen (aka Massive Skills) released in 2011. Bernt Moen is a pianist with heart and soul (this can actually be heard when listening to his music). And already being this solo-pianist he has those abilities (superpowers?! something in the Norwegian water?!) that will leave you breathless and stunned. But the reason I picked "Closure" is because I really, really like this interaction between keys and drums & bass. It can be wild, it can be tender but never boring. It's the things you could always imagine but never heard. This album should be way more known, I say!!I have actually a couple of favourites on this album: Open Water, Fluid Dynamics, Transition and Momentum (---> mind-blowing).

Released: 26th August 2011 with BAM Records
Listen to the album on Spotify. It can be bought on iTunes (digitally).




Apart from the jewels I spoke about above, here a couple more albums you should check out:
Nils Petter Molvær - Baboon Moon ("Mercury Heart" is one of the most beautiful and brilliant tracks I've ever heard), Jarle Bernhoft - Solidarity Breaks (nice tracks, good album but Jarle's speciality is probably to play them live - that's what's special about him), Valkyrien Allstars - Ingen hverdag (as the previous albums is this one full of norsk-sounding fiddle music - a must have!!), Splashgirl - Pressure (check "The Other Side" - fantastic track, good album), Petter Carlsen - Clocks Don't Count, Honningbarna - La Alarmane Gå, Oslo Ess - Uleste Bøker Og Utgåtte Sko, Bernt Moen - Solopiano Vol. 1 & Solopiano Vol. 2, Ane Brun - It All Starts With One,...

A band to recommend!

Once more I must recommend a band coming from cold, cold Norway. I actually haven't been knowing this band for long and I don't recall how I came to listen to their music. Have I heard people talking about them? Did I read reviews or recommendations? And how come I had some of their music on my computer?
Probably just mystic cricumstances that made me check out and listen to Team Me!!

Without thinking much, it seems I've put their song "Weathervanes And Chemicals" in my autumn playlist. So repetitively sounding from my loudspeakers it was growing on me! This very catchy and energetic tune!

I should feel ashamed not knowing much about them, but the fact that the band is consisting of six young, clever, talented (and good-looking) Norwegians who got together to make music. Simple as that. Their music could be described as pop-orchestral tunes with influences of post-rock. So when you listen to a song you'll most likely hear lots of drums, keys, bells - energetic, powerfull sequences and noisy but tender parts. It's a fantastic combination!!

Photo by Team Me // Bjarne, Marius, Uno, Simen S., Synne, Simen Sch.

When I heard they would play a gig in Vienna I was playing with the thought of going. Actually I've been thinking: It's not happening too often that a Norwegian band or musician is playing in Vienna (or Austria, in general), so I should be going. I owe it to the Norwegian music industry!
They played in a tiny, tiny location in Vienna, with a even tinier stage. While I was waiting for them to arrive, maybe four or five other people were waiting. So I wasn't sure how this gig would end up being like because the success of a concert often depends on the quanitiy and mood of the audience, right?!

Team Me @ rhiz in Vienna, 28th of November 2011

But the band came, arranged themselves on that tiny stage and suddenly the room was full of people. The gig started. People were singing along, tried to move (which was difficult because of the lack of space), to jump to clap or at least to shake their heads to the music. Seeing Team Me live is like a hurricane of joy that lifts your body and a far nicer experience than just listening to their music with headphones.


"With My Hands Covering Both Of My Eyes I Am Too Scared To Have A Look At You Now" by Tem Me

What I wanna say is, that you should see them live, you have to buy their EP and their album and at least you should check their music!!

Here's all you need to know:
Here you find the website of Team Me as well as their Facebook, Twitter and Urørt page.
The EP which can be found on iTunes, Spotify and CDON.eu !!
And the album "To The Treetops" that can be bought from CDON.eu !!

Vi snakker bare norsk! Del 3

Fortsettelse!! I started learning Norwegain in October 2010 and within this last year I had two Norwegain courses - beginner and intermediate, you could say. Yesterday, the third course started with some new challenges and expectations.

If you know in advance that you're going to have a new teacher you step into the classroom with mixed feelings. In a way, you expect the worst. And you feel relieved when things seem to be good and the teacher is welcoming you in a friendly way to the course. 
This new teacher is also from Norway, from Oslo to be specific. And he started to talk Norwegian right from the beginning and introduced himself, told about the things we'll be doing in this course and so on. I can say he made a nice impression in this first lesson. 

