De efterladte "Synger dagen ind" (2018)

Synger dagen ind

release date: Oct. 18, 2018

format: digital (10 x FILE, FLAC - melo016)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]

producer: Boi Holm, Michael Lund, Peter H. Olesen

label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Jeg bilder dig ind vi kan se helt til Sverige" - 3. "Nattens lys" - 4. "Aldrig ind i denne dag" - 5. "Jeg ser udsigten" - 9. "Bliv hos mig"

4th studio album by Danish americana trio De efterladte following two years after Adjø tristesse (Sep. 2016). As usual the new collection of songs are credited songwriter and vocalist Peter H. Olesen and composer and guitarist Michael Lund, and also to the usual procedure, Boi Holm holds a central part as sound engineer and producer. One track (track #6) is entirely arranged as a spoken-word composition, which also follows the usual pattern of theirs. The album has a relatively short total running time only reaching 32 minutes.

De efterladte makes their very own blend of alt. folk mixed with americana in a distinct singer / songwriter tradition where Olesen excells with his Danish linguistic acrobacy as if involuntarily cloning Stuart Staples and Leonard Cohen, but still in an original mix.

Synger dagen ind is mostly like a second chapter to their 2016 album and to such an extent that it touches a bit of a stand-still. Only on "Aldrig ind i denne dag" the three show a will to explore new-found territory with the use of an industrial touch - which they could have explored and used on several other songs. The end result is that the band hasn't progressed much. The narratives are still vivid, the music albeit minimalist it still feels like built on original ideas. They cleverly mix folkish music with electronic bits - I reckon, thanks to Boi Holm, but still, with this their fourth album they don't exactly showcase that many new ideas, and then on the other hand they stay true to their own strengths, which guarantees quality and makes it all a pleasant journey.

[ bandcamp ]

De efterladte "Adjø tristesse" (2016)

Adjø tristesse
release date: Sep. 12, 2016
format: vinyl (melo015lp) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Boi Holm
label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Drømte jeg gik og blev ved med at gå" - 2. "Jeg falder" - 4. "Bravo november" - 5. "Alt forsvinder og vender hjem" - 8. "Surfin' Sjælland" - 9. "Glæden ved at være undervejs" (live) - 11. "Hver dag er et comeback" (live)

3rd studio album by De efterladte released three years after the fine Alvorsord og etagevask is produced by Boi Holm, who also worked as co-producer and additional instrumentalist on the 2013 album - here, he's both credited for (additional) instruments and as composer of two tracks (tracks #2 and #7). Musically, the album initiates by following the message of the title, which could be translated to "Goodbye sorrow". It opens up with much more energy and uptempo compositions than usually heard from a band who has been dominated by a melancholy and not seldom a bitter tone by lyricist and vocalist Peter H. Olesen. The message is accentuated in the cover design. The inlay is a folded poster that when unfolded is the instruction to 'how to fold a basic dart paper plane'... By that, it already attempts to be the exact opposite of what could be taken as a pretentious album.
The album contains the usual inclusion of a spoken-word composition, here: "Vi er tidsrejsende" and an entirely instrumental - "Surfin' Sjælland" - credited primary musical composer Michael Lund, who has a nice 'flanger' / delay quality feedback to his Fender[?] always rhyming with americana.
Adjø tristesse is yet another fine and sincere album by Peter Olesen and Michael Lund, who seems to have found the balance between the ever-present melancholic gloominess of songwriter Olesen's lyrics and (almost) equal parts of liveliness, but also by adding more tempo to a few songs without losing the sense of coherency as a sharpening to the whole picture.
I really enjoy this for now and keep returning to it, and I may just raise my rating in a near future 'cause the album is quite intense and multi-faceted.
[ Gaffa.dk 5 / 6, Berlingske 4 / 6 stars ]

Ukendt Under Andet Navn "Glade dage i St. Vemod" (2014)

Glade dage i St. Vemod
release date: Apr. 3, 2014
format: cd (ukendt 003)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Troels Bech & Henrik Olesen
label: non-label-release - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Drømmen om et liv" - 3. "Glade dage i St. Vemod" - 6. "Hjertet" - 7. "Drone" - 9. "Nat falder" - 10. "Skridt" (4 / 5)

