Februar 23, 2009
All Places, Infinite Time
Hi - I have a personal message for North readers at the end of this blog entry. But first read about my latest exploits:
This year at the non-corporate Oslo music festival By;Alarm (which occurs at exactly the same time as the more commercial music festival By:Larm), Dacianos played at Mir, but the band was reduced to... well, just me.
'The rest of the band are in jail,' I announced at the start of the show. I had seen some guy on stage say this years ago, can't remember who, but it's a good way to start.
Continue reading "All Places, Infinite Time"
Posted by barry at 12:08 FM Contact
Februar 16, 2009
Premium Bananas Music Hall
About a year and a half ago, artists Trond Arne Vangen and Frode Fivel completely changed our bar with cardboard and convincingly made it look like an old-fashioned bar with old-style wood furnishings. Now the duo are back with more cardboard, with a concept based on a banana box. I've got some photos here, which should show you (especially readers who have been here) how dramatic a change this is to the normal use of the space.
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Posted by barry at 11:23 FM Contact
Februar 8, 2009
Wollstonecraft's Letters
Mary Wollstonecraft, remembered for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), and for having died from giving birth to Mary Shelley, also travelled through Scandinavia in the summer of 1795, and wrote of her experiences in Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, which I've been reading. Here's some excerpts for you...
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Posted by barry at 12:53 EM Contact
Februar 1, 2009
Norwegian invention: The Cheese Slicer
The Norwegian Thor Bjørklund (1889-1975), like Jesus, was a once humble carpenter, until he was gripped by a visionary thought...
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Posted by barry at 6:18 EM Contact
Januar 25, 2009
The Arm
'Don't make fun of the Arm!' Tori warned, as I departed from the museum.
But I have no intention of doing so. I'm a great admirer of the Arm, in all its blue, grey and silver majesty.
Posted by barry at 2:59 EM Contact
Januar 18, 2009
Norwegian invention? The Paper Clip
North is back from its unplanned hiatus (I was recording music: a still-unfinished Dacianos innspilling) and I type this as parked cars disappear beneath the white blankets of snow and the air is filled with small white angels falling in heavenly silence. Or something. Anyhow, as the winter bites and the outskirts of the city fall prey to Polar Bear attacks, I fearlessly report to you, my worldwide readership, on one of the most controversial subjects in Norwegian culture: the invention of the paperclip.
Aye, the paperclip. Binders it's called in Norwegian. Why is it so important to Norway? There was a 7-metre paperclip erected as a monument to it in 1989, Norwegian patriots during the Nazi occupation wore paperclips in the 1940s, and I even found a paperclip in the shower the other day. The paperclip lies at the heart of the Norwegian experience - yet there is great uncertainty about it. The Norwegian-ness of the object is shrouded in considerable doubt.
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Posted by barry at 10:33 EM Contact
Desember 1, 2008
Statistic Time Again
About once a year, I almost gaze down from my Arctic tower to the (alleged) world below, but then I realize I don't need to do this, because my loyal servants are able to fax me statistics upon which I can pontificate (if, that is, I feel like pontificating). This year, I'll fill you in on gross national income, press freedom and higher education, three subjects you are no doubt fascinated by.
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Posted by barry at 3:13 FM Contact
November 25, 2008
We Celebrated No Music Day
Yes, No Music Day came around on 21 November (this past weekend) and we put on an event to honour it. The brainchild of KLF/K-Foundation musician/artist Bill Drummond, ours was one of a number of No Music events worldwide, as listed on the17.org and penkilnburn.com, the main event being in Brazil this year.
What's No Music Day?
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Posted by barry at 12:29 FM Contact
November 1, 2008
Stayin' Alive with Masselys in Berlin
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'!
I was in Berlin for a whirlwind overdrive week in late October with the Norwegian band Masselys. This is the band Bjarne, Jomba and Kjell-Olav formed earlier this year when Salvatore split up. The band also consists of Jonas (from 120 Days) and a singer called P.A. with no previous records. I was with them to play on the album they were recording with German producer Boris Wilsdorf, who famously records and mixes Einstürzende Neubauten. andereBaustelle Tonstudio was a studio with a difference, as you can see from the metal hanging behind the drumkit. During the week I also got to see much more of Berlin, so I've revised my opinion of the city from last time. Come join me on this musical travelogue...
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Posted by barry at 8:21 EM Contact
Oktober 29, 2008
UNiK
You may remember that back in April and May 2007 I reported on the plight of small businesses in my part of Oslo (Grünerløkka). Since then, over 70 of these businesses - including Sound of Mu (pictured) - have banded together to form an organization called UNiK, which even has a discount card for sale.