Mental Overdrive ”Diskodans Remixes” 12”
| TUSSLE (Smalltown Supersound) |
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| "Writhing junkyard disco so limber your spine may spontaneously dissolve." (Vice Magazine) "Tussle taps the fractal noise vein Dom spotted in recent Brooklyn noise records such as Black Dice's Creature Comforts and Excepter's KA, but Tussle beat both out with four-four on top and more noise to boot." (Pitchfork) Sprung from SF’s active underground Mission district scene, Tussle has been causing a stir for some time with their unique combination of dance rhythms, elastic basslines, metallic textures, and processed electronic experimentation. Kling Klang is their debut album and was preceded by two 12" singles and a CD EP all released by Troubleman Unlimited in the United States. The Smalltown Supersound edition collects the bulk of Kling Klang and also includes highlights from their first two singles and their own extended Neu!-inspired remix of "Here It Comes" from their White Label DJ single of the song. Tussle have picked up support from Trevor Jackson (Output/Playgroup), John Peel, Scott "Prefuse 73" Herren. Feature pieces appeared in i-D (UK), Tokion, XLR8R, Anthem, Rockpile, Punk Planet, even Entertainment Weekly and Jane. Very positive reviews appeared in The Wire, Vice, Magnet, Skyscraper, and Dusted Magazine. The ever hard-to-impress scribes at Pitchfork hailed the group one of the top 5 artists to look out for in the coming year(s). See detailed press under. Tussle has toured Europe, Japan and the East Coast of the United States. In Europe, they supported friends and labelmates Erase Errata, as well playing alongside Andrew Weatherall, Zongamin and Sunburned Hand of The Man. In the UK, they played Hot Shit! (formerly Sonic Mook Experiment), the Frieze Art Fair Afterhours and Trash. Their brief tour in Japan found them supporting Eye of Boredoms. In shows in SF and NYC, they've shared stages with a diverse international cast that mirrors the group's uniquely genre-free approach including Mu, Deerhof, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ariel Pink, Add N To (X) to name a few. An album of remixes of Kling Klang material is also in the works, including contributions from Munk, Soft Pink Truth, Gang Gang Dance and many others to be confirmed. |
| HEX PISTOLS (Smalltown Supersound/Love OD) |
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| Behind the name The Hex Pistols reside two individuals of unrevealed origin, who, in light of their ”careers” in the field of ”data-modification” (not unusually of data belonging to other people), don’t feel comfortable exposing themselves to the public domain and the prosecuting authorities. The Hex Pistols draw their inspiration from sources like the early punk-scene, the original cyber cowboys of the early eighties, John Pilger, Attac, Linux, Lynx, antiword and Underground Resistance. Their only reason for basing their name on a well known boyband from the seventies, is to pay respect to the con-man who misled a whole generation of youngsters into believing they were opposing capitalism by enslaving themselves totally to petty cash, bad amphetamine and the alcohol industry. It is time for the world to get exposed to their blend of Disco, 8-bit punk and Solid Statements. |
| TOY (Smalltown Supersound) |
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| “Prozac-flavoured glory” (BBC Radio 3) Toy is an electronic duo formed by UK composer Alisdair Stirling and producer Jorgen Traeen from Bergen, Norway. Toy's playful tunes mix kids TV (Pingu, Radiophonic Workshop) and Japanese style electronica (YMO and Cornelius) with a touch of Scandinavian electro weirdness. They also manage to combine a flavour of incidental/elevator music with beats and grooves to create infectious pop. Stirling is behind the Bergen pop workshop/collective 'House of Hiss', working with Bergen producers The Sensible Twins (Hans Petter Gundersen and Kato Adland) which released 'Holland Park/Sugar Shoop' seven inch vinyl on New Records last year. Traeen is a well know producer who among others has produced Sondre Lerche, Magnet and Jaga Jazzist.He also has his own solo project Sir Dupermann on Smalltown Supersound. The band released 'Rabbit Pushing Mower/Valley Cars' as a vinyl seven inch on Telle Records described by the BBC as “an amusing cream puff of a tune”. Their second vinyl single 'Sedan Through Tunnel/Decorama' is about to be released on Smalltown Supersound. The same label will later on in 2005 also release the debut album by Toy. |
| MENTAL OVERDRIVE (Smalltown Supersound/Love OD) |