Full-length studio solo debut by Ukendt Under Andet Navn (aka Henrik Olesen) is produced by Troels Bech together with Henrik Olesen and is like the mini-album Ekskursion (2012) another non-label release. Co-producer Troels Bech is also credited for several instruments on this, and the album also features songwriter Solveig Sandnes on vocals. All songs are credited Henrik Olesen, except track #2, "Drømmen om et liv", which has words by (the late) Danish poet Morti Vizki, who also gave name to the final album by Olesen-Olesen, on which the song appears with slightly different musical arrangement - also by Henrik Olesen.
Without being over-produced with multi-layering, the album is more orchestrated than the first two releases by Henrik Olesen, and the album also contains two tracks that are found on his ep debut from 2010, "Hjertet" and "Skridt", however, both have been altered, lengthened and also improved. Especially, the end-track "Skridt" with its repetitious / droning form is quite successfully transformed.
The album received some fine reviews but failed to attract any interest from national radio stations and sales numbers - also as a consequence of being a non-promoted self-release, which is sad, 'cause it contains some fine compositions and deserves far more recognition. That said, it doesn't appear much as a full-coherent album. Some songs are quite introspective, some are light-weight indie-pop songs, which makes me think of early releases by Radio Dept. and another Swedish band, the duo-project Paus by Joakim Berg of Kent and Peter Svensson from Cardigans, and yet other songs are slower compositions with a bold ambient style. The strongest tracks are musically driven progressive compositions, whereas the weaker ones focus more on a lyrical force that lacks the poignant weight, imho, but it's altogether a very fine and also highly original collection of songs.
[ Gaffa.dk 3 / 6, Berlingske 4 / 6 stars ]

De efterladte "Alvorsord og etagevask" (2013)

digipack cover

Alvorsord og etagevask
release date: Sep. 30, 2013
format: cd (melo 011)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,05]
producer: De Efterladte and Boi Holm
label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Alting om igen" (live session) - 2. "Kursiv" - 3. "Fugleskræmsel" - 4. "Levende hegn" - 5. "Der hænger en uro" - 6. "U.t." - 9. "Håbet kommer til byen" - 10. "Du fandt ikke dig selv"

2nd studio album by the Danish singer / songwriter duo De efterladte released on Melodika and produced by 'the band' with Boi Holm. The debut album Traditionen utro (2011) introduced a simpler musical soundscape than lyricist & vocalist Peter H. Olesen and guitarist Michael Lund played when performing for the brothers Olesen-Olesen, and on the duo's second album this is simplified to a greater extent. Here, the additional backing band is scarcely noticeable - as what you mostly hear is Olesen's vocal on top of Lund's twangy or acoustically sounding guitars.
The debut was met by positive reviews and is a fine and interesting album that most of their countrymen simply ignored. Unfortunately, they do not appeal to a broader public, which also may have been the reason as to why Peter H. Olesen and his brother Henrik decided to call it a day with their fine project Olesen-Olesen after 7 studio albums released over a ten year period. Now one can only hope this duo will ignore low sales and just embrace the fine reviews that their albums receive.
Alvorsord og etagevask was met by critical acclaim and songwriter Peter Olesen was nominated the critics' prize Steppeulven for Årets tekstforfatter [songwriter of the year].
Peter is making brilliant music with guitarist Michael Lund and their style is largely influenced and associated with singer / songwriter and alt. folk, and a more dominant sound of americana on this particular release. Olesen narrates in his usual melancholic way about simple things in life and Lund adds a beautiful surf guitar creating an ambient and spherical touch almost completely without bass and drums or other instrumentation except for quiet percussion, synthesizer noice and glockenspiel. Peter Olesen has always written quite unique lyrics, and has a strong poetic profile. It's almost as if this has become even more accentuated with the new duo, and he often reminds me of the late Danish poet Dan Turrell.
This album is an even stronger release than their fine debut, and it's no less than one of my absolute favourite releases of 2013.
[ Gaffa.dk 6 / 6, Berlingske, Undertoner 5 / 6 stars ]

Ukendt Under Andet Navn "Ekskursion" (2012) (ep)

Ekskursion, ep
release date: Jun. 12, 2012
format: cd (ukendt 002)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,36]
producer: Troels Bech, Henrik Olesen
label: non-label - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Håb i respirator, drømme i drop" - 3. "Centralnervesystem" - 5. "Far vel hjem" - 7. "Sangen synger sig selv"

2nd solo ep by Henrik Olesen (from Olesen-Olesen) under the moniker of Ukendt Under Andet Navn is a 7-track ep with a running time at just under 18 minutes. All songs are played by Olesen and Bech (who also produced for Olesen-Olesen for their 2003 album), and Thomas Thomsen participate and is credited as co-producer on three songs (tracks #4, #5, and #7).
Musically, it's different from the ep-debut from 2010 by being darker and with a certain post-punk feel - either thanks to electronic drums and / or synthpop keyboards and a simplistic melodic drive (especially tracks #2, #3, and #7).
The simplicity, or: minimalist production is a trait the album shares with the 2010 debut, but apart from that it has a different feel and soundscape, which makes me think of inspiration from early New Order, Depeche Mode and late Joy Division - bands that also were formative in creating Henrik and brother Peter H. Olesen's earliest bands, Sort-Hvide Landskaber and Greene, and a few tracks sound as if they could have been included on the Greene debut from 1992 or the Olesen-Olesen debut Indenlands udenbys from 1997.
A short but altogether fine collection of original compositions where the music feels like the dominant part.

