Music Blogs

Word has it that long winters spent indoors will increase your odds of alcoholism, pornography addiction and general nervousness. In Oslo, Norway, club kids fend off all such maledictions with a simple night out shaking limbs and lips. No drugs needed, these urchins hit the floor running to their favorite disco sounds, of which DiskJokke is reserved for the highest moment of the night.

Aka Joachim Drydahl, DiskJokke is part of a serious underground network of Oslo disco musicians, and since he also trained on symphonic violin, Drydahl can be counted among the very few DJs who can tell a major 5th from the circle of fifths. Variously labeled "humane Oslo disco" and "fireplace house," DiskJokke's melancholic disco chant puts me in mind of Chic going through a depression phase, or that funny "Funky Town" track that currently accompanies a U.S. TV commercial. DiskJokke's Staying In (Smalltown SuperSound) slithers and slides over clap-happy disco grooves, but the beat is supremely sublimated under whirring synths, chattering bass riffs and nutty percussion to the point where disco's typical plodding 4/4 bomb is hardly noticeable.

"I always build the music on the basis of dancing and dance-ability," Drydahl told Music Information Centre Norway, "and my focus and drive has always been the live club context. But when I think the songs become too cold and sterile, melodies start popping-up."

Staying In is as cozy and life affirming as a sweet puppy dancing a jig, beginning with the hands-in-the-air repetition of "Folk I Farta." No fart jokes intended, it's grinding cerebral house with a fuzzy heart, the track's ping-pinging melody and robotic, certainly analog produced, counter melody recalling equal parts Thriller and some Kraftwerk mistake. The title track bangs on with a dancing synth party tune, multiple halo synths and assorted freaky tones making silly putty out of your mind. DiskJokke's MP3 on offer, "Some Signs Are Good," ramps up the beat and induces fear factor mesmerization. It may be summer on this side of the planet, but DiskJokke makes me pine for a freezing cold vacation-- "Some Signs Are Good" guiding my way.

DiskJokke: " Some Signs Are Good"  (MP3, 4:46)

Grails: Somnambulance Sailing: Portland, Oregon's Grails takes the 4/4 beat and stretches it out to infinity, their celebratory space jams recalling everything from ‘70s era Fleetwood Mac (Future Games, Bare Trees) to Neu! to California cult deciders Quicksilver Messenger Service. Riding waves of organically induced rhythm, Grail's Burning Off Impurities is a glorious throwback to garage rock rehearsals, Farfisa organ drills, ‘60s psychedelia, Moon launches, primitive recordings of human hearts, and equally primitive programming ala a Pong soundtrack. "Drawn Curtains" could be music for some ritual séance exploration, the song's circular log drum thwack, sympathetic violin and odd wah-wah guitar melding disparate elements under an apparent blood red sky. It's wild music man...pass the hookah.