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I guess for me Phanerothyme has been a bit of a rediscovery, in the way that when the “pop” trilogy came out I was a bit over MP, too diehard in the 90s to really accept the change in the direction. How sad was I!? There are obviously great songs on all three albums, perhaps three on both LTEC and IALC that I really cherish (Barracuda wasn’t for me), but yes, P is 10/10 (except Cali). And, I remember when P came out, thinking it was too soft and scandi-poppy (there was a bit of a nostalgic thing going on w esp Norwegians bands in that time if I remember right). But MP being MP of course navigated these waters much more tastefully than others, obvious to everyone even back then.
Anyway, P has been a companion for some years now, maybe like some of you say; with age you search for other qualities than you did in your 20s. And for me this album is such a flower – it’s an anomaly in the MP cannon, it’s soft and pretty and homey?, but also (like always) thoughtful and pensive, and the melodies are all gems that opens up in different nuanced ways than on other efforts. It’s just different. In my ears! So this one is still a good companion for me, as I rarely go back and play old MP records on repeat.
And, I didn’t know its being (or been) reissued? Would love some demos etc! I hope they restart their anthology thing, must be so much gold left in the vaults!
And, yes Shakti, I hear you regarding the pastiche songs, not a good fit.
Wow, I’m surprised about Bent so offhandedly discarding that trilogy!? Tho he’s always said P is a good album to wash the dishes to, so maybe he has some grievances. For me it’s of course really great, and a bit unexpected, as I usually like the heavier and more proggy side of MP – esp when combined w some great tunes, which there are loads off.
I remember the excitement of LTEC as I was big psychonaut in the 90s, so I was both curious and a bit afraid of what (and why!) they were going “pop” (as they said back then). When the album came out I was a bit underwhelmed. Then Phanorethyme remedied everything. Remember Bent said around the release that it was a “pocket-symphony”, which is a good take imo. Sort of small in scale and topics, no typical MP grandiosity, but the melodies are just flowing, mesmerizing. So, I def get more kicks out of a lot of the other records, or sections of other records, but this one I can always just play on repeat, when doing dishes or driving, and it’s just wonderful.
My California issue is totally due to an unhealthy appetite for the Doors in my teens, which has later led to an almost allergic reactions to that specific band, so when MP sampled the organ build up of Light My Fire I though it was highly unnecessary!
My five cents after completely binging this record these last few days.
Know I’m mirroring what already has been said, but SOOO many GOOD tracks, so much genuine MP DNA, you hear echoes of their whole catalogue all through the record. I have said this for 30+ years: Quite amazing for a band to be this distinct, while their palette is so all over the place. And it still holds true. Cliches, and true for many bands (well, a small few), but all the same true.
In my ears we have many COMPLETE classics here, “Bed of Roses” and “Dead of Winter” being two of them, sooo good! And sort of unexpected. Everything I love about MP. The strangeness and groove of BOR and the melody and normal-but-intricate beauty of DOW (Phanerothyme vibes anyone?) Can’t WAIT to hear these live. And, what the hell “Lucifer, Bringer of Light” might also be up there, in the uppermost echelon of this huge massive mountain of MP masterpieces. How lucky we are.
I also really love “Laird of Heimly”, just so fucking good. What the hell, I’ll also put this on the MP Rushmore. Getting crowded up there!
And yes, hearing the singles in their context makes me appreciate them more. Both are really nice (tho doesn’t tickle me like the 90s hits, but who cares 40 years in, so refreshing to hear some great pop rock bangers from them again, love the video), and the transition from LOH – sweet. They know their sequencing. Like always. And these will BLAST live, esp Stanley.
Guess I’m not a super fan of boogie-rockers like “The Comeback” tho I never was, way back when this trend started w Barracuda. I call them boogie-rockers to myself (because I can’t stand boogie-rock!) tho god knows what they are. Enough w the cowbells! But this is part of my deal w MP, some hit me, some don’t.
Always a sucker for in interludes like “Kip Sadie”. Not a key track, but great for the flow of things, like Siddhartino, a nice break.
“Balthazaar” is ALSO GREAT. What the hell. Great playing, great groove, love the vocals. The organs (?) or synths are so well painted in the overall picture, this is something I can not picture them having done in their 60s appropriation period … 20 years ago. Rushmore candidate. A+
“Neotzar” might be one of the best songs of the latter day MP, where I feel it’s all coming together more succinctly than before. Insane playing. I should do more drugs.
“Three Frightened Monkeys” doesn’t catch me at the moment, but who knows. Skip for now.