De efterladte "Traditionen utro" (2011)

Traditionen utro [debut]
release date: Jun. 6, 2011
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Peter H. Olesen & Michael Lund
label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Sangen selv" (live) - 2. "Nedenom og hjem" (4 / 5) (live) - 4. "Godmorgen kynisme" (live) - 5. "Du lever og har det godt og bor et sted på Sjælland" - 8. "Mit sortsyn" (4 / 5) (live) - 10. "Med let hånd" - 13. "Den nye sang er en gammel sang" (live with CS Nielsen)

Studio debut album by the Danish duo De efterladte ['The Abandoned'] is the beginning of a highly interesting duo consisting of one half of the brother-project Olesen-Olesen, songwriter and vocalist Peter H. Olesen - here without his younger brother Henrik but instead together with guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Michael Lund with whom he composed two songs for the final album, Kain & Abel (2007) with Olesen-Olesen - the second of these compositions is titled "Til de efterladte" ['For the abandoned'], which has given name to the duo. Lund was also among the stable live musicians when the duo toured. Several other additional musicians contribute on the album including Boi Holm, who also mixed the album.
According to Peter H. Olesen [from the official website] he met with Lund after the split of Olesen-Olesen to rehearse and compose new songs to what he thought would be upcoming solo recordings - not unlike what his younger brother Henrik released in 2010 as Ukendt Under Andet Navn - and then he realised that it was more of a collaboration work.
The style isn't far from the former brother-project but it has become much more simple mostly featuring only Olesen's vocal accompanied by Lund's guitar thus emphasising the lyrical side quite substantially. Some compositions are shaped with clear references to rock & roll, chamber pop, americana, or folk rock inspiration and others are simply spoken-word poems accompanied with guitar.
Peter Olesen undoubtedly has a talent with words, and it's truly nice to listen to his lyrics, trying to understand what puzzles him about words, phrases, or sensations, and the new-found sound with Lund makes this a nice journey. Lund is also credited for the cover.
[ Gaffa.dk, Undertoner 4 / 6, Soundvenue 3 / 6 stars ]

Ukendt Under Andet Navn "Ukendt Under Andet Navn" (2010) (ep)

Ukendt Under Andet Navn, ep
release date: Jun. 1, 2010
format: cd (ukendt 001)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: Henrik Olesen, Thomas Thomsen
label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Skridt" - 2. "Korsvej" - 3. "Det gamle, det ny" - 4. "Hjertet" - 5. "Alt som det skal være"

Studio solo ep debut by Henrik Olesen released under the moniker Ukendt Under Andet Navn is a 5-track ep with a running time just below 14 mins. Together with older brother Peter, the two played and released music over a decade from 1997 to 2007 as Olesen-Olesen, and now as they have split, primary songwriter Peter has been occupied as an author, and Henrik has taken up his musical collaboration work with Solveig Sandness in the duo-led musical project Er De Sjældne together with Lone Hørslev. With Sandness, Henrik had taken part as guitarist in the early formation of the Danish / Swedish / Icelandic band Lovebites from 1995 to 2000, while still focusing on his music-project with Peter. In the band Er De Sjældne, he contributes on various guitars whereas the songs remain credited Hørslev (lyrics) and Sandness (music), in collaboration and perhaps this led him to establish his own musical project. Here, he is in complete control - handling all instruments except cello, and he's credited as composer of all music.
Musically, it's like a combo of all his musical engagements throughout the past decade. Tracks #1, #3 and #4 in particular share the musical foundation with Olesen-Olesen with a strong singer / songwriter and subtle folk rock approach, tracks #2 and #5 have a harsher tone bonding more with the post-punk sound that was heard in Greene, where track #5 also reflects an influence from the more pop-shaped universe of Lovebites, but altogether it's still a rather coherent collection of fine and almost minimalist compositions.
Henrik has always represented the lighter tone of the brothers Olesen, and on this, he also demonstrates that he is a talented songwriter, although, the strongest side to the five songs is the musical dimension. This short album serves as a nice document of the musical qualities of at least one half of the brothers Olesen, and then it leaves you with a taste for more.
[ Undertoner 4 / 6 stars - review from diskant.dk ]

Olesen-Olesen "Kain og Abel" (2007)

(Henrik & Peter)

