TRICK034
KÅRE JOÃO 2
Psychedelic/rock/retro
Released August 2005
KÅRE JOÃO 2
Psychedelic/rock/retro
Released August 2005
Release info/Press release
Half Brazilian Kåre João Pedersen came to Norway as a 5-year-old on a freezing winter day in 1979, wearing only his shorts and a T-shirt. He spent the rest of his childhood and most of his youth in the rural community of Harestua, north of Oslo. There, he and his childhood friend Knut Schreiner started the band KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN in 1990. A few years later this band became part of the Oslo underground rock scene, alongside bands such as TURBONEGRO, GLUECIFER and KING MIDAS. During this period, Kåre played and recorded with several other bands, including the KWYET KINGS, THE ABUSERS, THE REJECTS, THE CAVEBONES and GLUECIFER.
KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN became Norwegian TV stars in 1996 as a resident band on the NRK2 channel, before recording the critically acclaimed albums Jet Age (1997) and Long day's flight 'till tomorrow (1999). These albums were released internationally, and the band toured in Europe and the US under the name EUROBOYS.
Then, as KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN came to a grinding halt in 2000 (Schreiner continued with new members as EUROBOYS), Kåre started to work on his first solo project under the KÅRE JOÃO name - determined to develop his skills as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Jester Records' boss Kristoffer Rygg, having used Kåre's drumming on several of his releases, signed Kåre instantly. During the album sessions, Kåre met WHOPPER vocalist Anders Bortne with whom he formed a dynamic songwriting duo - a cornerstone of the KÅRE JOÃO sound.
Percussionist Johan Fodstad Larsen and keyboards & programming demon Kristian von Streng Hæhre appeared in a cloud of smoke and joined Kåre's touring band in 2002. Hailing from the same rural region as Kåre and Dag, these guys became crucial contributors both musically and production-wise on the KÅRE JOÃO 2 project. Johan, one of the most prolific hip hop designers in Norway, is also responsible for the CD cover and the TV dreamy video.
Anders Bortne is a migrant rock 'n' roller who travelled from fjord to fjord before settling in Oslo and eventually becoming a novelist. In Bergen, Western Norway, he started the band WHOPPER in the early 90s. Their debut album Let's make sounds was released in 1999, and their 2001 effort Takes & mistakes spawned a string of radio hits. Among their classic songs is Listen Lennon, in which Anders strongly defends his songwriting idol: the often unjustly ridiculed Paul McCartney.
WHOPPER released their final album No music here in 2003, but despite rave reviews and plenty of airplay, the band never hit it big. In 2002 Anders started collaborating with Kåre on the KÅRE JOÃO project, and at the same time Kåre joined WHOPPER on percussion. The blending of Kåre's grooves with Anders' catchy tunes turned out surprisingly successful, and for a while Anders could be heard on the radio singing with two different bands.
During this period, Anders also started turning his experiences from the shadowy sides of the music business into literature. His debut novel Et bra band (A good band), the saga of a punk band named the SECULARS, was released in April 2005. Although the story is mainly based on WHOPPER's adventures, the book's video shooting sequence depicts KÅRE JOÃO's Sleepers video sessions with frightening accuracy. Currently, Anders is working on the screenplay for the upcoming Et bra band movie.
Dag F. Gravem joined KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN on bass in the spring of 1990, as the band changed their musical direction from BEASTIE BOYS-inspired hip hop to punk rock. Since then, Dag has played with Kåre more or less continuously, in KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN, at studio sessions and in the KÅRE JOÃO band. Dag left KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN/EUROBOYS in 2000, and has later made a name for himself as a comics translator, best known for his work on Swedish cartoonist Martin Kellerman's Rocky. More than one KÅRE JOÃO associate has been namedropped in this particular comic strip.
Anders was inspired by his music business experiences to write fiction. Dag, on the other hand, was inspired to do research into the history of the music business. His thesis on the Norwegian idealistic music movement and alternative record companies of the 70s is currently being reworked as an article for an anthology on the alternative cultures and political radicalism of the 60s and 70s.
The enigmatic Kasper Trolle in many ways represented the musical soul of the Sideman project. With his haunting yet sharp slide guitar Kasper provided striking contrasts to the record's light melodies and hard rhythms. On KÅRE JOÃO 2 he develops his influences further, supplying harmonica, ukulele and saz. The spiritually inclined Kasper has the bluest soul of all the contributors on this album, and he adds an air of mystery to the music.