In total, for me this might become the most played MP album since LLM, or Phanorthyme. I feel like there’s been a ton of MP masterpieces written the last 20 years, but I’ve lacked some mystic spirit in their album-output, some mystic pop-spirit or twisted intention. A gaze outward. For me this has it all, neatly wrapped up. Thanks guys. Perfect record, perfect title, and album art; The Sun and the Moon and everything in between. Live this will be epic!
Guys, I’ve posted a review twice but it doesn’t come up. I’ll let it rest for a day. Hopefully I’m not clogging up the thread w posts that are by some weird reason invisible to me.
My five cents after completely binging this record these last few days.
SOOO many GOOD tracks, so much genuine MP DNA, you hear echoes of their whole catalogue all through the record. I have said this for 30+ years: Quite amazing for a band to be this distinct, while their palette is so all over the place. And it still holds true. Cliches, and true for many bands (well, a small few), but all the same true.
In my ears we have many COMPLETE classics here, “Bed of Roses” and “Dead of Winter” being two of them, sooo good! Everything I love about MP. The strangeness and groove of BOR and the melody and normal-but-intricate beauty of DOW. Can’t WAIT to hear these live. And, what the hell “Lucifer, Bringer of Light” might also be up there, in the uppermost echelon of this huge massive mountain of MP masterpieces. How lucky we are.
I also really love “Laird of Heimly”, just so fucking good. What the hell, I’ll also put this on the MP Rushmore. Getting crowded up there!
And yes, hearing the singles in their context makes me appreciate them more. “Stanley” is really nice (tho not really up to the 90s hits, but still, a great pop rock banger, love the video), and the transition from LOH, sweet. They know their sequencing.
Guess I’m not a super fan of boogie-rockers like “The Comeback” tho I never was, way back when this trend started w Barracuda. I call them boogie-rockers to myself (because I can’t stand boogie-rock) tho god knows what they are. Enough w the cowbells! But this is part of my deal w MP, some hit me, some don’t.
Always a sucker for in interludes like “Kip Sadie”. Not a key track, but great for the flow of things, like Siddhartino, a nice break.
“Balthazaar” is ALSO GREAT. What the hell. Great playing, great groove, love the vocals. The organs (?) or synths are so well painted in the overall picture, this is something I can not picture them having done in their 60s appropriation period … 20 years ago. Rushmore candidate. A+
“Neotzar” might be one of the best songs of the latter day MP, where I feel it’s all coming together more succinctly than before. Insane playing. I should do more drugs.
“Three Frightened Monkeys” doesn’t catch me at the moment, but who knows. Skip for now.
In total, for me this might become the most played MP album since LLM, or Phanorthyme. I feel like there’s been a ton of MP masterpieces written the last 20 years, but I’ve lacked some mystic spirit in their album-output, some mystic pop-spirit or twisted intention. For me this has it all, neatly wrapped up. Thanks guys. Perfect record, perfect title, and album art; The Sun and the Moon and everything in between. Live this will be epic!
Some thoughts after completely binging this record all day (and I will be binging it forever). And yes, grading music is so stupid, but also so much fun. Fans are nerds, bands are nerds, so why not.
So my five cents:
SOOO many GOOD tracks, so much genuine MP DNA, you hear echoes of their whole catalogue all through the record. I have said this for 30+ years: Quite amazing for a band to be this distinct, while their palette is so all over the place. And it still holds true. Cliches, and true for many bands (well, a small few), but all the same true.
In my ears we have two (or six!) COMPLETE classics here, “Bed of Roses” and “Dead of Winter” soooo gooooood! Omg. Earworms. Everything I love about MP. The strangeness and groove of BOR and the melody and beauty of DOW. Can’t WAIT to hear these live. And, what the hell “Lucifer, Bringer of Light” might also be up there, in the uppermost echelon of this huge massive mountain of MP masterpieces. How lucky we are.
I also really love “Laird of Heimly”, just so fucking good. What the hell, I’ll also put this on the MP Rushmore. Getting crowded up there!
And yes, hearing the singles in their context makes me appreciate them more. “Stanley” is really nice (tho not really up to the 90s hits, but still, a great pop rock banger, love the video), and the transition from LOH, sweet. They know their sequencing.
Guess I’m not a super fan of rockers like “The Comeback” tho I never was, way back when this trend started w Barracuda. But this is part of the deal w MP, some hit me, some don’t.
Always a sucker for in interludes like “Kip Sadie”. Not a key track, but great all the same. As a “Begynnelser” aficionado this is great stuff, and a solid MP thread going back to way when. EPs and side projects. 100% solid stuff.