Kain og Abel
release date: Oct. 1, 2007
format: 2 cd (melo 005)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Nikolaj Nørlund; Peter Olesen, Rune Borup, Torsten Larsen
label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: Disc 1): 1. "Drømmen om et liv" - 2. "Jeg har aldrig haft et job" - 5. "Fyraften" - 7. "Søn af en revisor" - 9. "Sen sne" - - Disc 2): 1. "I kulkælderen på 3. sal" - 3. "Jeg har valgt at være ulykkelig" - 6. "Jeg drømte jeg var et godt menneske" - 8. "Til de efterladte" - 10. "Det skønne og det sande"

7th and final studio album by Olesen-Olesen released on Melodika is a 2-disc album, where disc 1 is mainly produced by Nikolaj Nørlund, and all tracks on disc 2 are produced by Peter Olesen, Rune Borup, Torsten Larsen, and with Tore Johansen as co-producer on tracks #1, #8 and #9. Apart from referring to the Biblical brothers, the album title also pays tribute to the Danish poet Morti Vizki (aka Morten Boeslund Poulsen), who had been found dead in Sep. 2004 at the age of 41 - Vizki wrote the text "To monologer: Abel og Kain" ['Two monologues: Cain and Abel'] and he wrote the poem "Drømmen om et liv" for which Henrik composed accompanying music.
The album is basically a "2-in-1" album, as each disc contains songs exclusively written by either of the two brothers, and in a way gives you two solo albums released as a double album. Disc 1 contains songs exclusively composed by guitarist Henrik Olesen [Abel] in collaboration with other songwriters. Three of these have lyrics by Peter, one is written by Jens Unmack, and one is by Morti Vizki. Disc 2 are songs written by songwriter and vocalist Peter H. Olesen [Kain], mostly with other musical composers of which four are composed by Torsten Larsen, four are credited Klaus Mandal Hansen, one is by Michael Lund, one by Henrik Olesen, and one song has music composed by Peter himself. In this way they also point to their future musical split after having worked together in several bands and projects for more than three decades. Their first releases together were with the band Sort-Hvide Landskaber back in the early '80s. After that they released two tapes as Skizo Kids - for this project Peter was credited as Kain and Henrik as Abel. Soon after they continued in the band Greene, with whom they released three full-length studio albums before founding their duo-project, Olesen-Olesen. And now with Kain og Abel this has also come to an end, and a full circle has been drawn.
I don't know anything about the decision to split after all these years, but in the years to follow they have remained parted. Naturally, it's a rather special album with the two brothers having arranged and written the songs for each disc on their own, and with the help of other artists. I can't tell which of the two discs is the better, as they both have obvious forces. Disc 1 generally contains most up-tempo and positive expressions of songs in a style closely related to that of their former band, Greene, and Disc 2 represents the lyrically most interesting compositions - and in a style that bonds more with that of their most recent works together.
"Til de efterladte" is a fine poem accompanied by music which forecasts the upcoming project De efterladte in more than one sense. The title is one thing, as it's also written together with guitarist Michael Lund, who takes part in the project with Peter H. Olesen. The album as such, is not among the best by the brothers and whether or not the title and the Christian allegory with two brothers in conflict has any bearing in the split remains uncertain. Peter continued his artistic work by writing novels, poems, and eventually by initiating the musical duo De efterladte, whereas Henrik continued as additional guitarist for the duo, Er De Sjældne with Solveig Sandnes (ex Lovebites) and Lone Hørslev, and then he was the first of the two brothers to initiate his own musical project, Ukendt Under Andet Navn.
[ Gaffa.dk, Soundvenue 4 / 6 stars ]

Olesen-Olesen "Solsort og forstærker" (2005)

Solsort og forstærker
release date: Oct. 3, 2005
format: cd (melo 003) / vinyl (2017 reissue, white vinyl)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]
producer: Nikolaj Nørlund
label: Melodika / Wouldn't Waste Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "November mere end nogensinde" (4 / 5) - 2. "Du er så tæt på jeg ikke kan se dig" - 4. "Alt er Ørnsbo i dag" - 7. "Mit job" - 11. "Jeg lytter til country langt ude på landet"

6th studio album by Olesen-Olesen and the duo's third release on Melodika is their first to be produced by Nikolaj Nørlund. With a new producer, the brothers here engage in a more rock-styled sound than heard on the predecessor, Hårdnakket idyl from 2003. The album links better with their first two albums mixed with the style from their former band, Greene, but in that respect it doesn't really bring about much new.

I don't find it among the duo's better albums, although, it's far from bad. It's just their first album not to bring something new, either musically, stylistically or lyrically. Naturally, it's not always a mission just to foster novelty if you have your own unique style and sound, and this duo has often shown to wander its own ways, but with a return to what sounds more like influences from other artists, I don't find is the brightest move. A track like "Alt er Ørnsbo i dag" sounds like an alt. rock version of PJ Harvey in a session with Pixies and despite being a fine track, it brings a little disorder to the overall direction to the album. Other tracks have a clear country-rock feel, which bonds more with their more recent albums, and there are also traces of post-punk, alt. rock, folk rock and indie rock, which makes it less of a coherent, experience, although, the lyrics are strong as usual.