But in a way it is strange if you're met by this kindness from a teacher or professor here in Austria. And thinking of my last Norwegian teacher, Anita, who was really a blessing, who was very helpful, encouraging, humorous, kind and honest I came to wonder if all Norwegian teachers are like that. Seriously, if only a fourth of their teachers are like that, students in Norway must love to go to school.
I know, learning smth can't always be fun and exciting but having the right teacher is probably always a good start, even for subjects you don't like, right?

Now back to my Norwegian course. This time it seems there's going to be a lot of texts like novels, articles and poetry. In addition to that presentations and written exams. It sounds challenging and maybe learning a new language should be a challenge to a certain extend but I am confident in managing all these tasks.

BTW, I was quite happy yesterday I could understand my teacher so well - well, he's also using all kinds of gestures if he is sensing there's a word we don't understand, but actually I thought I forgot everything after a long summer break where I only wrote some Norwegian to my friends. And I was surprised I could understand that spoken Norwegian. That was new to me. :)

"Til ungdommen" by Nordahl Grieg

This here is a part of the poem "Til ungdommen" ("For the youth") by Nordahl Grieg. It's what we read and learned about in yesterday's lesson in connection to what we spoke about the terror attacks in Norway this summer. A difficult topic. Also this poem is difficult to understand (although you get the meaning of it) but very beautiful. I recommend to watch this sung version by Ingebjørg Bratland.

Next lesson is tomorrow and will be still about 7/22 including one of Jens Stoltenberg's speeches. Got some homework to do now. Ha det!

Hanne Kolstø - Riot Break

I'm not sure when exactly I started to listen to Hanne Kolstø's music, but it must have been in connection with Thelma & Clyde playing from my loudspeakers in February 2010. I guess there is no need to explain that Hanne is filling the Thelma-part of the widely known electropop duo. But besides of two more bands (Love:Fi, POST) she is also making music on her own behalf - her soloproject, so to say. And on Friday, 16th of September, her debut album "Riot Break" was finally and officially released. Big day!!!

Hanne Kolstø, Photo by Kjartan Bjelland // fvn.no

But before I start telling you what I like about this album I should explain how I came to listen to her music and how things developed. Back then (in Feb. 2010, as mentioned above) I listened to the solo-recording of "A Long Way" (a song she later released with POST) which I found and downloaded from her Urørt page. I would lie if I'd say I was fascinated and stunned at first sight. It was after all the only song I had known, besides of the 5-6 Thelma & Clyde songs. But I liked Hanne's voice, it's very pleasant to listen to and found the song interesting. And just thinking that the Thelma-stuff is one of the best things I've ever heard, made me curious to find and hear more from Hanne self or "In the Basement" as she called her soloproject back then. 

A long search on the internet provided me a couple of clips. Some live performances which I downloaded wisely thinking in advance because the page I took them from was deleted some time ago - it was some Norwegian page with lots of live performances and couple of muisc videos mainly from artists from southern Norway. However this way I got a preview of the things I could expect, sort of. And first and foremost I could see how she is performing the songs. Her voice, a guitar, a loopstation and some other unimposing utilities - not much more needed to make the songs sound complete and unique. And that truely impressed me.

So now the album is out and it's hard for me to stay objective - therefore I can't write a proper review (or I won't do that here on my private blog). But if you don't mind a personal opinion about "Riot Break" you can continue reading - otherwise I recommend the reviews from Norskmusikk.org and Musikknyheter.no !!

"Riot Break" albumcover by Erik Pirolt

"Riot Break" is not only title of the album but also of the song I had known the longest and which is based on voice looping and the sounds of a little keyboard. It's the coolest song on the album and interesting in the way it is put together. The other song I had known some time already is "What The Wind Can't Carry" - it starts so calming, kinda melancholic with a heartbeat-like rhythm. But by the end the song goes over into an orchestral-like explosion. "Clandestine" is of a similar kind - not that sad though. It's funny that this song wasn't much of my taste first but made me get up again at around 4 o'clock in the morning just because I had to listen to this song once more and another time, and another... It's now one of my absolute favourites of the album as well as "Black Hand" which I love because of the lyrics and this really nice guitar based melody underlined with some e-guitar. 

