On their genre-defying debut album mOOn Over tOwns, the trio BOA interpret specially commissioned miniature compositions by a number of Norway’s leading composers and songwriters: Susanne Sundfør, Ole Henrik Moe Jr, Christian Wallumrød, Eivind Buene, Jenny Hval, Evan Gardner, Jarle Bernhoft, Hanne Hukkelberg and Morten Qvenild.
“Max 3.30 Pop goes avantgarde/avantgarde goes pop”
In 2010 BOA initiated the project “Max 3.30 Pop goes avantgarde/avantgarde goes pop”, in which they invited a number of Norway’s foremost composers from different genres to compose “pop songs” for the trio. The result is a successful combination of lovely and eccentric songs which both belong to and are alien to the two genres.
“Part of what is exciting about this project is how the assignment has been interpreted in the light of who we are and who the composers are,” say the trio. The pop composers have had the opportunity to experiment within a contemporary musical soundscape, and the so-called art composers have been “allowed” to create a pop song. Several of the composers have been adventurous in their choices. What they have in common is that they have all accepted the challenge of exploring unfamiliar territory. Susanne Sundfør’s contribution to the project, “Last Thoughts at the Stake”, was later further developed into what would become the title song of her album The Silicone Veil, and Jenny Hval’s “Engines in the City” became the opening song of her critically acclaimed album Viscera in 2011.
Five of the songs on the CD had their premiere performance at the sold-out opening concert of the ULTIMA festival on 9 September 2010 at Stratos, and received excellent reviews. Since then BOA have presented these songs in Oslo, Trondheim and Harstad.
mOOn Over tOwns was recorded live at Athletic Studio in Halden with technician Kai Andersen in June 2012, and was produced by Jan Martin Smørdal.
The album is being launched during the Oslo Chamber Music Festival with a concert in Glasshuset at the Oslo Concert Hall on Monday, 12 August, at 12.00.