[ Gaffa.dk, Soundvenue 4 / 6 stars ]

Olesen-Olesen "Hårdnakket idyl" (2003)

Hårdnakket idyl
release date: Oct. 27, 2003
format: cd (melo 002) / vinyl (2021 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Henrik Olesen and Troels Bech
label: Melodika / Wouldn't Waste Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Studier af skyer" (4 / 5) - 2. "Ved en å" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Jeg ser det ske" - 5. "I det hus du kalder dit hjem" - 10. "Udsatte egne" - 12. "Schade" - 13. "Ved godt mod" (4 / 5)

5th studio album by Olesen-Olesen is the band's second release on its own label, Melodika, and this time the brother's Olesen have put the production responsibility in the hands of younger brother Henrik and Troels Bech (from The Poets) who is also credited as co-arranger.
The musical style of Olesen-Olesen is rather unique, although, all their albums are slightly different from one another. This is the band's so far most quiet singer / songwriter and folk rock release and this time it's also more simple with less focus on chamber pop elements. The music appears reduced to a more simple form and the lyrics are distilled to a country-side lifestyle focusing on discreet everyday details.
I find this one very enjoyable.
[ Gaffa.dk 6 / 6 stars ]

Olesen-Olesen "Anonyme melankolikere" (2002)

Anonyme melankolikere
release date: Apr. 2, 2002
format: cd (melo 001)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Olesen-Olesen
label: Melodika - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Anonyme melankolikere (som folk er flest)" - 2. "På Eik Skaløes Plads" - 3. "Sådan skulle livet altid være" - 4. "Husråd og mundheld" - 5. "Alle linier er optagede" - 6. "I en storm af metaforer" - 10. "Ikke langt herfra"

4th studio album by Olesen-Olesen follows two years after Dagens gerning is the brothers' first release on their own new-founded label Melodika. It's self-produced and contains 10 tracks with a total running time at just over 41 mins.
Musically, it doesn't represent major changes, although, it appears as less orchestrated when comparing to Der er brev fra Onkel Bob i Amerika (Sep. 2000).
The album is another truly fine release of well-known Danish folk rock and singer / songwriter melodies, and an overall more subdued and laid-back album, and perhaps more sinister compared to the duo's most recent album.
I really enjoy this album too, which simply was completely ignored at the time of its release. At this point of their career, I guess the brothers Olesen must have seen the irony of what may have felt like a continuous artistic acclaim that doesn't always go hand in hand with commercial success. The duo has nearly always been met by fine reviews but at the same time never succeeded in selling more than a few hundred copies of their albums. I think, Olesen-Olesen is one of the best Danish artists in the late '90s and in the new millennium up until the duo's disbandment in 2007. This album only verifies that.
[ Gaffa.dk 4 / 6 stars ]

Olesen-Olesen "Der er brev fra Onkel Bob i Amerika" (2000)

Der er brev fra Onkel Bob i Amerika
release date: Sep. 13, 2000
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
produced: Kim Hyttel, Olesen-Olesen
label: Midget Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Set gennem en voksende rus" (4 / 5) (acoustic live) - 2. "Lad mig sove til jeg vågner" (4 / 5) - 3. "Ikke kun i Nordvest" - 4. "Farvel store ego" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Audrey Hepburn" - 7. "Hologram" (4 / 5) - 8. "Venter på renæssancen" - 9. "Hvor alting hører op" - 10. "Når man nærmest har alt" (4 / 5)

3rd studio album by Olesen-Olesen released on Midget Records and produced by Kim Hyttel and Olesen-Olesen is an 11 tracks album with a running time at (only) 40 mins.
Stylistically, the duo continues in a singer / songwriter context with this album as their most chamber pop styled release.
In my mind - and in retrospect after having released 7 full-length studio albums - this very album is the duo's best, their most coherent, and also their most orchestrated album. It has a fine balanced background foundation with slide-guitar, bass, and drums but also a well-tempered Hammond organ. On top of that, Peter H. Olesen shines in his ever-present melancholy of images of long-gone America, stories about Dylan ('Onkel Bob' ['Uncle Bob'], of course), Audrey Hepburn, about ordinary life, longing in general, and the ongoing stories about self-esteem and lost and future illusions.
This is one of my absolute favourite albums of the year 2000.

