Concert review of the Bodø-gig / 2000-03-16
taken from the
Norwegian newspaper
NORDLANDS FRAMTID, 2000-03-18
English translation done by Stig Aasheim.

Those who thought that Motorpsycho would do a totally different show than we're used to from them were at least partially wrong. The set anno 2000 is off course influenced by the fact that the newest songs are more poppish and lyrical than the older material, but the three Motorpsycho-paths and their hired keyboarder Bård Slagsvold (Tre Små Kinesere) are unable to not adding powerful, raw energy when entering the stage. It's just the way it is.

After ten years in the business the trio has accumulated an overwhelmingly large repertoire of solid and catchy material, and the band picked up quite a few creamy songs both from past and present on the concert Thursday. As a collective live-troop these guys are an energy boosting and hard-hitting power plant of a band. The sound is tight and floating, and the quartet masters the passages from melancholic melody lines to the rocking fist with great precision. The song writing, the unfailing push and the hypnotizing improvisational parts are all among Motorpsycho's strengths, but also the fact that these guys are good enough musicians to give subtlety and tension in the expression ought to be mentioned. Also in the most well-built parts. This thursdays edition of the Motorpsycho-logy was no exception from the rule. It was rather like Chinese-Bårds keys gave the totality extra smart details. Musically Motorpsycho picks elements from most of the decades of rock history, and they end up with a fertile mixture of heavy rock, prog-rock, psychedelia and Cure-related poprock. A particularly extensive musical vocabulary makes sure that the trio never falls for the temptation it is to belch up others ideas, and when the music takes off in the hardest parts we're not far from reaching the domain of jazz-rock. Not strange at all that the three (+one) musicians are able to do shows containing some excitement.

For two stiff hours Bent Sæther, Snah and Gebhardt kept the about five hundred students at Mørkved breathing (?). Gradually the expectations were transformed to a roaring response.

Kjell Nordeng