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My 5 cents: I really like this! For what it is. Elysium Soon is the centerpiece, tho also the kind of song I feel Bent can write in his sleep by now. A riff, a melody that follows the riff, and the nice buildup. Not Trust Us-era riffing and original melodies, but still groovy and nice! I really like Return to Sanity and Revenants as well. Condor is a sweet ditty. Crownee Says is fine, tho appreciate it’s big bro “Sterling Says” from the Manmower EP, for now, it might grow on me. Psycholab is a classic! All My Life is cool enough. For me the muddy garage production on this record is not a favorite. And, well, agree that it a bit too many odds and sods, but hey, that was the premise. And agree that most of these would have fit on 90s EPs, but since they’ve pretty much stopped doing EPs, a collection of B-sides is not something I would say neigh to!
Curious about this “new chapter” you are talking about!? The new drummer? Fewer 30+ min prog psychouts? And, interesting that Bent says is fun to play their shorter poppier songs again, that it feels like being in Slade? Lol. Tho I read it as a comment on the tour playing their singles, not a new approach. Though one could hope.
All in all, a really nice little record. Love the artwork as well. And * great * that the guys seem to be having fun doing it all themselves, making Instagram content and loopy stuff. Love it.
Excerpt from Adressa (Trondheim) on Friday, let me know if you want the whole interview:
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.Well… I rather consider the “short songs” gigs a rather funny interlude (hopefully) – some singalong, some jumping, not the in-your-face-and-on-your-ears 15minutes plus drone with Bent’s bass on 13 (it was on 15 in Erfurt though – malfunktioning taurus pedal?=), but I do hope for the return of the majestic anthems.
Btw: received the horseradish today and found it surprisingly tasty. Didn’t expect too much after all those discriptions as a hotchpotch of misfits (or the concepts of all concepts, as it was called ironically) – and was duely very positively surprised. Liked “This is Your Captain” a lot, same with “Elysium”, all of side two is brilliant imho. And even the Skip Spence tune sounded quite seriously approached on the record – not the rather silly thing that came over during concerts (propably due to Ingvald’s grimacing). Syd and Skip and who else channelled very misfittingly ;-)
«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.
@Bartok: Yes, new chapter refered to he actual new material with Ingvald on drums. Which someone wrote would drop in February already.
– Captain is really great
– Psycholab really grew on me. a brilliant VU/Stereolab-bastard and a good portion of bittersweet nostalgic hedonism with that harmonic shift in the chorus….instant classicI waited a while to write down my first impressions. I had spent a week last week completely alone in the forest, without music and other distractions, and “Neigh!” was the first thing I heard after that time. With anticipation, but without expectations (fortunately).
It immediately cast a spell over me. First of all, I think the album has a very good flow, the songs line up very well and fit together perfectly. The only break is from “Crownee Says” to “Condor”. At first listen I thought that this break made “Condor” seem a bit disconnected, but I’m getting used to it.
The really special thing is that the album never comes across as ambitious or cerebral. The rumbly LoFi sound suits the songs incredibly well. The euphoria and the sadness are hidden behind unpolished corners and edges. At the same time, the album and the band come across as very lively and playful. How wonderful that they use these analog synth elements. Totally brilliant. For example at the beginning of “Captain” or on “Revenants”. To stay with “Captain”. It’s such a cool, wonderfully groovy rocker and Snah’s falsetto vocals are an absolute highlight and a huge surprise. It makes me grin every time.
I also really like “Crownee Says” in its differentness. It’s such a cool song, and the final melody could go on forever. Maybe live? A pro pos live. I can’t wait to hear “Elysum, soon” live. An absolute highlight. “Return to Sanity” is growing so much. More and more with every listen. “All my live” took me a moment, but that rumbling drum from Bent and the chorus melody have completely won me over by now.
If I have any low points, it’s that I’m not a particular fan of picture discs and once again regret the background noise between songs, which always seems to be the case with picture discs. But it looks nice ;)
Another highlight album, and very refreshing! It will spin, spin, spin. (“Neigh!” …)
Oh, i see….so, will it be one record with Olaf and one with Ingvald, or both sessions on one album? i’m confused, haha
@marc Both on one album.
Took me a few spins to click. Unusual. But I haven’t received the vinyl yet, just having it stream on bandcamp.
This is your Captain, Psycholab, and Elysium are fantastic. Great lyrics, too. To the point, sincere, but still poetic and uplifting.
@Bartok: Thanks for the extract. If you have the time and inclination to share more, I, for one, would appreciate it.
I feel like I’m in Slade
So, let’s have a Slade cover!
@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.
@Bartok! Thanks a lot for the effort!
Thanks for the write-up, Bartok. Much appreciated!
Interesting to read that they’ll be playing at Johan Harstad’s art exhibition in Oslo. Sounds like something I should try to attend
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