Review of Phanerothyme taken from the
British magazine
MOJO, November 2001.
In English.

Motorpsycho
Phanerothyme
Stickman

Be it Nick Drake's dreamy acoustic folk-pop (Bedroom Eyes), The Who's elaborately staged fantasies (B.S.) or Love's good-natured groove (Landslide), nothing is off limits here. No style is too ambitious for this Nordic trio, who on first listen might be mistaken for the world's most accomplished tribute band. Yet to suggest they're mere retro-copyists does Motorpsycho a great disservice. They're actually one of the most profilic and powerful psych-pop acts this side of the Super Furry Animals; their heady blend of psatoral pop, stoner riffs and garage rave-up have taken their last two albums straight to Number 1 in their native Norway. A slightly less loaded affair than previous full-lengthers (which number around 13, if anyone asks you), Phanerothyme still blows away most of the current copy of leaden nostalgia merchants and indie miserablists.

Jenny Bulley