2 great Norwegian indie bands not on Spotify

This time we're gonna do something different. There are a few bands that deserve to be on the Northern Exposure playlist had they only been on Spotify. So this post is gonna be focused on our wishlist for Northern Exposure.

Sigh & Explode

This band is an shock & awe attack on your eardrums. S&E plays intelligent and arty screamo / post-hardcore in the vein of The Blood Brothers and fellow Oslo-band Rumble In Rhodos. Genre purists have made a habit of criticizing the band for this, but when S&E released their debut record "These Seem Like Tarantulas" we believe their tongues were tied. Produced by Emil Nikolaisen of Serena Maneesh fame and Bjarne Stensli of Harrys Gym the record trancends the usual hardcore fare by light years. It's a record filled with details elegantly hidden beneath white noise and clever soundscapes. Go to MySpace, have a listen, and we put our money on that you will agree.



Lukestar

They won the Norwegian Grammy for best rock album of 2008. No wonder 'cause Lake Toba from Lukestar is indie rock with a difference. If you like the high pitched meaows of Mew and Sigur Rós you will love lead singer Truls's voice. Lukestar's appeal comes from clever songcraft and them sounding like they are playing live on their record - no Pro Tools touch ups or autotune as far as we can tell. Go to their MySpace and hear for yourself.

Northern Exposure all around the web

The playlist is available on a great number of spotify-sites. Here are some of them. If you wanna help gain exposure for norwegian indie music you can go to one or more of these links, rate the list or add a comment. Much appreciated!

Spotifyplaylists http://spotifyplaylists.co.uk/2009/04/02/northern-exposure/

Spotifyfriends http://www.spotifyfriends.com/playlist/northern-exposure---norwegian-indie-collection.html

Spotifylist http://www.spotifylist.com/en/playlists/2009/5/20/northern-exposure---norwegian-indie-collection

Yourspotify http://www.yourspotify.com/?p=2086

Sharemyplaylists http://www.sharemyplaylists.com/northern-exposure-norwegian-indie-collection/

Spotifynd http://spotifynd.com/leave.asp?id=208

Spotifylinks http://www.spotifylinks.com/?p=811

Nö Music

Northern Exposure just got more exposure. This time on the most excellent blog Nö Music. This blog is dedicated to spreading the love of Norwegian indie music, just like this one:) Tusen takk, Andreas. Bookmark this beauty right now!

Spotlight Artist June 10 2009 - Monzano / The Little Hands of Asphalt

We're a little late for our weekly Spotlight artist, so this time we'd like to present two artists for you.

Monzano

Monzano's record High Horses & One Trick Ponies from 2007 is one of those records you're bound to eventually fall deeply in love with. Their blend of cute pop melodies and progressive post-punk aestethics, analog synths and the most heartfelt lyrics this side of the atlantic, is almost as catchy as a certain pandemic. This record deserves a broader audience. Songwriter and singer Sjur Lyseid likes to keep himself busy. This spring he released another record with his solo-project The Little Hands of Asphalt, called Leap Years.

The Little Hands of Asphalt

The melodies are in the same vein as Monzano but the inspirations seems to come from different places than with Monzano; bands and singer/songwriters like Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams and Elliot Smith. Complimented with the beautiful voice of Marit Falkum Enerhaug and several other fabulous musicians makes Leap Years one of the best norwegian records this year.

Listen to Monzano - High Horses and one trick ponies

Monzano on MySpace

Listen to The Little Hands of Asphalt - Leap Years

Little Hands of Asphalt on MySpace

Spotlight Artist June 1 2009 - Monopot

Monopot are one of those bands that should have gotten a lot more attention when they were around. It's easy to understand why when you realize that they sound very similar to other post-rock acts like Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky. Although they share a similarity to these bands their record Optipess from 2002 stands out as one of the best of its kind. It's pure atmosphere and crispy guitars droning along, lulling the listener into a state of bliss. Try it, you won't be dissapointed.

NB! Every track on the record begins with the prefix "spor" which simply means "track" in Norwegian.

Spotlight Artist May 25 2009 - Harrys Gym

Harrys Gym is a band that received a well deserved hype last year when they released their self-titled debut album. It was a long wait for a lot of fans. Due to some problems with their former record label their original debut album never got a release. Instead they recorded a new one in their own studio with drummer Bjarne Stensli as producer. We're happy they did.


The music sounds like a mix between Blonde Redhead and The Knife. Chilling analogue synths layered upon clockwork drums added to the hauntingly beautiful voice of Anne Lise Frøkedal, also of I Was A King fame, cuts this band apart from most bands in Norway and (dare we say) the rest of the world.

Listen to Harrys Gym on Spotify

Visit them on MySpace

Watch the video for "Top of the Hill":

Spotlight Artist May 18 2009: Hiawata!

Welcome to Northern Exposure. This is a blog dedicated to showcasing norwegian indie acts on the great music service Spotify.

Missing any great norwegian indie bands on the playlist? Don't panic! We've created a collaborative playlist for you to add suggestions for new tunes: suggest new tunes for Northern Exposure here!

Every week we'll give an artist or band a little extra attention. This first week we introduce to you the lovely Hiawata! An Oslo quartet playing jangle pop reminiscent of bands like Teenage Fanclub, Dinosaur Jr. and Norwegian indie legends Beezewax. Their latest record just found it's way to Spotify and is aptly named: These Boys And This Band Is All I Know.

Hiawata! on Spotify

add them on Myspace

Watch their quirky video for the song Valley Boys: