Hanne Hukkelberg//Ease

Nordic Tracks, Monday Mail!
What is Monday Mail?

A few weeks ago, Brooke from Big Hassle wrote to invite me to see Hanne Hukkelberg at Scandinavia House's new emerging artist music series.

The first performance of the series features Norwegian artist Hanne Hukkelberg… Out of Scandinavia/Out of Context is a uniquely-selected series of musical performances the first Thursday of the month from April through August 2010, headlining a myriad of fresh Nordic musicians that features one-off and premiere performances.It will continue through August, and has the benefit of being held in a unique cultural space, Scandinavia House, The Nordic Center in America.

Sadly, I was otherwise occupied that evening (when your girlfriend is an actor, you go to a lot of readings). My eyes perked up at the email though, since I had heard a few very good tracks from Hukkelberg’s previous album, Little Things (the song below is featured on that album). She’s got a new one out now called Blood from a Stone, which, if her myspace is any indication, is equally good.

I really like this song because it’s obviously arranged with a number of offbeat found sounds. Woodwinds toot over keyboards and twinkly metallic hits that could be from pots or pans or bicycle spokes. The sound sparkles and flecks like a kaleidoscope. Every turn brings something new, pretty and unexpected.

If you, like me, missed Ms. Hukkelberg’s last show, you’re in luck. She’s got about five New York shows lined up for the next few months, so go make that happen. Meanwhile, the fest also continues. More info on that here.



Ease.mp3

But when I'm all alone,
My tiny heart of foam
Dries a little.

Ida Maria//Oh My God

Oh! My! God! I can’t stop listening to this album. I have absolutely no idea where it came from or how I heard about it, but it’s amazing.

Although the sound is a little glossy for my usual tastes and the songs are written a a bit weakly, Ida Maria has impeccable timing, borrowed obviously but not annoyingly from ‘70s garage. She’s also got a voice that would sound like Rosemary Clooney if she were singing American ‘50s standards, but in this context, hits these amazing graveled-out snarls and screams, more Mick Jagger than Mambo Italiano.

From Norway, and currently living in Sweden, Maria has won many awards in Europe. She’s also a synesthete, which I think is awesome.

Despite some recent controversy over her performance on Perez Hilton’s music fest (yeek), I am still hoping she’ll end up in New York soon. She’s sadly cancelled the rest of her tour, officially citing exhaustion, with rumors of drug/alcohol problems swirling unofficially around the internet. Console yourself by buying her album and listening very loud through headphones (preferably over a roaring A train).



Oh My God.mp3

Find a cure,
Find a cure for my life.
Put a price,
put a price on my soul.
Build a wall,
Build a fortress around my heart.
Oh my god!
You think I´m in control?
Oh my god!
Oh, you think it´s all for fun.
Is this fun for you?

Real Ones//Every Dog Has His Day

Happy Monday Mail
What is Monday Mail?

It’s really hard to write good happy songs, because happiness often comes hand-in-hand with cheesiness. Leave it, of course, to the Norwegians to do this right. Jessi at Goldest Egg writes:

Gina, meet Real Ones, straight from the hotbed of Bergen, Norway (home of Sondre Lerche, Annie, Kings of Convenience). The five members of the psychedelic folk-pop Real Ones are childhood friends and have been playing music together since their teenage years. On their US debut called "All For The Neighbourhood," you'll hear the zany joy of The Flaming Lips, the cocooning otherworldly warmth of alt-country lynchpins Wilco, with the universal thoughts and perspectives of The Band. US tour dates TBA.

Remember our brief lesson in Bergen Wave? Maybe Real Ones are the next chapter to study? After this track, with its unconventional instrumentation and soaring background vocals, I’m kinda sold.

Also, I don’t know if I’ve ever shared this theory with you guys, but I think that Norwegians are easily the hottest people I’ve ever seen. In classic American fashion, I’ve derived this theory from a family trip to Epcot Center’s Norway. These guys are no exception. See their Nordic hotness below.

Sadly, I was a little off my game here. Real Ones were in NYC a few weeks ago and I didn’t tell you in time. BUT, if you happen to live in Europe, you might be able to catch them.



Every Dog Has His Day.mp3

Don’t know why, it seems like lately
Things are going my way.
Everywhere trouble avoids me
And I’m whistling and humming all day.

Royksopp//Poor Leno

Continuing on a stream-of-consciousness journey from yesterday's post (and related to this one and this one, as well), here's Royksopp with my favorite Royksopp song, Poor Leno.

I don't usually love this kind of electronic music, but I do really enjoy a lot of Royksopp and I LOVE this video. The poor Leno is captured and put in a zoo, where he is ogled all day by curious humans. He dreams of returning to his homeland, the frozen tundra, relegated to etching pictures of the peaks on his cell wall with a spoon. By the end, his mate shows up, theoretically to spring him free. Everything about the way this animation looks (and works with) the song is perfect.

Also, this video once led to a decision to dress Squashington (a cat) up as a Leno for Halloween, prompting Ryan to say, "but we neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed a Leno suit." Where does one acquire a Leno suit?

As for the band, Royksopp's particular brand of housey electronica fits into a movement known as Bergen Wave. Don't believe me? See for yourself.

Fun fact: Royksopp is the Norwegian word for puffball mushroom.



Poor Leno.mp3

I think I am officially ready to visit Norway now.

Kings of Convenience//Leaning Against the Wall, I Don't Know... (Remix)

Apologies for my absence yesterday. A string of haphazard occurrences and silly mistakes left me unable to post. Don't worry; I'm back on my feet now.

I know I'm not the only one who had severe trouble getting out of bed this morning. The facebook status updates of my friends told many similar stories. The sky was gray and the rain was falling in that peaceful pitter-pat that speaks loudly and emphatically to our primitive instinctual sides; "stay in bed because you're warm and it sucks out here and there's nothing you can get done when it's like this." A. and I definitely had a super rough time getting up. There was a lot of hitting snooze, resetting the alarm, hitting snooze again.

I decided to put the Kings of Convenience on and get back into bed. Nothing could have been more perfect waking-up music. A. commented that it sounded like Gossamer. Brilliant.

KofC is a Norwegian acoustic duo of Erlend Øye (who, in addition to being part of Royksopp, The Whitest Boy Alive and James Figurine, also released an awesome electronic solo album a few years back) and Eirik Glambek Bøe. Their songs are beautiful, quiet, somber affairs, reminiscent of Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel and the softer Belle and Sebastian tunes. I discovered them (through friends) freshman year in college and they served as the perfect soundtrack to dour/hungover Michigan sad times.

Also, the only thing I ever learned from Disney World's Epcot Center is that Norwegian people are the hottest in the world.

Here are two songs (to get you back for yesterday), the first from their initial studio effort, Quiet is the New Loud, the second from their remix album that I used as a soundtrack to walk around and around a cruise-ship for a week in the early summer of 2002 (another story entirely), Versus.



Leaning Against the Wall.mp3

I Don't Know What I Can Save You From.mp3

I asked you to come over,
and within half an hour,
you were at my door.
I had never really known you,
but I realized that the one you were before
had changed into somebody for whom
I wouldn't mind to put the kettle on.

Erlend Øye//Athlete

I bought this Erlend Øye album used from an Oxfam in North London. The sad lyrics and electronic groove was perfect for my London day-to-day existence, comprised solely of solo melancholy wandering and all-night queer dance parties.

You might know the Norwegian Øye from his work as one half of the saddest band ever, Kings of Convenience…or from one of his other projects, which include The Whitest Boy Alive, Röyksopp and James Figurine.

On his 2003 solo album, Unrest, he traveled the world working with the most esteemed international techno/electronic/dance producers to create an collection of hits. Here is one of my favorites from this glorious selection of tracks.



Athlete.mp3

Take ecstasy and dance around the room for me.