Langsomt Mot Nord
Langsomt Mot Nord (en: Slowly Approaching the North or alternatively Slowly Northward) is a Norwegian synth-duo, founded by rock-drummer Ola Snortheim. The music of Langsomt Mot Nord (LMN) is derived from Norwegian traditional music. Many of the recordings are based upon older recordings of traditional tunes, performed on original instruments by Ola Snortheim's father, the folk-musician Olav Snortheim. The music is accentuated and arranged in new ways by extensive use of electronic instruments like synthesizers and samplers. However, the band also takes the traditional music in new directions by the use of acoustic instruments, such as strings, piano and woodwind.
The band has released three albums:
Although a duo, each album featured a different line up.
Despite releasing three albums, Langsomt Mot Nord has only performed live a few times. They appeared once at the Top Pop program at NRK TV during the release of Westrveg. The show was recorded at the Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo. During the release of Hildring, they appeared at Rock On Top Of Europe in Hammerfest and afterwords did a few, minor gigs.
The group did release a music video, featuring Lars Lillo-Stenberg, for the tune "Ola Drar Til Myklagard" from their first album, Langsomt mot Nord.
The albums
Snortheim recorded the first album, Langsomt mot Nord along with Norwegian musician/producer Jørn Christensen, the guitarist with bands such as De Press, Circus Modern and Can Can. Christensen is also known as a record producer, and has produced for Norwegian bands such as deLillos and CC Cowboys.
The second album, Westrveg, was recorded by Snortheim in company with Morgan Lindstrøm. Lindstrøm, a synthesizer performer and composer, is the brother of Rune Lindstrøm, drummer of deLillos.
The third album, Hildring, was recorded with Espen Beranek Holm, who was known as a pop artist from albums including Trigger, where he performed vocal and multi-instrumental parts. Holm has also played in some well-known bands, such as Spastisk Ekstase.
Snortheim
Snortheim is perhaps one of the most important rock drummers of the Norwegian scene in the 1980s and 1990s, and he played in bands with Blaupunkt, De Press and Circus Modern.
Sources in Norwegian
- Langsomt Mot Nord Wikipedia
- Langsomt Mot Nord Rockipedia