Category Archives: Solo concerts

A Special Moment In Norwegian Music: Vriompeis 2021 Reviewed

The Quietus: (…)On day two, the internationally acclaimed composer Maja Ratkje is headlining with a noise show. It’s still 40 people sitting on barstools. A person in the audience is doing fist-pumps, moving his closed hand up and down several … Continue reading

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Downbeat and jazzwise reviews of Rune Grammofon 20 years anniversary concert

Her 45-minute set here encompassed electronic zaps and shrieks, wild ululations, delicate waves of sound from the theremin and a surprising passage of sound art, as she crumpled a huge sheet of plastic wrap into the microphone. Continue reading

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Intim fantasmagori da Motorpsycho og Maja S. K. Ratkje jubilerte for Rune Grammofon (NO)

Ballade.no: (…) Pionér? Kanskje. Emosjonelt? Absolutt. Prøvende? Definitivt. For selv om man kommer forberedt til en opptreden fra Norges mest anerkjente vokalkunstner, kan man ikke riktig forberede seg på hvordan opptredenen vil utarte seg, på akkurat denne siste, nitriste høstdagen, … Continue reading

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Solo in Berlin reviewed at The Oz Mix

“The opening artist for Method of Defiance was a Norwegian avant garde angel, Maja S.K. Ratkje who created a very powerful and densely layered sonic environment with only her voice and electronics. It definitely created a whole other world that, … Continue reading

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Insel mit Gespenstern (DE)

Rolling Stone Magazin Feb 2018: Ist das ein Wiegenlied, um ein Kind in der Schlaf zu bringen? Oder wird hier, bei all den unguten Geräuschen unter Melodie, eine erschreckliche Gespenstergeschichte gesungen, eine Moritat, die so tief in die Hirne und … Continue reading

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Maja solo at The Crossing, Birmingham

Ratkje epitomisess the modern Norwegian musical mindset: there are no categories and no limits in her music, and yet there is also extraordinary focus and character. Yes, she is called a vocalist because the sounds she makes are generated by … Continue reading

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FIMAV Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Downbeat Aug. 2014: (…) Two of the most memorable shows at this year’s FIMAV involved musicians who are finding artistically rich ways to combine electronic processing and spontaneous improvisation. In separate sets by veteran artist Parker and Norwegian vocalist-electronic artist … Continue reading

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Présences Electronique 2014 – Maja S. K. Ratkje (FR)

Ether REAL: Pour la dixième année consécutive, nous voici de nouveau au festival Présences Électronique, rendez-vous régulier des amateurs d’expérimentations électroniques dans des conditions d’écoute particulières puisque orchestré par l’Ina/GRM, tous les concerts sont diffusés sur l’acousmonium. Comme d’habitude depuis … Continue reading

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Review from Cleveland

Maja Ratkje looks harmless and demure, ambling slowly to the stage whistling a soft tune. Then the effects start. The whistle becomes a sound loop entwined with bells. Layers of white noise and wow and flutter erupt. Suddenly there’s what … Continue reading

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Gig review: Sonica: Voice, Glasgow

Sonica – a weekend-long celebration of sonic art – opened last night with the UK premiere of Voice, “an audio-visual duet by Norwegian performance artist Maja SK Ratkje and light designer HC Gilje”. The Scotsman 2nd November 2013 (…) For … Continue reading

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Reviews from Punkt Festival 2013 (in English and Norwegian)

Jazznytt: …kom på scenen og forestår det vakreste og øresprengende vi har hørt fra henne på lang tid. Og det sier ikke lite. Dette er instant komponering på sitt aller beste, på sitt aller mest magiske. by John Kelman, All … Continue reading

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Reviews from Krems, Kontraste 2012 (in English and Norwegian)

Visual artist HC Gilje and sound artist Maja Ratkje ended the festival. The setting was impressive: eighteen large (40 x 40 cm) monitors were stacked in a semicircle about eight feet high. Continue reading

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deneb-tala was here : Die Lange Nacht der elektronischen Musik, Dampfzentrale, Bern, le 6 Juillet 2012 (FR)

Deneb Tala: Pour le concert de Maja Ratkje, pas de chaises. On sera tous debout, comme dans un concert de rock (ou assis par terre, comme dans un concert de Nadja). Maja Ratkje est un petite femme toute menue, avec … Continue reading

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Bozar Electronic Arts Festival @ Bozar (NL)

KnackFocus.be: (…) Zaterdag werden we in de grote Henry Le Boeufzaal welkom geheten door een in duisternis gehulde Maja Ratkje, die door eenvoudigweg in de microfoon te blazen en te smakken en daar vervolgens op haar computer mee aan de … Continue reading

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Zážitek silnější než šestsetwattová žárovka (CZ)

Aardvark: (…) Po přestávce, během které zaznělo několik gratulací a poděkování autorům HIS Voice, představení nového designu i směřování periodika, se před publikum dostavila norská vokalistka Maja Ratkje. Improvizátorka přednesla dvě performance, při kterých si pomáhala různými nástroji od harmoniky … Continue reading

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Radical voices (shared concert with Diamanda Galás and Attila in Copenhagen), reviews in Danish

(…) en koncert af en kaliber, man vil snakke om mange år fra nu. Vel indbyder kirker til andagt, men musik ofte mere. Og efter en aften som denne var man klar til at gå lykkeligt i graven. Continue reading

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Festival Review: Tuned City Tallinn

Tofaki: The artist created an atmosphere of an expressive pageantry on the stage and a thrilling sonic palette full of whispers, sharp recitatives, hypnotic singing, humming, scratching of wires, microphones and other equipment, crackle, waves of noise, roaring vibration, which made the building quiver and turned it into a giant instrument. Continue reading

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Svetur: Garsas, architektūra ir miestas festivalyje Tuned City Taline (EE)

Artnews: Maja S.K. Ratkje, sukūrusi scenoje ypatingo, ekspresyvaus iškilmingumo atmosferą ir lengvai šiurpą keliantį šnabždesių, aštrių rečitatyvų, hipnotiško dainavimo, niūniavimo, laidų, mikrofonų ir kitų įtaisų keliamų krebždesių Continue reading

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Maja Ratkje Nowy Wspaniały Świat, Warszawa 14.06.11 (PL)

PopUp Music: Dzień przed warszawskim koncertem Maja Ratkje wystąpiła w Gdańsku używając laptopa organizatora koncertów, gdyż cały jej sprzęt został na lotnisku w Oslo. Ekwipunek dotarł jednak do Warszawy (choć z pewnym opóźnieniem), dzięki czemu oprócz elektronicznego arsenału, analogowych dodatków … Continue reading

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Angelica, focus sulla Norvegia (IT)

il Fatto Quotidiano:
La Ratkje ha dimostrato carattere, grinta, presenza scenica: un’artista decisamente in ascesa e che ha dato buona prova di sé. Continue reading

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