Highly recommended.
[ Gaffa.dk 5 / 6 stars ]

2000 Favourite releases: 1. PJ Harvey Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea - 2. Susana Baca Eco de sombras - 3. Olesen-Olesen Der er brev fra onkel Bob i Amerika

Olesen-Olesen "Dagens gerning" (1998)

Dagens gerning
release date: Sep. 23, 1998
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]
producer: Kim Hyttel
Label: Exlibris - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Pondus" - 2. "Mit liv i flere versioner" (4 / 5) - 3. "Sol" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Nu går lykken forbi" (4 / 5) - 7. "Ny dag (morgen i København)" - 8. "Dagens gerning" - 9. "Jeg tog fejl, jeg har fortrudt" - 10. "Himlen er et kedeligt sted"

2nd studio album by Olesen-Olesen released on Exlibris and produced by Kim Hyttel like the debut Indenlands udenbys (1987).

Stylistically, the duo has not entirely abandoned the indie rock style of their common musical upbringing, but they take a stronger move into the origins of folk with songs that nearly all have a sort of singer / songwriter tone lurking at hand - a style that clearly contains Dylan-inspiration but also stays true to a highly original narration with personal subjects and all in Danish lyrics. These are provided by primary songwriter and vocalist, Peter H. Olesen, who constitute the duo with primary musical composer and guitarist, younger brother Henrik Olesen. Where the debut already showed us a fascination for classic American songwriting, the style and subjects were more of a tribute to the beat-generation, whereas this is very much another look at classic America, only with inspiration stemming much more from traditional folk.

I recall finding the album a bit of a disappointment when it came out but have come to enjoy it a lot more over the years. My initial verdict was somewhere around 2,5 / 5, regarding only "Nu går lykken forbi" as the only great song on an uneven album. That song is still very fine, but overall, the album has proved to be a rather strong follow-up, alas completely overlooked. The stylistic change towards more introspectiveness and a softer tone in style probably wasn't the natural choice of progression the public eye expected from the duo, who previously had been associated with a sneer of indie rock and post-punk. This is something else but it surely contains much more of the fingerprints that identify the duo when comparing to their successive releases. This is actually where they consolidate their common style, and in retrospect the album is bettering a fine and promising debut, and by that simply deserves much more recognition.

Recommended.

[ Gaffa.dk 5 / 6 stars ]

Olesen-Olesen "Indenlands udenbys" (1997)

Indenlands udenbys [debut]
release date: Apr. 2, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Kim Hyttel
label: Exlibris - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Det er ikke en ørken" (4 / 5) - 2. "Sommerferie Zimmerroom" (4 / 5) - 3. "Jack Kerouac i Jylland" - 4. "Alting sker" (4 / 5) - 5. "På et køligt loft" (4 / 5) - 9. "På Svebølle Station"

Studio debut album by the Danish duo Olesen-Olesen consisting of the two brothers, eldest brother Peter (Hollerup) Olesen [born 1962] as vocalist and primary songwriter, and younger brother Henrik (Hollerup) Olesen [born 1965] on guitars, backing vocals, other instrumentation, and as primrary composer. The album is released on the small independent label Exlibris and produced by long-time producer Kim Hyttel, who was also engaged on the album Minor Sun (1996) - the final album by the Danish band, Greene, also featuring the brothers Olesen. The brothers have played together in various bands, most recently in the Danish indie pop and post-punk band Greene. This is their first album featuring songs only in Danish, and it also marks a considerable change of style. Even earlier, the two fronted the band Sort-Hvide Landskaber - a band playing primarily gothic rock and post-punk with a clear reference to Joy Division, and with Greene they continued in a stronger indie pop-shaped version of post-punk, mostly inspired by The Sound.
On Indenlands udenbys they have extended their stylistic universe to embrace folk rock, jangle pop, chamber pop, and indie pop within a singer / songwriter context driven by the lyrics of primarily Peter Olesen.
I recall when the album was released, and being a fan of Greene, I was not entirely convinced about the positive aspects to their new-found musical output, but as they stayed true to this formula on later albums, and I became accustomed to it, I do consider this album among my favourites of 1997. The style is not just copied from international artists, although, I find references to R.E.M., 10.000 Maniacs, Adrian Borland, Lloyd Cole, Tindersticks, Grant Lee Buffalo, American Music Club, and older folk rock artists like Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, and Leonard Cohen, but again: this is their own unique blend, which makes it more than just interesting. Furthermore, the album doesn't even seem dated but it has aged much like a good wine.

