The National Student @ By:Larm 2010

Something in the water Im sure of it

2010-02-25T05:04:00.000-08:00

There cant be any other way to explain the constant churn of amazing new music coming out of Iceland on a seemingly daily basis.

For a Minor Reflection are the latest painfully shy looking quartet to take to the road (with countrymen Sigur Ros for one) and indeed the influence of Jonsi and his band is impossible to deny as the band batter the audience with waves of epic guitarsm squalling feedback and fractured melody lines flying out of distressed sounding guitars.

A vocalist would have made things a little more interesting for me but the band won many over this evening with their incredible musicianship and epically drawn out songs - an interest enigma waiting to unfold.

The Good The Bad and The Fucking Brilliant

2010-02-25T05:02:00.000-08:00

Back on the right track we head to Gamla (one of my favourite venues) to check out mental Danish band The Good The Bad who not offer a hotwired revamp of the highlights of rock n rolls past to conjure a demonic alternative soundtrack to a Tarrantino movie - all hyper fuzzed surf guitar and rat scabies drums.

That we are effectively dealing with an alternative version of the shadows with Hank Marvin replaced by a pimp, two Bret Anderson lookalikes and an ungodly truckload of Amyl Nitrate and Ecstasy is the cause of no complaints here - the danes are already a favourite on the european festival circuit and tonight offers firm evidence of why. One of the bands of the weekend hands down.

Mistakes mistakes mistakes

2010-02-25T05:01:00.000-08:00

following a hot tip we forgoe the chance to go see Efterkland (mistake) we head to the most crowded venue of the week to catch Monte for what is a rare downbpoint of the weekend. despite being crammed in to the rafters churn out a strange mix of Toploaders hair and earth wind and fire psuedo funk.

a disapointment but this did provide us the most challenging route out of a venue (so crammed in were the fans that at one point I fell over and had both feet off the ground and yet remained completely upright) as we try and run for the door. Man i wished wed have been at Efterklang (thats one for tonight methinks!)

as i look now i cant seem to find a video for you... thats probably a very good thing!

Blue Reindeers

2010-02-25T04:56:00.000-08:00

Back in the Folkecentre later on we see local band Alit Boazu (translation Blue Reindeer) who touch base with inluences such as Rammstein and local boys Haust to deliver a tight as you like set of upbeat rock with the twist being the band singing in Sami - a regional dialect from the extreme north of Norway. Its a startling revelation that offers up an alternative vision of Norwegian traditional music revamped as a dark and gothy rock band.

awesome stuff

A nice chance for a rare sit down!

2010-02-25T04:54:00.000-08:00

Getting back on the beaten track a little more we head on over to the Folkecentre to check out EMI Norways latest hyped Signing Ingrid Olavs who enters the stage to be confronted with a packed out auditorium clammering for the local girl.

Coming on like a snowy Tori Amos (in all fairness though can you name a single girl at a piano that you cant compare to Tori Amos?! I think not!) backed by an incredible backing band who delve into their canon to flesh out Ingrids songs with a jazzy flatbed (her drummer for one needs to be seen to be heard). Upcoming single "Warrior" for one is a standout of the set that sees the first standing ovation of the week and indeed the first encore as the crowds refuse to leave without hearing more. Ingrid finally running from the stage as the doors finally heave open.

Stars of CCTV

2010-02-25T04:53:00.000-08:00

after wandering round the path less travelled through most of thursday it seems almost appropriate to continue the theme with the first few shows of Friday too.

Opening up at Revolver with a joint label showcase being put on by our friends at Lazy Acre Records and the awesome Spoon Train Audio.

Beginning with a delicately poised set from former National Student coverstar Solvor Vermeer who woos a growing crowd with a gossamer topped set of piano led songs taken from her upcoming EP. Bathed in washes of swooping cello and insistent Glock, the set climaxes with a bluesy run through of an as yet unheard song that recalls "Goodnight Hollywood Boulevard" which for this scribe at least is a most immense thing indeed.

Hearing Manchester accents outside the venue during a much needed cigarette break, it comes to light that following band CCTV feature not only some British born talent in their ranks as well as a whole heap of madchester influences; throwing in liberal dashes of Roses chime into their upbeat brand of indie pop.

Topping the bill (and indeed battling through a powercut that blights the start of the set) are local heroes Monzano whos chipper brand of indie pop brings to mind the excellent Track a Tiger and even label mates My Little Pony in a set rooted in synth led melody and powerpop guitars.

Treat.

Who calls their first single Brothel?

2010-02-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

Well Susanne Sundfor for one and ruddy excellent it is too! apparently shy by Nature, Sundfor hides behind swathes of smoke and lights for most of tonights headline show at Sentrum Scene but what we cant gide from is the fact that this is an incredible singer songwriter at the peak of her powers.

Backed by an epically equipped band (fender rhodes, cello, saxophone, vibrophone etc all mixed into a sprightly mix) the singer plays through the highlights of her upcoming debut album including a jaw dropping rendition of new single Brothel.