"Dead Seat" was probably the song I've been looking forward to the most since it was put out as teaser for the album and it's satisfying to hear how the full version turned out to be. The first track on the album "Don't Wan't To Be Happy In The Moment, I Want It To Last" I had known for several months and I was sceptic first of all but came to like it really, not least because of its lyrics: "Nobody can leave me, I'm already alone. I'm fine on my own, I don't need anyone. [...] If we don't know ourselves how can we be ourselevs? [...] If you don't like yourself than be someone else." These lyrics will just stick to your head and leave you pondering.

I was also sceptic about "Simca" which consists of drumming and Hanne's voice forming the melody in addition to guitar and some claps. It's maybe not the best tracks on the album but it belongs to the album just like the others. And on the other hand - some of the songs on the record are extraordinary good - just like the killer-hit-single "The City" - this beautiful, unique song starts quite gloomy but turns into a comforting popsong making you sing, dance and clap along. It's magical and a good choice for the music video which was released just about a week ago.
"Hide And Seek" makes the impression of a very honest and grounded song played on acoustic guitar with solid lyrics. The album is ending with "Dear Friend" - a, on a sweet guitar melody based, track awaiting an equally sweet song, but it gets a bit twisted in the middle just where you don't expect it.

All in all you get sweet melodies, cool loops, playful but carefully placed effects on Riot Break which are carried by Hanne's voice and underlined by the lyrics. If I had to express my feelings about the album in figures (like it's common in reviews), I'd give the album 5/6! And if I could recommend just three songs of it, I'd mention: Clandestine, What The Wind Can't Carry and The City.

Riot Break was released on the 16th of September 2011with Karmakosmetix Records. The album (vinyl!!!) can be bought via CDON.eu or Platekompaniet (if you live in Norway) and downloaded from many music stores. You can also listen to the album via Spotify or WIMP. 

Links to connect with Hanne Kolstø: Webpage | MySpace | NRK Urørt | SoundCloud

...men hvorfor norsk?

It's now almost a year ago since I started to learn Norwegian. I enjoy it!! I can read and understand normal texts, messages, articles and translate them for myself. When possible I try to write to my Norwegian friends in Norwegian. And I come to understand more and more when I listen/watch Norwegian radio and TV - that's actually the most difficult part for me - understanding spoken Norwegian. The same goes for speaking the language myself. Sometimes Norwegian dialects and Nynorsk (since I only learn Bokmål) are giving me riddles, but I'm confident in learning them. And luckily I can see a positive progess in my skills.

And it's funny because everytime I tell that I'm learning Norwegian I get to hear the same question over and over again: But why Norwegian?! Why not Swedish or Danish instead? And in fact around three years ago I had a bigger connection to Sweden and Denmark - mainly because of my friends and music. That was back then but time passed. I got to know more Norwegian bands. Gained friends in Norway and grew on the thought of visiting that country once. 

I listened to interviews in Norwegian and thought this language is sounding funny in a way, kind of cute. It reminded me of a mixture of English and German with Austrian dialects - and I was not that wrong about that: There are a couple of words being pronounced exactly the same way in some Austrian dialects. I found that aspect interesting. The similarity to German is in general quite interesting. Furthermore I found out that my favourite fairytale when I was a kid, is in fact Norwegian. And just the thought of interacting with Norwegians made me happy - always had good experiences.

Picture from my Norwegian textbook "Et år i Norge"

That's how it started and now after a year I know why I'm still so eager on learning the language. I've been in Norway last November. Met many people, saw some of the culture of the customs, ate Norwegian food and spoke some Norwegian as well as understanding it - all that together was the best thing I ever did. It's a wonderful country which I'm deeply missing, every day!

I like Norwegian dialects. Well, sometimes I don't notice them and sometimes I have to distinguish them from Nynorsk or just a common youth language or special expressions. I often ask friends to explain me certain things - especially when it comes to idiomatic skills. It doesn't give me headaches - I love to learn about them.  

Recently I started reading a book with Norwegian fairytales (the book is in German though). I read them afterwards in Norwegian on the web but I'm just so stunned how many of these fairytales I had known in their German version and others are completely new to me with trolls and huldras. And they sound so beautiful in Norwegian that I can't keep myself from reading them loud for myself. :)

The fact that I've never ever been more fascinated by a language, country and culture tells me that I made the right decision. HURRA!! :)

K-town is The City

Kristiansand, Norway. Summer 2011. Empty streets make this city in the very south of Norway appear like a small village were everybody knows each other. Its inhabitants: a bunch of people that couldn't differ more from each other. It's a special atmosphere - odd but familiar, controversial but interesting, excentric but magnetic. And in the middle of all this: Hanne Kolstø.

