Underskog

“When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine year old girl at a Beatles concert.” Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

Den japanske jente trioen Shonen Knife er tilbake med et nytt album.

På nitti tallet så var de meget populære i indie miljøet i Storbritannia og USA, dette medførte til at de turnerte med bla Nirvana , Redd Kross , The Breeders og Sonic Youth.

Det var mange som lot seg sjarmere av de naive punk , pop bubbelgumlåtene med referanser til The Ramones og Beach Boys som denne trioen fra Osaka framførte.

Bandet har sitt 30 års jubileum i år og er ute med sitt 15 album: Free Time

Nå kommer de tilbake til Oslo og spiller på Mono.

Since their beginning in 1981, Shonen Knife have compiled a legacy of unique songs and recordings, which they coupled with an equally amazing track record of personal appearances and performances around the world, appreciated by and often appearing with famed bands, such as The Ramones, Redd Kross, Sonic Youth and Nirvana, among others.

There are many great bands in Japan, but none has yet achieved the mystique, charisma, international appeal, and completely original interpretation of rock music, as have Shonen Knife!

A Shonen Knife Live performance is an experience that many people come to “treasure”.

What about this new album then?

‘Free Time’ is the 15th studio album from Shonen Knife, released in

the UK/EUROPE on DAMNABLY on CD/Digital Download.

Who are Shonen Knife?

The ground?breaking all?female Japanese, pop?punk trio formed in

Osaka in 1981, when Naoko first heard late ‘70’s punk?pop,

particularly The Ramones. Inspired, the band crafted their own

idiosyncratic songs, fashioned brightly coloured outfits and DIY

albums. In 1985, K Records released ‘Burning Farm’ in the US. Deals

with Sub Pop and various Majors followed. They toured with Nirvana

(on the ‘Nevermind’ tour), The Breeders and as part of Lollapalooza.

They recorded sessions for John Peel and appeared on MTV’s ‘Beavis

and Butthead.’ In 2010 the band played ATP, and toured the UK,

Europe, North America, China & Taiwan. Emi Morimoto joined on

drums the same year, when Etsuko Nakanishi left the band. Emi is a

veteran of the Japanese experimental rock?scene (Ni Hao!, Ultra Jr &

NASCA CAR).

What do you need to know about this record?

Partly inspired by the band’s first UK Tour in 16 years, their new longplayer

was produced by Naoko and her manager Atsushi, and

recorded and mastered by Koichi Hara (Afrirampo/ ooioo/

Boredoms). This is the last SK album to feature ‘super drummer’

Etsuko, who left the band after 6 years in 2010. This UK and Europe

version includes two bonus tracks: Rock’n ‘Rock (Japanese Punk

version) and Capybara (Techno version). These were mastered by

Matthew Barnhart (sound engineer to The New Year, Midlake, The

New Pornographers, Superchunk and Silkworm).

What does it sound like?

‘Free Time’ follows on from the Classic Metal?inspired ‘Super Group’

album (2010). In places ‘Free Time’ pushes on to achieve a harder,

more muscular sound, like Motorhead covering a Dead Kennedy’s

song. But that’s not all ? the album has its quota of sugary?pop?punk

and even a techno track. With all three Knifes singing super?high

harmonies, ‘Free Time’ could be J?punk’s very own Wall of Sound.

Rock’n’Roll Cake!

Shonen Knife take on Bakunin & Kropotkin in Perfect Freedom and

question Anarchism and the concept of true freedom. Later, a

pissed?off Naoko screams, “Where’s the missing money?” in

Economic Crisis.

Do You happen to know? is a retro?pop song about Naoko’s guitar,

which disappeared at Heathrow after their ‘09 tour. The happy life of

a rodent – the South American Capybara ? gets a tribute which for all

the world sounds like a Fall song.

No Shonen Knife album is complete without a food based pop song

and Rock’n’Roll Cake is about as tasty as they come. A slice of

dreamy distorto?pop filled with creamy fuzz and oozing images like:

“rolled cake, I want to sleep in it ? rolled cake, like hibernation? rolled

cake, I can have funny dreams ? yummy yummy rolled cake please.”

P.Y.O. is a playful delight of pop simplicity, inspired when the band

visited a pick your own farm in Sussex: “Cranberry, Strawberry,

Blueberry, Blackberry, Gooseberry, Coffeeberry, Raspberry, Chuck

Berry”. Perfect for Sesame Street or Yo Gabba Gabba. Love Song:

Ironically a song about disliking sentimental love songs that ends up a

non?cheesey Pixies ‘Velouria’ ?style love song itself.

30 years on Shonen Knife rock harder, faster, funner and dress way

fabber than many of the hotly tipped young Turks of 2011. Ageism

just met its match and finally someone in music kicked crisis ass .

As Naoko says: “2011 is our 30th Anniversary?Let’s ROCK!”

“When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a

hysterical nine?year?old girl at a Beatles concert.” Kurt Cobain

Recent Press

Time Out London: “Punchy Pop?Rock.”

Artrocker: “Shonen Knife are brilliant.”

Nude Magazine?“I’d like to propose that the UK government make

Shonen Knife concerts available on the NHS as a sure?fire cure for

depression. “

BBC 6Music: Gideon Coe ? “the most arresting record I’ve heard this

week”

BBC 6Music: Steve Lamacq ? “Shonen Knife ? they know how to rock ?

Japanese punk pop at its best.”

Time Out Barcelona: “Super Group continues to polish Shonen Knife’s

reputation”

Subba?cultcha: “brilliantly bonkers”

http://www.shonenknife.net

Anana består av Anniken Jess Iversen, en MacBook, et piano og skeive rytmer. Musikken oppstod da Anniken begynte på musikkteknologilinja ved NTNU, og siden har mollakkorder smeltet sammen med bløt vokal gjennom en kreativ bruk av effekter. Anana spiller mørk dypvannspop blandet med en teskje optimisme. Lyttere vil bli tatt med på en flytende, spekulerende og selvgranskende opplevelse omringet av en melankolsk atmosfære.

Anana har markert seg kraftig på Urørt det siste året, i tillegg å spille konserter på by:Larm, Hove, Slottsfjell og Øya.

Anana er signet til Smalltown Supergirl, som er en underlabel av Smalltown Supersound.

http://www.ufa.no/wordpress/?artist=anana