2 track by track:
Don't don't:
The only tune made at a conventional rehearsal. Kasper came up with the opening riff, and people joined in. The verse was a teamwork, Anders already had a fitting chorus. The wall of guitars is reinforced by sax and harmonica. Sounds and fury.
Jupiter in flux:
A tune by Anders. A taste of summer with a hint of melancholy. Smooth sax provided by renowned improviser Rolf Erik Nystrøm.
The rats:
Kåre went to Brazil on vacation - Kristian and Johan went into the studio to do their stuff. Drone/groove based thing with lots of subtle keyboard playing by Kristian. Nightmarish lyrics about being doomed.
Too soon, too fast:
A new dose of riffs and fury. Originally the last part of a totally different tune, in this incarnation it works perfectly - even without a chorus. Lead vocals by Kristian and Tore Jazztobakk from merry experimenters Ost & Kjex.
TV dreamy:
Classic KÅRE JOÃO. Kåre's wild grooves work seamlessly with Anders' smooth melody and liberating chorus. References to both BLACK SABBATH and THE STOOGES. Zugly of THE WONDERFOOLS guest stars on bass.
Nocturnal offline transactions:
No cash left in your pockets and your bank account is empty. All of your credit cards repossessed. But you don't wanna stop partying, of course. What you need is the kind of ATM machine that is the central theme of this song. A hypnotizing mix of drone sounds and riffs creates just the right feeling of lust, despair and alienation. KRAFTWERK-like vocals and CAN-ish drum/percussion work from Kåre and Johan towards the end.
The sideman:
Country João. Everything goes to hell sooner or later, and this is the sound of KÅRE JOÃO going straight to hell. Complete with a weeping accordion by Anders and some jolly banjo playing from Dag.
Sunset sticker:
More melancholy and tristesse. Basic composition by Dag, lyrics and melodic contributions by Anders. Later deconstructed and reconstructed by Kåre. Beautiful slide guitar and ukulele by Kasper.
Kaleidoscope street:
Heavily produced psychedelia with daredevil drums and wasp guitar by Kåre, and Marius Bodin at the mixing console. Kasper picks the camel saz, Kristian blows the elephant trombone. Watch the circus parade down Kaleidoscope Street!
Love each other:
The band's mantra. All you need is love. KÅRE JOÃO think you're OK, man. Take care. Bye!
Half Brazilian Kåre João Pedersen came to Norway as a 5-year-old on a freezing winter day in 1979, wearing only his shorts and a T-shirt. He spent the rest of his childhood and most of his youth in the rural community of Harestua, north of Oslo. There, he and his childhood friend Knut Schreiner started the band KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN in 1990. A few years later this band became part of the Oslo underground rock scene, alongside bands such as TURBONEGRO, GLUECIFER and KING MIDAS. During this period, Kåre played and recorded with several other bands, including the KWYET KINGS, THE ABUSERS, THE REJECTS, THE CAVEBONES and GLUECIFER.
KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN became Norwegian TV stars in 1996 as a resident band on the NRK2 channel, before recording the critically acclaimed albums Jet Age (1997) and Long day's flight 'till tomorrow (1999). These albums were released internationally, and the band toured in Europe and the US under the name EUROBOYS.
Then, as KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN came to a grinding halt in 2000 (Schreiner continued with new members as EUROBOYS), Kåre started to work on his first solo project under the KÅRE JOÃO name - determined to develop his skills as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Jester Records' boss Kristoffer Rygg, having used Kåre's drumming on several of his releases, signed Kåre instantly. During the album sessions, Kåre met WHOPPER vocalist Anders Bortne with whom he formed a dynamic songwriting duo - a cornerstone of the KÅRE JOÃO sound.
Percussionist Johan Fodstad Larsen and keyboards & programming demon Kristian von Streng Hæhre appeared in a cloud of smoke and joined Kåre's touring band in 2002. Hailing from the same rural region as Kåre and Dag, these guys became crucial contributors both musically and production-wise on the KÅRE JOÃO 2 project. Johan, one of the most prolific hip hop designers in Norway, is also responsible for the CD cover and the TV dreamy video.
Anders Bortne is a migrant rock 'n' roller who travelled from fjord to fjord before settling in Oslo and eventually becoming a novelist. In Bergen, Western Norway, he started the band WHOPPER in the early 90s. Their debut album Let's make sounds was released in 1999, and their 2001 effort Takes & mistakes spawned a string of radio hits. Among their classic songs is Listen Lennon, in which Anders strongly defends his songwriting idol: the often unjustly ridiculed Paul McCartney.