The City is the first single of Hanne Kolstø's upcoming album "Riot Break". It's a nice grounded pop song of the gloomy kind and at the same time embracing - especially the samplings in the background. Tommy Olsson writes in Morgenbladet: "[...] I can't possibly be alone to have noticed this seldom quality of a feeling as if someone's caressing my hair and saying that everything's going to be okay [...]" That description suits the song pretty well I think.

And now the music video to The City is released. Directed by Fred Arne Wergeland who already directed a video to one of Hanne's songs some years ago: Slow Song by POST (one of the bands Hanne is working with). As I'm a person who loves good music videos and who loves videoediting, I come to say that I like the way the video was cut, the slight vignetting and lighting.
But you better watch for yourself and stay tuned for the album release on the 16th of September 2011.

Be the city with all the lights that never ever sleeps at night & ENJOY!!

A concert with Frida Ånnevik

Recommendation coming up: It is one of the finest concerts you'll ever be able to enjoy on your computer screen and great pastime for everyone loving smooth going and grounded music. 

This little intimate gig took already place in February and contains the songs from Frida Ånnevik's debut record Synlige hjerteslag. A record I warmly recommend. The music is a very genuine mixture of pop and jazz - you'll hear that their is not too much jazz in it, neither too much pop. The lyrics are in Norwegian and although it's very difficult for me to understand it's something I very much appreciate about this album. But I think most of all I like how the album and the songs are presented: In a solid way, not fancy or glamourous, just music performed by great musicians.

And besides of Frida Ånnevik we find many known musicians on stage (or at least their names are known to me): May K. Kaspersen & Carina Moen (vocals), Elisabeth Nesset (percussion & drumming), Torjus Eggen (bass), Mads R. Johansen (drums), Andreas Mjøs & Haldor Røyne (guitars) and Einar Næss Haugseth (keys).

Follow this link to see the whole concert filmed and provided by NRK.

Black.Blue.Darkness.

Like a city that never ever sleeps I can't find any sleep now. Just an hour ago I was drop dead tired, ready to go to bed and happy about the fact that I could sleep more than the usual five hours during nights. Awake. What now? I feel like smiling. The urge of going outside right into the dark, cold night. Wanna absorb it.

What happened? I stumbled over the first single of Hanne Kolstø's debutalbum just a bit more than an hour ago. The track is called "The City" and is the first part of an album I have been looking forward to, probably even before it was recorded and definitely before it became what it is now. A view videos and articles about Kolstø that praise her as solo-artist is all that can be found on the world wide web. The in Kristiansand (=melting pot for good Norwegian music) living artist probably is one of Norway's greatest, untouched and secret talents though widely known there. 

I can't deny that I appreciate all her projects and bands (-those who are reading my blog regulary might have noticed that) - and what I love about her music is this huge amount of concentrated creativity that can be signified with her name. Perfectionalism. The music will embrace you and you just want to drown in it. Thrilling and piercing, all at the same time. 

I am longing for more and I can't wait to listen to every track on the album (which she'll release in April) - this one surpassed my expectations.

Hanne Kolstø: MySpace | Website

Fashionably Late!

What? Last time I made a blog entry was in 2010?

Hehe, last chance to get rid of some "new year" jokes. Like saying two minutes after midnight on the 1st of January: "I'm starving - last time I ate smth was last year." or "I think I need a shower - last time I had one was last year." And aren't we all doing these jokes, although no one of us really fancies them?! Still it's some kind of trend, isn't it?

Anyway! I've been very busy these days but I came to tell you about an amazing Norwegian artist I recently discovered: Lucy Swann. I don't want to explain in long sentences what I like about her music or how I discovered her BUT want you to show her music video to "Fashionably Late".

I love this video. The idea and the way it was realised. It's probably one of my favourite (Norwegian) music videos in 2010 and Lucy Swann is definitely an upcoming artist with high ambitions.

BTW: If you live in Oslo (or plan to visit Oslo in February) you shouldn't miss a festival for new music called by:Larm with Lucy Swann and other fantastic artists like Thelma & Clyde, Honningbarna, Jonas Alaska, Tôg, Frida Ånnevik, Oslo Ess, Cold Mailman and many, many more.

