+3dB: “SPUNK and Joëlle Léandre is a match made for history. Based on their first joint appearance at Belleville, Oslo, in 2008, Molde Jazz Festival suggested that these players join forces again, a situation that warranted documentation. Léandre is one of the earliest prominent voices with a combined practice as performer, improviser and composer. She […]
Rune Grammofon: “On in this botanical adventure – or “Adventura Botanica” – SPUNK join forces with one of Norway’s leading modern dance exponents, Odd Johan Fritzøe, to create a sound and movement work celebrating Darwin’s legendary, game-changing voyage to Madagascar. Premiered in 2013 at Oslo’s trailblazing Ultima Festival of Contemporary Music, “Adventura Botanica” was the
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Beautiful, hand pressed black vinyl from Maja S. K. Ratkje / Joachim Montessuis on the French label Erratum. A collaboration which started in 2008 and finished in 2013.
The debut solo album from founder SPUNK member and composer Maja Ratkje has secured her a place among the finest experimental singers. From the weird and furious to the enchanting and beautiful, this is an album rich in atmosphere, colour and creative madness. First released on [intlink id=”1445″ type=”post”]CD[/intlink] in 2002 and now available on vinyl
A recording of live performances which brought together two essential figures of the contemporary scene: an oustanding Norwegian composer and vocal artist Maja S.K. Ratkje and a celebrated improviser and composer , former DNA drummer, Ikue Mori.
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Rune Grammofon: “At one minute past eight in the evening of the twentieth of January, 2001, the Norwegian quartet SPUNK began playing a drone in the key of B, inaugurating a project that would weave into their musical lives for the foreseeable future. Eleven years, eleven months and eleven minutes later, the same foursome struck
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Tzadik: “Members of bands as diverse as DNA, Skeleton Crew, Electric Masada, Hemophiliac and Björk, Zeena and Ikue have been leading figures of the downtown scene since the early 1980s. Their fabulous duo project Phantom Orchard is expanded here with five of the most exciting and creative women working in experimental music today. Created in
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Ikue Mori, Simon Balestrazzi, Sylvie Courvoisier, Alessandro Olla, Maja S. K. Ratkje recorded this album on Sardinia in 2010. Tracks: 1 Searching For 4:26 2 Alive 7:59 3 Tokyo Map 3:23 4 So Sorry 8:39 5 You Play Against My Day 3:26 6 So It Falls 9:09 7 8 Anywhere Else 6:53 Recorded by Matteo
Slugfield’s debut album. Slugfield is the super trio consisting of Maja S. K. Ratkje, Paal Nilssen-Love and Lasse Marhaug. This is a concert recording from Mono during Oslo Jazz Festival, August 2010. Recorded by Audun Strype, mixed by Ratkje, mastered by Marhaug, released by Nilssen-Love, on his own label. Cover design by Marhaug as well.
Rune Grammofon: “This DVD gives a rare and unique insight into the live concert experience of one of Norway´s most prominent and long standing contemporary impro groups. Commisioned by the Henie Onstad Art Centre for it´s 40th anniversary in 2008, ”Light” can be seen as an interaction between the art centre´s enviroment and the musicians.”
The red revolution has a new face in our time. Is it progress or sentimentality? How can we, by caressing old idioms with contemporary lust and energy, suggest an inviting alternative to the egocentric, postmodern capitalism and liberalism? Brecht encouraged to play with and exaggerate the elements used on stage. This involved “stripping the event
Picadisk: “The forth entry in Ratkje and Marhaug’s “Music For”-collaborative series. After Shopping (2002), Loving (2004) and Faking (2005) comes… Gardening. The title is inspired by Ratkje’s new life in the coutryside. The seven tracks on this CD are meant to inspire the listener to spend more time in their garden taking care of their
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The Last Record Company/Rune Grammofon: “A rare live recording and her first solo album for quite some time, this finds Maja on top form. Since her recording debut as a member of SPUNK 10 years ago, she has continuously challenged us with groundbreakingsolo performances or in projects like Fe-Mail and with Lasse Marhaug as well
Rune Grammofon: “Free collective improvising is one of the most demanding ways of making music: the pitfalls are many – self-absorption, incoherence, certain standardized “gestures” of free jazz, lack of dynamics, humourlessness – but Spunk are alert to the dangers. Bold, sometimes witty, always alert, they make engaging music, and keep the sound of surprise
CM distro: “Trinacria was originally a composition by Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved), Maja S. K. Ratkje and Hild Sofie Tafjord (both from Fe-mail), commissioned by Rikskonsertene for a concert series. The line-up was completed by Grutle Kjellson, Ice Dale (both from Enslaved), Iver Sandøy (Emmerhoff) and Espen Lien. In short: after working together briefly, the composition
Travel Now Journey Infinitely Read More »
Tzadik: “Maja Ratkje is a remarkable vocalist and composer based in Norway. Her work ranges from orchestral and chamber works to electronics, improvisation and creative combinations of all of the above. This special collection of Maja’s work showcases several aspects of this composer’s unique and intense approach to sound and features two of her most
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Important Records: “Northern Stains is the result of a collaboration between experimental phenomenon Carlos Giffoni and Spunk/Fe-Mail members Maja Ratkje & Hild Tafjord. This trio finally met when Giffoni booked Fe-Mail to headline the sunday night of his genere defining Brooklyn based 3 day No Fun Festival in 2005. Early in 2006 Giffoni boarded a
A quiet album by John Hegre and Maja Ratkje. Concréte. Close up. Blues… Dekorder: “Ballads ist the first collaborative album by two key figures of the Norwegian noise, improv, experimental, whatever-you-call-it music scene. Anyone expecting a rackety wall of distorted feedback guitars and voices will be gently surprised though by the sparse and intimate sketches
Lotta Melin – theremin with effects. Maja S. K. Ratkje – flee market microphone. Duets and solos. Released as 12′ vinyl. Track list: A 01. A Perfect Mental Image A 02. Empty Ladders A 03. As the Talk Goes On A 04. Falling Sickness A 05. For the Sake of Harmony A 06. Cultivating Disorder