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| “A warm and welcoming record ripe with dippy melodies and celestial disco that anyone can get into” (Vice Magazine) "This is a welcome return for the daddy of Norwegian electronic music, aka Per Martinsen. Incredibly infectious. Inspect." (DJ Magazine) Per Martinsen and his Mental Overdrive project is a Norwegian electronica legend. Since his early days at the seminal R&S Records Martinsen has been one of the big innovators in electronic music. He is the mentor and the godfather for the whole Norwegian electronic underground. His first release “083” (out in January 2005) is his first album since “Ad Absurdium” on Virgin Records in 1998. Martinsen has managed to get out of his contract with Virgin, and has now signed a deal with Smalltown Supersound. We will release his future releases in collaboration with his own Love OD Communication label. Martinsen himself describes the background for the album and the Mental Overdrive sound like this: ” With a background of growing up in the early 80’s, the influences of British new-wave and sub-pop, the European electronic underground and the odd American beatbox pattern, the material was captured with a strong urge to re-evoke the rather vague memories of the euphoria caused by hearing electronic music for the first time. In this sense, “083” is truly a “roots” album – albeit an “electronic roots” album.” “083” offers classic Mental Overdrive, where Martinsen goes back to his roots and finds inspiration in Kraftwerk, New Order/Joy Division and the Factory Records scene, the house and techno scenes in Detroit and Chicago in the 80`s, as well as WARP`s bleep/headphone music from the early nineties. But first of all is Mental Overdrive classic and timeless electronic music independent of both time and trends. |
| LARS HORNTVETH (Smalltown Supersound) |
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| "Unbelievably graceful instrumental” (NME) “Gorgeous, cinematic and brilliant” (DJ Magazine) "An electro-acoustic wonder” (The Independent) Lars Horntveth is the songwriter and musical leader of Norwegian 10 piece Jaga Jazzist who are signed to Ninja Tune/Smalltown Supersound. Horntveth released his solo debut album Pooka in 2004, and album that was met with massive acclaim from music critics all over the world. Pooka is an instrumental pop album, and although it might have things in common with the electronica genre, all the music was recorded live in the studio and, with the exception of the programmed beats, nothing is played on computers. The music was scored on paper. Most instruments are played by Horntveth himself, except for the string parts which are played by a 9 piece string orchestran and conducted by Horntveth. The album was recorded in Duper Studios in Bergen, and is produced by Jørgen Træen (aka Sir Dupermann). Træen is also known for superb productions for Magnet (Ultimate Dilemma), Jaga Jazzist, Ralph Meyers and the Jack Herren Band (Emperor Norton) and Sondre Lerche (Source). With Pooka Horntveth has created his own unique sound universe, and the Pooka universe doesn`t sound like anything else, although one might trace Horntveth`s fascination for the soundworld of artists such as Charles Mingus, Robert Wyatt, Radiohead, Gil Evans, Bjørk, Cornelius, Kronos Quartet and early Tom Waits. There is something cinematic, nostalgic, mysterious and dreamy about Pooka, and its not without reason the album has borrowed its title from the pooka character from 1950`s “Harvey” film (directed by Henry Koster), starring James Stewart. Horntveth is something of a musical genious, his musical skills are self taught. And although he is only 23 years old, he has released 4 albums with Jaga Jazzist (the first was released when he was only 15 years old). He has also written music for many of Norways most popular bands such as Turbonegro (among others the strings on “Fuck The World”) and Motorpsycho. |
| YUICHIRO FUJIMOTO (Smalltown Supersound) |
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| "A genius of near spiritual proportions"