That's it for now.... Now, be a good blog-reader and WATCH THIS VIDEO!! :)
Find Lucy Swann on MySpace, Facebook and NRK Urørt.

Top 5 Norwegian Releases In 2010

Still around 20 days to go until 2010 is over. But since people already started to post their favourite albums, songs, tv-moments, movies, books, vacations and whatever, I will follow this trend and present you now the five most special and extraordinary album releases from Norway (as you might have noticed: I love Norwegian music!!) of this year.

And remember that Christmas is coming soon, so maybe you find a nice gift among these CD's. To your luck, all of the albums are available on CDON.com (where you can order from many European countries). Anyway.. here we go. My favourite Norwegian album releases.


1. Post - Common Rand Of People

After listening to this record several times during the last months and writing a enthusiastic review on my MySpace page (BTW: MySpace started to suck!!) it's probably not surprising that Common Rand Of People made a high rank in my listing. It's the way they put their songs together, the controlled chaos and the wide range of instruments used that make their sound so unique.
You will just feel the urge to replay the album over and over again without really knowing why - and this is what I love about it so much.

Common Rand Of People consists of ten piercing, thrilling and electronically flavoured pop songs and is at the same time the debut record of Post. The record can be bought on CDON.com and on iTunes.

Released: 27th of September 2010 with Karmakosmetix Records

2. Thelma and Clyde - White Line

Another debutalbum I can't get enough of. Finally hearing the songs of the Norwegian electronica / electropop duo I've been waiting for so long. And they didn't let me wait in vain. Now, just about a month ago they came up with this (as the Norwegians would say) "kjempeflott" album. Think of all you always wanted to hear and all you didn't know you wanted - you'll find it on White Line. Perfectly mixed by Jan Bang and Erik Honoré and enriched with lots of samples the album will make you dance and shiver with the lyrics and beats while you get soaked into this mysterious and gloomy bubble. 
If you read my blog regulary you might have noticed that I also wrote a more extended review about the album - it's because it's really good, cool and new. 

Put White Line on top of your wishlist, you won't regret it. And don't be surprised if you crave for more once you listened to the full record. Buy the album on CDON.com or iTunes.

Released: 8th of November 2010 with Karmakosmetix Records

3. Anne Lene Hägglund - Bird Cherry Grove

I bought this album although I had heard only one song of it ("Big Men") - therefore I didn't know what I would get. How I would describe the sound? It's a combination of bitter-sweet reality and fluffy fairytales. It reminds me a lot of.... of circus music: These pop-flavoured songs are enriched with violins, organ-sounds, glockenspiel, bowed instruments and percussion full of cymbals and drum rolls and lead to thoughts of red-yellow striped tents, dancing elephants, fire-breathers and sword-swallowers - that makes it so special. 

I've never heard something like this and even listening to the album up and down won't make me get tired of it. 

Buy Bird Cherry Grove on CDON.com or iTunes if you're in mood for odd and twisted fairytales. 

Released: 11th of January 2010 with Swingaround Records

4. Grande - You Are The Night

It's some of the finest music you'll get to hear from Norway. A travel in time. Cigar smoke in a piano bar where men would wear suits and women pearl necklaces, scotch and brandy would be served or a car chase on the high way. Grande is everything between the glorious 30s and 70s. The guitar, drumming, piano, bass playing blues and rock - all at once. Grande has some great skills as guitarist and songwriter and with his unique sound this album shouldn't be left unnoticed.

The music on You Are The Night will catch you - so you'll even feel nostalgic when you grew up in the 80s. Buy the album on CDON.com or iTunes.

Released: 19th of April 2010 with Fabuloso Records

5. Elin Synnøve Bråthen - The Anchor And The Dream

What I love most about this album is that you can concentrate on the individual instruments or Elin Synnøve's voice that is capable of high and low pitches. The piano comes with crystall clear sound as well as the percussion and drums. The lyrics are tender and thoughtfull and combined with the music it creates a visual atmosphere. I think a great job has been done on arranging the songs on the album. And the most precious song (at least to me) is "My Honesty" - even after hearing the song countless times my heart would stop beating because of the drums, the piano makes me shiver and Elin's voice and the male choir gives me goosebumps.

So if you favour jazz flavoured pop, make sure to buy The Anchor And The Dream on CDON.com or iTunes.

Released: 8th of March 2010 with Curling Legs