“Balthazaar” is ALSO great. What the hell. Great playing, great groove, love the vocals. The organs (?) or synths are so well painted in the overall picture, this is something I can not picture them having done … 20 years ago. Rushmore candidate. A+
“Neotzar” might be one of the best songs of the latter day MP, where I feel it’s all coming together more succinctly than before. Insane playing. I should do more drugs.
“Three Frightened Monkeys” doesn’t catch me at the moment, but who knows. Skip for now.
In total, for me this might become the most played MP album since LLM, or Phanorthyme. I feel like there’s been a ton of MP masterpieces written in the last 20 years, but I’ve lacked a cohesion in the albums; some mystic spirit, some pop-spirit, there’s no shame popping, wtf, MP were masters and monsters in the pop banger noise emo game for their first 15 years, world class. Then they ventured a bit too far and gung ho into prog for my taste, but this record really ties it all neatly together. Thanks guys. Perfect record, perfect title, and album art.
The Sun and the Moon and everything in between.
Haven’t heard it yet, and don’t want to be a bummer, but honestly I’m a bit skeptical. Feels like I’m always wanting something they’ve left behind. Miss the melodies. And the emotions. Vocals. Didn’t like Stanley, tho fine. * But * — the last time MP was only Bent and Snah was BH/BC, which coincidentally is the last one they released that I still put on and play through and thoroughly enjoy. So I’m hopeful for this one. Something is at stake. Crossing my fingers for the new chapter. And some magic. Still fun tho, and inspiring to follow this band.
For the Norwegian readers out there, the Adressa review. For you others, Chat GPT;)
Adressa is biased as always, but why not!
En ny gullalder
Snart 40 år ut i karrieren når Motorpsycho en ny formtopp, med et sprudlende og lekent dobbeltalbum.
Anmeldt av Kai Kristiansen
At Motorpsycho gir ut et selvtitulert album 36 år ut i karrieren, sier kanskje noe om hvor de er akkurat nå. De to foregående platene «Yay!» (2023) og «Neigh!!» (2024) var på mange måter en reaksjon på pandemien, samtidig som de tok noen overraskende og fine omveier. Nå gir de ut sitt tredje album uten fast trommis. Bare de to, Bent og Snah. Motorpsycho.Hva kan en si om albumet? Kanskje først og fremst at det er mye og at det vil mye. Det er ambisiøst på grensen til stormannsgalskap. Dobbel vinyl og elleve låter, flere av dem mer enn ti minutter lange. Samtidig gir de plass til den fine gitar- og melodibaserte rocken fra 30 år tilbake i tid, i det som mange betrakter som gullalderen.
Musikken er ny, men samtidig umiskjennelig . De retter blikket både innover og utover, og utforsker grensene for hva Motorpsycho er og kan være. Her er de både særere og mer tilgjengelig utadvendte enn jeg kan huske de har vært på lenge.
Å sette tonen med elleve minutter lange krautrock-inspirerte «Lucifer, Bringer Of Light», høres kanskje voldsomt ut, men når det gjøres med en slik glød som dette, er det en fryd å høre på. Bent og trommis Ingvald Vassbø groover hardt over et tema som bare går og går, med synth, mellotron og parti av strøken tostemt vokal. Men det er oppbyggingen med Snahs speisa gitarfigurer som er selve gullet her. Et perfekt anslag.
Den samme følelsen finner vi på «Balthazaar», med et farlig groove som dundrer av gårde, mens det pøses på med virkemidler.
Begge singlene som kom i forkant av plata, «Stanley (Tonight´s The Night)» og «Core Memory Corrupt», mer enn antydet et band som er lettere på labben og som tar opp igjen den melodibaserte rocken de leflet med på siste halvdel av 90-tallet. Førstnevnte en poppete fireminutter med nikk til Kiss, mens den siste kunne gått rett inn på «Trust Us» (1998) eller «Angels And Deamons At Play» (1997), med sitt åpenbare slektskap til både «Hey Jane» og «Starmelt / Lovelight». Her hører vi ekkoet av Gebhardts rocketrommer i Vassbøs eminente spill. Uansett: Begge storslagne, fengende låter som jeg gleder meg til å høre live.«The Comeback» er mer riffbasert , godt hjulpet av assosiert medlem Reine Fiske, men også her beholder de den lette, muntre tonen. Ikke minst på grunn av Olaf Olsens musikalske tromming (han og Vassbø spiller på cirka like mange låter). Litt i samme leia er avslutningslåta «Dead Of Winter», selv om den har en mer melankolsk grunnstemning. Herlig!