(Undercover) Komorebi is the stunning debut album of Yuichiro Fujimoto. This young Japanese artist was discovered by designer and Smalltown Supersound recording artist Kim Hiorthøy and Smalltown Supersound label manager Joakim Haugland after sending the label a demo. To accompany the music there were lots of beautiful drawings and photos, and both Hiorthøy and Haugland understood right away that this was a very special talent and special artist operating in his very own and unique world of both sound and visuals. The artwork for the album is created by Kim Hiorthøy based on the drawings and photos of Fujimoto. It might also be worth mentioning that Fujimotos photos were used on the artwork for Kim Hiorthøy`s own Japan only release “Fantasin Finns I Värkligheten (Japan Selector)” released on P-Vine Records. Yuichiro Fujimoto`s music leans on Japan`s old and rich musical tradition, as well as modern Japanese electronic music with artists such as Nobukazu Takemura, Aki Tsuyuko and Susumu Yokota. One might also find influences from the powerbook pop of Fennesz and Jim O`Rourke, but there is a also a warm human touch to the music that makes you think of the melancholic atmospheres of the old masters John Fahey, Nick Drake and Eric Satie. Yuichiro Fujimoto`s music hides small treasures of quiet and minimalistic beauty, both melodic and truly original. |
| SIR DUPERMANN (Smalltown Supersound) |
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| ”Norwegian super-producer Jorgen Traeen aka Sir Dupermann has drawn on the influences of buddies Röyksopp and Kim Hiorthøy to create a mind-blowing debut album of hi-NRG free-jazz click-pop. Speaker-shredding!” (Uncut) Jørgen Traen aka Sir Dupermann is known as the Norwegian super producer (producer for among others Jaga Jazzist, Magnet and Sondre Lerche) and and the man behind the Duper Studio (home of Røyksopp, Kings of Convenience, Jaga Jazzist et. al.). After years with hard production work he deceided to finally concentrate on his own music, and finish the longtime work with his debut album. Smalltown Supersound heard 2 tracks of his pre-production recordings, and was blown away! The label signed a deal right away. Traen moved to London where he stayed for 6 months producing his self-titeled debut album. The album has become a masterpiece. Out of the wildest chaos of sounds and rythms, Træen has created a pop album. Very compromiseless pop though. But even though his soundworld may sound chaotic, it is also very structured, detailed and complex. Træen has managed to turn chaos into beauty. With his fantastic production skills and his arsenal of machines, he has created an organic and warm sound, and a soundworld all of his own. ”Sir Dupermann” is a mastodon of an album; mindblowing, different, timeless and truly orginal.Træen`s rich and diverse sound is a result of his involvement with lots of different projects and scenes, both as a producer and as an artist. He has worked with everything from harsh noise, contemporary music and grim black metal to pure pop and electronic music.The album mixes elements from Cornelius`s and Plaid`s electropop, Fennesz` and Jim O`Rourke`s abstract electronics, the European free-jazz tradition of Derek Bailey and Evan Parker, sound effects from cartoons and movies, Aphex Twin, Lou Reed`s “Metal Machine Music”, the avantgarde sound of Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage, Q-Berts turntableism, Luc Ferrari`s musique concrete, Kid 606s electronic punk, Merzbow`s digital noise and the micro/click-scene around Mille Plateaux. Everything performed with the unpretentious attitude of punk rock. ”Sir Dupermann” is wild, beautiful and obsessive! |
| MARTIN HORNTVETH (Smalltown Supersound) |
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| “One hundred miles-per-hour Herbert for real “future jazz” heads” (Straight No Chaser) “Constellations of incredibly structured beats combined with wistful melodies” (The Wire) Martin Horntveth is a busy young man, not only is he the drummer and leader of Jaga Jazzist, he is also busy with his own solo project. So far he has released the two EPs ”Fast Motion” and "Skull EP", both hailed by the critics everywhere. The last couple of years he has toured the world extensively, with gigs in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Amsterdam, Stockholm, London, Roma, Berlin (to name a few). His live shows are jaw dropping; wild, spontaneous and very physical. Horntveth mixes electronica (both abstract and melodic), dark electro, punk rock, cut-up, free jazz and even metal. But always twisting and turning things in unexpected ways. Dark, elegant and beautiful. |
| LASSE MARHAUG (Smalltown Superjazzz) |