[ Gaffa.dk 3 / 6 stars ]

Lovebites "Nothing but Joy" (1997)

Nothing but Joy [debut]

release date: Jan. 1997

format: cd (MRCD 3327)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]

producer: Lovebites

label: Mega Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Here Comes My Love" - 2. "Travelling" (4 / 5) - 3. "Love Swims By" - 4. "Better New World" - 7. "Hey, Look Around" - 9. "Promised Land"

Studio album debut by Danish indie pop band Lovebites consisting of Danish-Norwegian lead vocalist Solveig Sandnes, vocalist Sigrún Gudbrandsdóttir, acoustic guitarist Karina FossFenn, bassist Andrew FossFenn, lead guitarist Henrik Olesen (ex-Greene-guitarist and also a member of Olesen-Olesen), and drummer Niclas Tange (ex-Die Kapelle, and ex-The Poets). Initially, the two friends Karina Foss and Kristina Søndergaard teamed up to form the duo Purr after which they made contact with British-born Andrew Fenn (from Excess Bleeding Heart) - Foss and Fenn became a couple and took the surname FossFenn, they then continued as Purr with changing line-ups, Søndergaard left and they continued playing some time with Henrik Olesen (who was still engaged with Greene) on board. Around '95 they expanded with Sandnes and they included Tange to sit in as drummer for a few concerts, and when they signed with Mega in early '96 to release a debut album, he became a permanent member, which settled the current line-up and they changed their name to Lovebites.

Lovebites plays melodic indie pop - perhaps with a stress on pop and with some obvious bonds to British artists like House of Love, Echobelly, Lush, Swedish band The Cardigans, and American names like Mazzy Star, Throwing Muses, and Belly - and in that regard the sound and style may not reflect strong original tones, but still, it works out quite nicely. And especially Solveig Sandnes appears as the band's strongest asset with a strong and lively vocal with a colourful original tone giving great hopes for upcoming releases. Alas, the album would prove to be the only with Sandnes on lead vocal out of a total of three albums by Lovebites.

"Travelling", released as a promo-single in Oct. '96, is the strongest track on an uneven but promising debut. The band was already seen as the next big thing - the album was met by fine national reviews and then as the band was about to sign with a British label for a follow-up, Sandnes decided to leave to pursue a career as solo artist.

Greene "Minor Sun" (1996)

Minor Sun

release date: Feb. 1996

format: cd (RAIN 017CD)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]

producer: Kim Hyttel

label: Cloudland - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Reason to Carry On" - 2. "Here Comes April" (4 / 5) - 6. "Son Ray" - 7. "She's Radiant" - 9. "The Goodnight Song"

3rd and final studio album by Danish post-punk band Greene follows two years after Lovers' Lingo (Apr. 1994). The band has been reduced to a quintet consisting of the two brothers Olesen, vocalist Peter H. and guitarist Henrik together with lead guitarist Marco de Andreis, bassist John Krog Hansen, and with drummer Flemming Borby. New producer Kim Hyttel is also credited keyboards, as recording enginner and mixer of the album. All nine songs are credited Peter H. and Henrik Olesen.

Stylewise, they continue from the predecessor with their own blend of post-punk, indie pop and jangle pop, where the band appears as standing with one foot in a primarily British rock-soil echoing bands like Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, and especially The Sound / Adrian Borland with strong bonds to early post-punk, and on the other hand, they also seem inspired by Velvet Underground / Lou Reed, The Go-Betweens, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The album stands as the boldest rock-oriented of their three albums.

I really enjoyed this one when it came out but also soon tired from the simplistic melodies and especially from what I found was too obvious sources. Still, I never quite understood why they didn't find their way to a broader crowd 'cause this was almost like listening to my international idols, and when was it ever forbidden to copy international stars? That's how music evolves! Perhaps, they came too close to original artists, or they simply were too un-Danish? I loved a song like "She's Radiant" but also found it almost like an indiscreet cover of something by Borland.

Anyway, Minor Sun is this band's best album, but without attracting national interest the band split later in '96 and the brothers Olesen initiated their longer-lasting duo-project Olesen-Olesen, and Borby, Krog Hansen, and de Andreis later formed the band Labrador, which along the road ended up as Borby's solo project.

Greene "Lovers' Lingo" (1994)

Lovers' Lingo

release date: Apr. 18, 1994

format: cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,33]

producer: Troels Bech

label: Cloudland - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Being With Someone" (live) - 2. "Introducing Love to a Cynic" (live) - 3. "Lovers' Lingo" - 7. "Venus in Furs" - 9. "Can't Find Myself"

2nd studio album by Greene and the follow-up to Teenage Museum (May 1992) is Greene in a slightly changed line-up making it a quintet with lead vocalist Peter H. Olesen, acoustic guitarist Henrik Olesen, lead guitarist Marco de Andreis, and with Flemming Borby on drums and organ. New member here is Henrik Duus on electric & acoustic guitar, who only features on this album. Aside from that also John Krog Hansen (from The Poets, here replacing Kim Borreby) is credited on bass - he would be official member after the release. All songs are credited Olesen / Olesen except track #1 with additional music by Jens Unmack and track #7, a cover of Lou Reed's "Venus in Furs".

Musically, the band has turned down on its post-punk roots and embraced more melodic and harmony-based indie pop with room for ballads, holding on to a more subdued jangle pop sound.