WHOPPER released their final album No music here in 2003, but despite rave reviews and plenty of airplay, the band never hit it big. In 2002 Anders started collaborating with Kåre on the KÅRE JOÃO project, and at the same time Kåre joined WHOPPER on percussion. The blending of Kåre's grooves with Anders' catchy tunes turned out surprisingly successful, and for a while Anders could be heard on the radio singing with two different bands.
During this period, Anders also started turning his experiences from the shadowy sides of the music business into literature. His debut novel Et bra band (A good band), the saga of a punk band named the SECULARS, was released in April 2005. Although the story is mainly based on WHOPPER's adventures, the book's video shooting sequence depicts KÅRE JOÃO's Sleepers video sessions with frightening accuracy. Currently, Anders is working on the screenplay for the upcoming Et bra band movie.
Dag F. Gravem joined KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN on bass in the spring of 1990, as the band changed their musical direction from BEASTIE BOYS-inspired hip hop to punk rock. Since then, Dag has played with Kåre more or less continuously, in KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN, at studio sessions and in the KÅRE JOÃO band. Dag left KÅRE & THE CAVEMEN/EUROBOYS in 2000, and has later made a name for himself as a comics translator, best known for his work on Swedish cartoonist Martin Kellerman's Rocky. More than one KÅRE JOÃO associate has been namedropped in this particular comic strip.
Anders was inspired by his music business experiences to write fiction. Dag, on the other hand, was inspired to do research into the history of the music business. His thesis on the Norwegian idealistic music movement and alternative record companies of the 70s is currently being reworked as an article for an anthology on the alternative cultures and political radicalism of the 60s and 70s.
The enigmatic Kasper Trolle in many ways represented the musical soul of the Sideman project. With his haunting yet sharp slide guitar Kasper provided striking contrasts to the record's light melodies and hard rhythms. On KÅRE JOÃO 2 he develops his influences further, supplying harmonica, ukulele and saz. The spiritually inclined Kasper has the bluest soul of all the contributors on this album, and he adds an air of mystery to the music.
2 track by track:
Don't don't:
The only tune made at a conventional rehearsal. Kasper came up with the opening riff, and people joined in. The verse was a teamwork, Anders already had a fitting chorus. The wall of guitars is reinforced by sax and harmonica. Sounds and fury.
Jupiter in flux:
A tune by Anders. A taste of summer with a hint of melancholy. Smooth sax provided by renowned improviser Rolf Erik Nystrøm.
The rats:
Kåre went to Brazil on vacation - Kristian and Johan went into the studio to do their stuff. Drone/groove based thing with lots of subtle keyboard playing by Kristian. Nightmarish lyrics about being doomed.
Too soon, too fast:
A new dose of riffs and fury. Originally the last part of a totally different tune, in this incarnation it works perfectly - even without a chorus. Lead vocals by Kristian and Tore Jazztobakk from merry experimenters Ost & Kjex.
TV dreamy:
Classic KÅRE JOÃO. Kåre's wild grooves work seamlessly with Anders' smooth melody and liberating chorus. References to both BLACK SABBATH and THE STOOGES. Zugly of THE WONDERFOOLS guest stars on bass.
Nocturnal offline transactions:
No cash left in your pockets and your bank account is empty. All of your credit cards repossessed. But you don't wanna stop partying, of course. What you need is the kind of ATM machine that is the central theme of this song. A hypnotizing mix of drone sounds and riffs creates just the right feeling of lust, despair and alienation. KRAFTWERK-like vocals and CAN-ish drum/percussion work from Kåre and Johan towards the end.
The sideman:
Country João. Everything goes to hell sooner or later, and this is the sound of KÅRE JOÃO going straight to hell. Complete with a weeping accordion by Anders and some jolly banjo playing from Dag.
Sunset sticker:
More melancholy and tristesse. Basic composition by Dag, lyrics and melodic contributions by Anders. Later deconstructed and reconstructed by Kåre. Beautiful slide guitar and ukulele by Kasper.
Kaleidoscope street:
Heavily produced psychedelia with daredevil drums and wasp guitar by Kåre, and Marius Bodin at the mixing console. Kasper picks the camel saz, Kristian blows the elephant trombone. Watch the circus parade down Kaleidoscope Street!
Love each other:
The band's mantra. All you need is love. KÅRE JOÃO think you're OK, man. Take care. Bye!
Reviews
-
Peacedogman October 2005
-
Musique Machine October 2005
-
Aural Innovations November 2005
-
Dead Angel November 2005
-
Razorcake February 2006
-
Losing Today March 2006