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
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 & Fe-Mail. While her solo work on the Rune Grammofon release Voice is without the electronic
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…
Adventura Anatomica Read More »
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.
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 edition 400 copies / limited edition 30 copies. PsychForm: “The new release on PsychForm Records
Voluptuous Vultures Read More »
Maja Ratkje and Jaap Blonk have been performing and recording together since 2001. Their first release was a cd of acoustic voice duets ([intlink id=”3380″ type=”post”]MAJAAP[/intlink], also released on Kontrans). Here they go electronic with their voices still as their primary sound source. [intlink id=”3164″ type=”post”]Reviews[/intlink] Track list: 1 Rotary Torso Extension 2 Of Strange
Post-Human Identities Read More »
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 jazz, lack of dynamics, humourlessness – but SPUNK are alert to the dangers. Bold, sometimes
En aldeles forferdelig sykdom Read More »
ECM: “Frode Haltli is acknowledged as one of the most outstanding accordion soloists in contemporary music and is also an exceptional improviser and an authority on folk music. ‘Passing Images’ looks at traditional music, but in a very fresh and non-traditional way, through the knowledge acquired over the years and bringing together a unique cast
Debut album by Fe-mail (Hild Sofie Tafjord and Maja S. K. Ratkje). Originally released on vinyl. “Last year, a pink piece of vinyl sent a message to the noise community. In a limited edition of 500, it made a ripple, but quickly sold out before more had a chance to hear it. This year, Fe-mail’s
Syklubb fra Hælvete (CD) Read More »
C3R: “From the team that brought you ‘Music for Shopping’ and ‘Music for Loving’ comes an aural experience so shocking that you’ll need to hear it again and again and again. Marvel at the amount of noise that they can make! Speculate on why the clown is so sad! Get out your noise bible and
Acoustic vocal improvisation by Maja S. K. Ratkje and Jaap Blonk, recorded in Amsterdam, Oslo and Arnhem 2001-2002.
Gameboy Records: “sounds surface from all over the map. i hear voice, some synths, effects galore. this is a noisy affair not unlike (and maybe even more so than) fe-mail’s debut – recently issued on cd by important records. the melee brings to mind sudden infant’s work, but with more ferocity. if you’re into the
Bottrop-Boy: “Second collaboration between Norwegian masters of noise Maja Ratkje (Spunk, Fe-Mail) and Lasse Marhaug (Jazzkammer, Del) after their 2002 vinyl-only album Music For Shopping on Synesthetic Records. Music For Loving is wild, frantic, nervous, loud, delirious and scattered all over the place. The perfect music to listen to with your loved one.” [intlink id=”3726″
Maja S. K. Ratkje and Lasse Marhaug play music for shopping. Limited edition of 300 copies on black 220g vinyl. Released on Synesthetic Recordings. Vinyl only. [intlink id=”4859″ type=”post”]Reviews[/intlink] [intlink id=”2179″ type=”post”]More Music for Shopping[/intlink] Side One: 1. The Street Parade Massacre 2. Femail Popcorn Demon With Mobile Slash Reflector 3. Spunk Rock Goes Total
Music for Shopping Read More »
Debut album, released on pink vinyl, limited edition of 500 copies, now sold out. Made through pure improvisation with no pre-recorded sound at the starting point. Old school noise. Thurston Moore loves it: “Out of Norway comes the most exciting noise LP I’ve heard to date. These two women romp thru stimulating noise compositions fresh
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Norwegian Noise Orchestra’s debut concert at Betong, Oslo. Live recording 12.12.02. Line up: Andrè Borgen, Andreas Meland, Sten Ove Toft, Bjørn Hatterud, Per Gisle Galåen, Kai Mikalsen, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Sindre Andersen, Ole H. Melby, Maja S. K. Ratkje, Svein Egil Hatlevik, Kjetil S. Matheussen, Kim Sølve, Harald Fetveit.
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Rune Grammofon: “The debut solo album from SPUNK member Maja Ratkje will secure 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. Co-produced by Jazzkammer.” CDs sold out from label. Voice on LP Finnish artist
Rune Grammofon: “The new studio album from this increasingly exciting and colourful quartet boasts yet another Pippi Longstocking related title. This free spirited and anti authoritarian character is one of the most loved and wellknown from the late, great Swedish author of childrens books, Astrid Lindgren. It translates “The very top of a bluepainted flagpole”
Den øverste toppen på en blåmalt flaggstang Read More »
No Spaghetti Edition is an improvisation ensemble with different line-ups for each project. This presentation includes ten of the most active Norwegian improvisers, the German trumpet player Axel Dörner and the English keyboard player Pat Thomas. The music is a mixture of acoustic and electronic sound, all improvised live in studio. The ten Norwegians are
listen…and tell me what it was Read More »