rune grammofon / norway
Rune Grammofon is a Norwegian record label founded in 1998 by Rune Kristoffersen.
Rune Grammofon’s reputation for lovingly issued electronic, jazz, and improv music has grown over the years with its artists being featured heavily in magazines such as The Wire.
The label is home to the widely respected improv group Supersilent as well as the solo work of its members including Deathprod and Arve Henriksen. A couple other notable releases are Shining, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Jono El Grande, Skyphone, Alog/Phonophani and Food.
In 2000, the label signed a distribution deal with ECM, which increased the label’s audience considerably. This deal has come to an end early 2005. In November of 2003 the label celebrated its 30th release by issuing a set that included a two CD compilation and a book that displayed each of Kim Hiorthøy’s highly praised digipak designs.
Following the latest highly recommended appearance’s
Singer Susanna Wallumrød has a unique way of making a song her own, and to fill the lyrics and melodies with the emotional content they require. This was made very clear with her stunning interpretation of Dolly Parton´s classic ”Jolene”, recorded for the duo´s debut album ”List Of Lights and Buoys” (2004).
A song covered by many artists, but seldom with such heartfelt sincerity. With ”Melody Mountain” they have chosen to do an album of only interpretations, some quite radical, of mostly well-known songs, all personal and moving performances with Morten Qvenild´s naked and to the bone playing an important part in the overall soundscape. Full track list includes ”Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), ”It´s A Long Way To The Top” (AC/DC), ”These Days” (Matt Burt) “Condition Of The Heart” (Prince), “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (Joy Division), “Crazy, Crazy Nights” (Kiss), “Don´t Think Twice, It´s All Right” (Bob Dylan), “It´s Raining Today” (Scott Walker), “Enjoy The Silence” (Depeche Mode) and “Fotheringay” (Fairport Convention).
Released 14.08.06
artist’s web page
True story,as told by Per Henrik Svalastog himself: “I found an old Norwegian zither laying around my grandfather´s barn in the mountains. It appeared that he had been a fiddler before he lost all his fingers at the sawmill and convertet to become a hardcore pietist setting down a prohibition against music, dancing, card-playing and television. That made me want to convert as well, from digital medias to real playing. From electronica to folk music. Back to the sources. Heritage and environment.”
So it goes that Per Henrik is playing and improvising on archaic folk instruments like the ram's horn and harpeleik, which is a Norwegian zither. He is then processing it all in the computer, resulting in a detailed and accomplished but soothing and quite hypnotic music. Taking the music out of the city and into the Norwegian woods, and not the arctic regions, as is the popular image if you come from Tromsø and is associated with electronic music.
Per Henrik Svalastog is also a member of Information who released the excellent “Biomekano” (RCD2024) on Rune Grammofon in 2002. The previous year he did a stunning SPUNK remix for their “Filtered Through Friends” collection (RCD2022), a track that is also available on the “Until Human Voices Wake Us And We Drown” vinyl box set.
Released 07.08.06
The second album from the duo that is Thomas Strønen (Food) and Ståle Storløkken (Supersilent), now simply calling themselves Humcrush, after the title of their debut from 2004.
”Hornswoggle” is an alltogether more developed, varied and subtle collection of tracks, going from downright funky to abstract grooves from Thomas while Ståle is in his most melodic and atmospheric mood. Comparable to Supersilent´s most structured and accesible moments, this is an excellent addition to the catalogue.
Released 29.05.06
Posted:
Tuesday, September 5th, 2006, 13:50.
Filed under: label portrait.
| 509 Views.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Leave a comment | Trackback.
Loading ...