Syntax TerrOrkester, the exciting and mystical Bergen-based band from Karmøy, have earned a well-deserved cult status after releasing three critically acclaimed albums presenting playful art-guitar-rock with original and poetic lyrics in pure Karmøy dialect. Their fourth album, “Bydrifter”, is clearly the band’s best and most accessible release thus far, but also their most creative and experimental.
Peculiar paths
Syntax TerrOrkester have given over 100 concerts in Norway and abroad, and have warmed up for Holy Fuck, Caribou and Bob Hund, among others. Their music, with texts in the Karmøy dialect, has been presented in cities including Berlin, London, Chicago and San Francisco. One excited listener in Los Angeles was Jerry Casale of Devo, who said after a concert that this was superb film music! After a concert in London an enthusiastic Brian Eno exclaimed, “I love their sound! When are they back?”
Syntax TerrOrkester have consistently found their own peculiar paths outside of the well-trodden trails. Their first album, “Familien Min Forstår Ingenting Av Det” (2008), was recorded live in a chapel with fine acoustics on Karmøy. “Vårsår” (2012) was praised by several reviewers as one of the most original albums of the year, although it was actually more of a book than a record, filled with short texts, essays and art, and included a code for downloading the music. The covers of the CD and LP versions of “Bydrifter” were made by designer and musician Kjetil Brandsdal (Drid Machine / Noxagt / Ultralyd). The LP is also being released in a very exclusive limited edition with a cover made of a wood product (MDF), and cover art that is engraved in the wood by laser.
Bydrifter
“Bydrifter”, like the group’s second album, “Land Her O!”, was recorded in Duper Studio in Bergen, and this time the producers were Yngve Sætre and Jørgen Træen.
The recording sessions inspired Træen to the degree that he actually joined the band, whose current members are Tarjei Strøm (DATAROCK / Ralph Myerz and TJHB), Ola Høyer (Cortex), Øyvind Solheim (Ungdomskulen / DATAROCK / BÆRTUR) and songwriter and frontman Kunt Kunsten, aka Knut Andreas Knutsen (BÆRTUR). The album also features musical contributions from Ingerlise Størksen (Ephemera) and Odd Martin Skålnes (O Martin / Aurora Aksnes).