I recall being quite happy for this album when it was released but also found it with apparent inspiration from The Sound / Adrian Borland and not so much the Go-Betweens / Aztec Camera sound they demonstrated on the debut, but over the years, I don't see it as the strong follow-up, I initially embraced back then. It still has its moments - mostly in terms of reflecting better arrangements and for being better produced - but as original music it stands a bit with the one foot in following The Sound and the other wanting to follow Lou Reed and ends up being a bit indecisive. Also, when looking back at the band's discography - counting three full-length studio albums, Lovers' Lingo appears their weakest moment.

Greene "Teenage Museum" (1992)

Teenage Museum [debut]

release date: May 4, 1992

format: cd (RAIN004CD)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]

producer: Troels Bech & The Greene Brothers

label: Cloudland - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Tomorrow" - 2. "About Leaving & Being Left" - 3. "Happy Day" - 4. "Love Made Me a Better Man" - 5. "Teenage Museum" - 8. "Someday"

Studio album debut by Danish band Greene (1986-'96) - originally named Green but an American band already played under that name, so still of '86 they changed the band name to Greene, which here consists of the two brothers Olesen: Peter on vocals, and younger brother Henrik on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, Marco de Andreis on lead guitar, Kim Borreby on bass, and with Flemming Borby on piano and drums. The band changed its line-up a few times and progressed from being a trio at the formation in '86 to here constitute a quintet with ex-members of several other bands. The brothers Olesen previously played in the post-punk band Sort-Hvide Landskaber (1982-83, formerly Reaktion, and around 1984 as Skizo Kids); Marco Andreis had been guitarist in the acclaimed band Moral before joining Greene; Kim Borby is credited on bass - he has recently replaced Jens Unmack, who remains credited 'additional personnel' on guitar, but he previously played in Næste Uges TV from 1980-84 and was stable bassist of Greene from 1986-92; Flemming Borby (aka Labrador from 2000, Montblanc from 2011) had already played in various bands, e.g. Sport Art, Poets of the Signature, later The Poets, and he became keyboardist and drummer in Greene in '88. Also producer Troels Bech is a central figure of The Poets. The reason to Unmack leaving the band is most likely because of his increased focus on 'his' long-lasting band Love Shop, formed as early as in '86, and who debuted in 1990 with the album 1990.

Teenage Museum is written and composed by 'The Greene Brothers' (Peter & Henrik), except for the cd bonus track #11 "White Shirt", which is a cover originally by Sort Sol. Musically, Greene plays indie pop / jangle pop with inspiration from bands like The Go-Betweens, The Church, Aztec Camera, The Smiths, as well as a more hard rocking acts like T. Rex and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and with a strong bond to the punk rock scene from which Greene later took its starting point.

I already knew of both Moral, The Poets, Sort-Hvide Landskaber og Næste Uges TV, and I actually recall when the album came out. It was well-received by critics, and the songs #3 and #4 were played occasionally on national radio, but the album simply didn't attract a greater audience. Greene released three studio albums from '92-96, and never made the move from cult to practical success, and after disbanding, the brothers Olesen continued more successfully with their duo-project Olesen-Olesen.

I like many of the songs on the album, but also see it as a rather incoherent release pointing in too many directions. Yes, it's indie pop / indie rock with inspiration from many sources, and the most obvious weakness is that it's not entirely original in sound and style. Some songs are jangle pop-founded with strong bonds to contemporary artists but e.g. track #4, which was one of the most popular songs, sounds more like heavily inspired by the glam rock practised by T. Rex or Bowie in the early '70s, and the whole package remains rather inconsistent, which makes you wonder where they would go from here. That said, it's still performed with musical quality and a good amount of pure talent.

The cover art is made by Sort Sol bassist Knud Odde.

Sort-Hvide Landskaber "Golde byer" (1982) (single)

own scan

Golde byer, 7'' single
release date: 1982
format: vinyl (REP 3)
[single rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Tommy Hansen and Sort-Hvide Landskaber
label: Replik Muzick - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Golde byer" - - B) 1. "Sekunder" - 2. "Fremmede"

Single and only release by the Danish post-punk band Sort-Hvide Landskaber, which had started out under the name of Reaktion. The band only lived for about one year and consisted of the brothers Olesen: vocalist and bassist Peter H., guitarist and vocalist Henrik, lead guitarist Ole Jensen, and drummer Søren Mørk. The brothers Olesen later formed a short-lived brother-project named Skizo Kids, after which they formed the band Greene (initially 'Green') and even later on, the longer-lasting duo-project Olesen-Olesen.
Golde byer is highly influenced by British post-punk and especially by the sound of Joy Division but lyrics are held in Danish only.

[ collectors' item - only pressing! - from ~ €70,- ]