Category Archives: Full length album features

Trouble in Paradise

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 … Continue reading →

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Treasure Hunt

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 … Continue reading →

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Slime Zone

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 … Continue reading →

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LIGHT

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, … Continue reading →

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Wach auf!

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 … Continue reading →

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Danse Macabre

Free improvised solo concert at Podium, Oslo, 16 June 2009. Continue reading →

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Music for Gardening

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 … Continue reading →

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Cyborgic

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 … Continue reading →

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Kantarell

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. … Continue reading →

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Travel Now Journey Infinitely

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 … Continue reading →

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River Mouth Echoes

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 … Continue reading →

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Northern Stains

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 … Continue reading →

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Ballads

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 … Continue reading →

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Illegal Parking

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 … Continue reading →

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Stalker

catalog number: imprec092format: picture disc This vinyl only picture disc release is limited to only 500 copies worldwide. Important Records: “Renowned international composer Maja Ratkje is a founding member in two of Norway’s most respected improvisational units – Spunk & … Continue reading →

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Adventura Anatomica

Semishigure: “With the help of modern electronica and the most agile vocal cords of the western world Ratkje manages to create her own magical domain. In that sense, she is consciously following in the footsteps of such female vocal pioneers as Meredith Monk, Diamanda Galas and Laurie Anderson, constantly searching for cross-fertilisation between voice improvisation, musical drama and technological innovation… Continue reading →

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Blixter Toad

2xCD. Asphodel: “Fe-mail, MAJA RATKJE and HILD SOFIE TAFJORD, have crafted a site-specific survey of the chaparrals of noise music. As half of the Scandinavian female improv quartet, SPUNK, they began to adapt their mediums of french horn and voice to multiple formats…” Watch videos and listen to some of the music here. Continue reading →

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Voluptuous Vultures

Available in 10″ vinyl or full length CD which includes an extra track. Vinyl also available in a heavy metal box with poster-artwork by Lasse Marhaug (limited edition of 30 copies). Vinyl release text from PsychForm:” 10″ vinyl – standard … Continue reading →

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Post-Human Identities

Maja Ratkje and Jaap Blonk have been performing and recording together since 2001. Their first release was a cd of acoustic voice duets (, also released on Kontrans). Here they go electronic with their voices still as their primary sound … Continue reading →

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En aldeles forferdelig sykdom

Rune Grammofon: “Their third studio album marks the 10th anniversary of this all female quartet. 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 … Continue reading →