Og når de først tar fram hardrocken og progen, tar de den helt ut. 21 minutter lange «Neotzar (The Second Coming)» er platas langtur. Gjest Thea Grant synger en kabaret-aktig intro, før et monumentalt gitarriff tar oss. De maner fram lange stemningsmalende, til dels marerittaktige lydtepper og Pink Floyd-aktige landskap, før de går over i en 7/8-groove slik bare Motorpsycho kan. En heftig tur!Og så har vi selvsagt de rare snuttene som vokser seg fine, og som bidrar til å binde det hele sammen. Som Snahs pianoklimpring på «Kip Satie» eller Bents hese vuggevise «Bed Of Roses».
Albumet er i hovedsak spilt inn i Kjartan Kristiansens nye Amper Studio i Oslo, og er produsert av bandet selv og Helge «Deathprod» Steen, og mikset av Andrew Scheps. Det har blitt et høydepunkt og en formtopp i en allerede rikholdig katalog.Pretty sure this the Harstad exhibition, though it doesn’t mention MP… Opens 26 September
https://kunstverket.no/utstillinger/kommende-utstilling
Edit: didn’t see that @otherdemon already linked the event
@suntripper Here you go, google translated without edits;)
Now the sulking is over
– We can’t just sulk concert after concert. We must have some fun too!Bent Sæther grins when he talks about the radical new move Motorpsycho has made at concerts this year.
They only play songs they have released as singles, and have 30 to choose from in a record career spanning over 30 years.
More on that later.Everything takes place in this room
We meet Motorpsycho in their headquarters, which is the rehearsal room, warehouse, recording studio for the last two albums – and for the occasion also a packing office for sending out the album “Neigh!!”.
The two of them, Hans Magnus “Snah” Ryan and Bent Sæther, have been doing this for a few days now, and are in a solid joking mood, there are some proper messages of North Trønder caliber coming in that we refuse to print.
They also run their own record label and their new album “Neigh!!” sold only by direct order. Bent is an expert in packaging, while Hans Magnus is busy with tasting. Right now there are some challenges with the payment system Vipps. Yes, we can probably take it as far as saying that right now Hans Magnus hates Ryan Vipps.Are too popular
“Unfortunately”, Motorpsycho is quite a popular band, so there will be a lot of folding, packing, taping and franking for the two.
Apart from the thing with Vipps, the two are in a really good mood. It is also reflected in the music. It is airy and straight forward; quite a far cry from the tough prog rock that was the band’s main track before the epidemic.
– We can’t just sulk, it has to be a bit funny too, Bent asserts.
While Håkon Gullvåg was responsible for the cover art in that period, it is Bent and writer friend Johan Harstad who created the humorous and punk-simple covers for the sister albums “Yay!!” and “Neigh!!”. Both albums were recorded in the same period in their rehearsal studio at Svartlamoen, and (apart from Tomas Jämyr playing drums on a couple of tracks) with Bent and Hans Magnus on all instruments.We are a monster, we are Slade
They have taken the mood with them to the concerts, where they follow a strict regime. Singles only.
– We can’t call it “greatest hits”, we’ve never had hits. “Nerve Tattoo” is perhaps the closest. But the audience gets short songs, a different style. It’s damn fun. We are a monster, I feel like I’m in Slade, laughs Bent Sæther. – Or maybe it was something like Small Faces held in the 60s, or The Who…
That’s what works with rock, short concise songs, with themes that are repeated. The Beatles discovered this in 1963, and there is a reason why the formula has survived, says Bent Sæther.Has 30 singles to choose from
Motorpsycho has released 30 singles, then including the pure online releases, and quite a few cover songs. almost all have been played at the concerts so far
We have played festival concerts this summer all the way down to 50 minutes, usually there would only be room for one and a half songs. But now we’re on fire. The audience likes it. We have brought new people into the concerts, we also recognize people who have spent the last 15 years having children. They like to bring sons and daughters aged 15 with them as well.
Last weekend they played with drummer Olaf Olsen at an outdoor festival in Sardinia, a powerful experience. Very funny, and very warm. – Few believe it, but I have proof, says Bent and shows a photo of a thermometer showing 41 degrees.Not always fun with hair
– It’s not always as cool to still have hair. I was envious of Hans Magnus that night, at least he had a bit of airing at the very top and points viciously at his mate’s hint of the moon.
But then they have to continue with the vinyl packaging, everything has to go out, and they have to do everything themselves.Another new album in February
It’s not long until the next Motorpsycho album; it’s already coming in February. It will be more traditionally distributed – on sale in physical record stores and other online stores. It is also more traditionally recorded, it was done in Kjartan Kristiansen’s new Amper Tone studio in Bøler last winter.