A richly woven tapestry of post rock and classic singer songwriter based jazz,
Sundfor is in possession of an incredible voice and more importantly a jaw dropping sense of dynamics and textures as electronica bleeps blend seamlessly with jazz rhodes and a swooping Florence-esque voice to end the night on a climactic high.

A resounding success and a highlight to remember on our snowy trudge back to the hotel.

Just. Wonderful.

Fondled by a Burly Norwegian or ten

2010-02-19T04:32:00.000-08:00

Our first experience of the little hands of asphalt came at By:Larm 09 where they were the first band we saw and easily one of the highlights of the festival.

Come BL2010 then and we absolutely had to go and catch up with the guys again - having spent most of the last 12 months recieving unfetered press across Europe its clear within 2 seconds of entering the venue that these guys are no longer our little secret.

To say that elbow room is in short supply is something of an understatement as most of Oslo seems to have congregated in the dark surroundings of the basement at Revolver.

Opening with a sultry take on album highlight "Some things we need to forget" the band play out the highlights from recent album Leap Years as well as a few crowd pleasing favourites to take our mind off the fact that a number of burly Norwegian men seem to be pressing themselves into our crotches.

Like what you hear? why not go get yourself a free ep from them here

Its like Loveless all over again

2010-02-19T04:24:00.000-08:00

After following The River Phoenix, anyone of a post rock bent would appear to have a tough act to follow, but over in the main room at Rockefelle, The Megaphonic Thrift dont seem to think so.

Already a firm favourite on the live scene here in Oslo, the band have the crowd onside from the very first bassline - all chugging Kim Deal bass and Kevin Sheilds scree and dont let up with an unrelenting blast of feedback driven rock with an epilepsy inducing light show.

To list a load of bands that have clearly influenced these guys would appear to be short changing but lofty comparisons to the likes of Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr and MBV are kind of unavoidable and also (hopefully) show the kind of league these guys are in... Seriously tight and devestatingly loud this was one of the highlights of the evening.

Our ears may be ringing but we firmly suggest you reach for the Anadin and get involved yourself at the first possible chance!

Question...

2010-02-19T04:18:00.001-08:00

what has three guitars, five impressive beards, a lot of black clothing and some fucking incredible rock tunes? Answer - The River Phoenix.

A Danish five piece, TRP have been making some noise for a little while now (theyre signed to major cum indie Nettwerk for Europe) and boast an embarassment of post rocking riches that pretty much slaid everyone in attendance at the Annexe.

Shades of Biffy and Muse abound but when topped with a high pitched vocal recalling the likes of James Mercer they come off as genuine pop masterpieces - so keenly ingranded into these sledgehammers is a pop sensibility that marks them out above their peers on the grot rock circuit.

Featuring amazing musicianship to a man, there really isnt much to fault with these guys - fingers crossed for them making it to the UK very soon

Like Radiohead... and then not...

2010-02-19T03:54:00.000-08:00

A strange double header to start the evening off all told...

wandering first into the awesome Rockefelle centre, the first band on the list year is suprisingly a jazz quartet. Not the trendiest genre as a rule but theres something pretty cool about Mathias Eick and his own brand of 21st century Jazz.

With a live line up that numbers two drummers, an awesome bassist and a keyboard to back up Eicks languid trumpet, the result is the kind of awkwardly disjointed jazz that saw Mr Yorke and co much feted around the time of Insomniac. Bouncing shards of fuzz bass off of a syncopated dual drum beat its a beguiling mix of sound. All led by some absolutley beautiful soloing from Mr Eick.

At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, local four piece Razika offer up a lightweight take on the riot-girrrl template. Flitting between the kind of poly-rhythmic guitars that we saw all over the first foals album, the girls (all under the age of 18 from what i can gather) throw in a few rudimentary punky numbers (including a crowd pleasign closer in "Kommando") to offer up a hopeful note for the future. The finished article they may not be just yet but theres enough personality and charisma in this hybrid of Foals, Hole and the 5678's to warrant future listening.

On the ground

2010-02-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

well after muchos shouting at random cars on the M25 this morning we are finally here in snowy Oslo. Have even remembered the genius step of buying booze at the airport to save funds...! Genius!

Having just touched down its probably time to get checked in and everything else before the mentalism of this evening starts.

Tips for tonight include:

* Monzano
* I See Horses
* Casio Kids
* Little Hands of Asphalt

keep your eyes peeled for muchos music and randomness very soon

x

GOD MORGEN OSLO!!

2010-02-17T06:33:00.000-08:00

Thats right guys and gals - we had so much fun in the snow at last years ByLarm festival that this year - were doing it all over again!

three days of snow, superb gigs and vastly overpriced beer coming up and the line up this year is looking absolutely fantastic...

Keep checking back over the next few days to keep up to date with what we've been up to as well as some kickass music along the way too!

Just gotta find my passport now!

Much Love

x