Note: Each cd-cover is handmade and unique. The first edition (100x) is painted by Jens and Jakob Skarbø Opshaug (3 and 6 years old). The second edition (another 100x) had drawings by Sunniva and Sofie Hegg-Lunde (2 and 4 years old) and the final edition (still 100x) will be made by glue and glitter by Lilly Skarbø Ottesen (3 years).
We wanted to send the record around, and Hegg has a friend at the local newpaper in the countryside area he`s from, so he we asked this friend of his to write a review. Initially they didn`t want to do it due to lack of jazz knowledge, but finally we persuaded him and we`re happy we did. Can`t say we agree that there are no steady rhythms, rriffs or melodies though (listen to the examples). Anyway, anything to get our name on print... Here it is (translated) in its entirety, it`s beautiful!
"BAD HARMONY FROM THE HARMONY COMRADES" (sorry, really difficult to translate the original heading). Grade 2 out of 6.
"Klangkameratane`s new record makes Sigurd Ròs sound like Creedence Clearwater Revival. If you like your music traditional, back out.
This record is simply put too weird.
There are no verse or chorus, there are no melodies to hum along to. No guitar riffs. The only thing they have in common with music they way anyone but jazz nerds defines it, is that they use traditional instruments to produce sound.
On some records there is an explicit lyrics warning. This record should have an explicit music warning.
The song "Kårde" is 7 minutes and 49 seconds of drum rolls, seemingly sporadic breaks and random cymbal hits. Added to this the guitar is doing something that resembles frantic de-tuning of the low E-string, which in this case probably was tuned in an out-of-tune variation of a deep C.
The song is 7 mins and 49 seconds too long.
The next song consists of shouting and just about only that.
In the background you can hear a guitar sounding like a synth. Besides this there is only shouting. A shout here, another one there. Then silence before another shout. And that`s the whole song.
That the group has been experimental and searching is all good for their credibility within the right groups of people. But outside these circles, it won`t be considered anything but weird.
The song "Klausul" is the only one with a somewhat straight groove, and on the last song guitarist Even Hermansen plays some notes that borders to pretty. But for some reason the band refuses to do anything that can be understood as traditional. And always goes into their own weird landscape whenever they come close to something that resembles good music.
Whether they do this to be cruel or they actually thinks it sound good is impossible to tell.
The band deserves respect for beeing good musicians and for making an 100% improvised record.
Nothing is rehearsed, and one will always get an unique experience listening to them. But that helps so little when the music lacks all the things good music have.
If you find that border line experimental music is great, you`ll have a nice time with the work of Klangkameratane.
But if you as a listener need traditional references, i.e. a melody or a catchy rhythm, you are now warned.
The Norwegian trio Klangkameratane united as a group in 2002, against the members’ will. ”Klang” can have multiple meanings; reverberation, sound, harmony. ”Kameratane” means comrades. All three studied jazz together, and as an experiment their teacher divided the class into the most unsual combinations he could imagine, hence the strange instrumentation. It turned out to be a very prosperous collaboration and the three young men spent a few days recording music which in addition to guitar and percussion utilized quite unconventional instruments such as water, screeching doors, as a matter of fact a whole gym was involved.
For geographical reasons the group didn´t perform together for a long time. In 2005 they decided they wanted to see if the chemistry was still there. The answer is obvious: Klangkameratane just released their debut record!
Several gigs in Norway led to two days in the studio. The result from these sessions were released at the Nattjazz festival in Bergen, Norway. Klangkameratane´s music is totally improvised. With references ranging from Ornette Coleman to Kiss, it is bound for performances where anything can happen! From the delicate and soft melodies, maybe reminiscent of indigenous folk music, you can be run down by a train of noise and speed metal the next second.
The group consists of three of the most exciting young musicians on the Norwegian scene. All have several projects running and are constantly touring with various groups both in Norway and abroad.
Even Hermansen (b. 13.02.1982) has studied under two of the most respected guitarists in Norway: Jon Eberson and Ivar Grydeland. His own group Bushman`s Revenge recently released their debut "Cowboy Music" on Jazzaway Records. He also plays with the group Shining and Supersonic Rocketship.
Øyvind Hegg-Lunde (b. 12.02.1982) is the pupil of legendary percussionist Terje Isungset. Formerly he has studied drums with the Wollof-tribe in The Gambia. Some of his other projects include Hegg/Minothi Duo and award-winning Cloudberry and Gibbet. He just won the Vital talent price at the Nattjazz Festival.
Øyvind Skarbø (b. 09.04.1982) also studied with Isungset, as well as having studied Norwegian, Nigerian and Cuban traditional music. His groups include BMX, Økland&Apeland&Skarbø and Omenås/Skarbø. He runs his own concert series of improvised music in Bergen, Norway.
For 2007 the group has scheduled concerts around Norway as well as Spain, and will also do a special performance in Norway featuring guitarist Hilmar Jensson (Tyft, Jim Black`s Alasnoaxis etc).