They continue to play concerts, they will take part in intimate Brygga sessions in the Brygga studio this autumn, they will have their traditional pre-Christmas concert at Byscenen, they will play in Gothenburg and at Johan Harstad’s art exhibition in Oslo – but there is little doubt what which is likely to be the autumn’s most special Motorpsycho moment.For the very first time in Snåsa
For the very first time, Motorpsycho will hold a concert in Snåsa, the village where Bent grew up. He hasn’t performed there since he was in the ninth grade and was in the band Sweet Emotions.
It will take place on 5 October, in the Samfunnshuset /kulturscenen – and as a pre-spiel there will be a pub and food. It is Heidi Bjerkan herself who is responsible for the food.
– It will be a special evening, says Bent – which is still a lot in Snåsa. He has taken over his grandfather’s small farm. But it will be the very first time Motorpsycho plays.REVIEW
Easy to like
BENT SÆTHER AND HIS MAGNUS “SNAH” RYAN DO EVERYTHING THEMSELVES ON “NEIGH!!” PHOTO : ESPEN BAKKEN
Motorpsycho leaves an era behind and embarks on a new one, with a transitional album characterized by excess and a desire to explore.For 35 years, Motorpsycho has been Norwegian rock’s most interesting rock band. Never stagnant, always looking ahead, in constant artistic development. And extremely active and productive.
Since the start in 1989, there have been album releases every single year, at least a few and 40. Or are we up to 50? Plus all the EPs and singles, projects, archive releases and rarities… Always on vinyl and always stylishly packaged. No wonder the band’s dedicated following, the so-called Psychonauts, love them.
This album is a kind of thematic sequel to last year’s “Yay!”, a volume two, but also a pronounced “oddity”. A collection of different songs that haven’t fit in anywhere else, and that have to make their own party, a freak party. A kind of “Misses”, to say it with Joni. It is probably also an attempt to make a tabula rasa after drummer Tomas Järmyr left the band last year and only the core – Bent and Snah – remain. Despite this, the album holds together well and is easy to like.
“Psycholab” is the perfect hit where it bounces off, with that lightness and summer feeling we remember from “Yay!”, complete with a middle part of languishing The Doors organ. If we listen to the lyrics, it becomes all the more gloomy: The world is obviously going to hell while we dance on our own grave: “So let the fiddler play his tune and let us dance until we´re dead”.“Return To Sanity” has an “All Is Loneliness” feel. An atmospheric sneaker, low-key with great harmonies and a lovely mellotron chorus.
The key song on the album is “This Is Your Captain”. Here, heavy rock-groove Motorpsycho as only they can, with a booming bass-driven riff in odd time signatures, with brass and Leslie-effect vocals, while Snah sets it all on fire. The seconds before and after the song change direction, five minutes in – with the subsequent choppy, angular, almost naive riff – is just as goosebump-inducing every time. Here we are obviously in a weightless state, lolling somewhere in the outer galaxies.
Motorpsycho has never liked to be predictable; a jangling cover of Skip James’ “All My Life (I Love You)” is the most unexpected track. But it is nice, and positive! “I Love You la la la la”.
“Elysium, Soon” is the record’s longest track and soon grows into a prog gem with a middle section that nods to the Mahavishnu Orchestra. At the same time unmistakably Motorpsycho.Speaking of unpredictable: “Crownee Says” has something British 60s about it, an atypical rock song for them to be, seasoned with all kinds of sounds and a funny tired of the pandemic text. At the very end, we get the feather-light instrumental “The Condor”, with kinship to Terje Rypdal’s “Bleak House”. Where we catch up with the good, light atmosphere from the opening track.
As everything Motorpsycho takes in is also “Neigh!!” characterized by excess and a desire to explore. Tomas Järmyr plays on a couple of the songs, but Bent and Snah do most of the work here. They even do the mixing themselves this time. This is anything but “garbage”, more of a deep dive where they move in different directions. Time will tell which horizon they are now heading towards.
«I do hope the return of the majestic anthems»
Amen! But I’m pretty sure there will always be this element to every MP-record, it’s been so for 30+ years.
And a couple of these more “leftovers” (and Yay tracks) surely will reach majestic levels live. But I totally agree. And, the Skip song is great.
I can’t really complain about anything, and why should I? Complaining about receiving the annual autumn present from MP is such a bummer. What a gift it is being a fan of this band.
This Is Your Captain is super nice btw, forgot about that one in my “review” lol.