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| Norwegian Lasse Marhaug has been working within the fields of noise music for over 15 years. He has toured most parts of the world, both as a solo artist and as a member of the project Jazzkammer. Marhaug has collaborated with noise artists such as Merzbow, Kevin Drumm(Moikai/Mego), Russell Haswell (WARP), free-jazzers like Mats Gustafsson and Paal Nilssen-Love, and has performed with members of black metal bands like Enslaved, Mayhem (ex-drummer Manheim) and Defiled. With the 2004 album "The Shape of Rock To Come" Lasse Marhaug delivered a mastodon of power electronics, extreme metal, free-jazz and brutal noise. The title was a homage to Ornette Colemans jazz milestone "The Shape Of Jazz To Come", but also a statement of how rock in the year 2004 should sound like. Marhaug assembles the whole history of extreme music in "The Shape of Rock To Come"; the brutality of death and black metal; the energy of 50`s and 60`s avantgarde free-jazz; the guitar walls of Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth and The Jesus and the Mary Chain; as well as the obvious connections to extreme electronic music like Merzbow, Whitehouse and Lou Reeds “Metal Machine Music”. But Marhaug ties everything brilliantly together to a unique expression that has its own voice. But it's not for the faint of heart. This is intense listening. |
| KIM HIORTHØY (Smalltown Supersound) |
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| "Weird fun, Scandinavian style - clean, convival and utterly wonderful" (Mojo) On his records Kim Hiorthøy combine weird beats, lo-fi/leftfield electronics, field recordings, electro-acoustic sounds and samples, resulting in a sound all his own. His debut album "Hei" was released in 2000 to rave reviews around the world. His second record, "Melke", a collection of remixes, 7 inches, rejected tracks and tracks for compilations, was released in 2002. His live sets differ somewhat from the records; with faster speeds and louder beats they sometimes end up as tiny techno raves, if perhaps weird ones at that. Hiorthøy is also a graphic designer, mostly recognized for his work for the Rune Grammofon label and rock group Motorpsycho. A book, "Tree Weekend", was published by Die Gestalten Verlag in 2000. |
| JAGA JAZZIST (Smalltown Supersound/Ninja Tune) |
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| “Like Charles Mingus with Aphex Twin up his ass. Detectable” (Sleazenation) Jaga Jazzist has become something of a musical phenomenon in Norway since they started 9 years ago. Not only is this 10 piece instrumental band regarded as one of the most exciting and innovative in Norway, the members are all involved in other musical projects and have in one way or another contributed to almost every significant recording to come out of that part of the world in the last few years. It has been this strong involvement with different projects, and different musical styles and sounds which is the key to the unique sound of Jaga Jazzist. With no boundaries and an arsenal that includes trumpets, trombone, electric guitar, bass, tuba, two bass clarinets, Fender Rhodes, vibraphone and a rack of electronics, Jaga Jazzist create timeless music. Melodic, hypnotizing, delicate and subtle. Jaga Jazzist started out in Tonsberg (a small town outside Oslo) in 1994 at which time Lars Horntveth (the main songwriter in Jaga) was only 14 years old! In 2001 they released their debut album “A Livingroom Hush” on Warner in Scandinavia to massive critical acclaim and great sales (the album sold over 20000 copies in Norway alone..). The band then signed a deal for the rest of the world through Oslo`s Smalltown Supersound. Throughout 2002 the band shocked fans and critics alike with their blistering live shows and the buzz resulted in sold out dates all over Europe and the band soon came to the attention of Ninja Tune who did a license/collaboration deal with Smalltown Supersound. At the same time as their debut album gained more and more international success, Jaga recorded the follow up titled “The Stix”. As with their first album this was produced by Norwegian superproducer Jørgen Træen the man behind Duper Studios in Bergen (home of Røyksopp, Kings of Convenience, Sondre Lerche et.al.) but this time Jaga wanted to push their musical limits even further and really create a sound they could genuinely call “Jaga Jazzist “. The proof of their efforts is in the record “The Stix”, the perfect balance between (hu)man and machine it never looses the organic nature of a live 10 piece. Genuinely original music. The band: Mathias Eick – trumpet, upright bass, keyboards + vibraphone Harald Frøland – guitars + effects Even Ormestad – bass + keyboards Andreas Mjøs – vibraphone, drums, percussion + electronics Line Horntveth – tuba, melodica + percussion Martin Horntveth – drums + drum-machines Lars Horntveth – tenor sax, bass-clarinet + electric guitar Andreas Schei – Keyboards Ketil Einarsen– flute, bass-clarinet, percussion + keyboards Lars Wabø - Trombone |