muzycy:
Espen Sommer Eide
Dag-Are Haugan
Nicholas H. Mollerhaug: Vocals on tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10

Editor's Info:
Some of the techniques that Alog invented for their excellent "Miniatures" album have now been refined and developed on "Amateur", their fourth album for Rune Grammofon. It was recorded on various locations in the western and northern parts of Norway, often using instruments found or built for the sole purpose of this recording. These sessions were subsequently worked on in the studio to bring out the unique spirit of the "Amateur". This spirit is characterized by a curious and fresh approach to playing that is often lost in the process of becoming a virtuoso on a singular instrument. The result is also quite unique and once again Alog have delivered an extraordinary album. Needless to say, it comes highly recommended. Please note that it is also being released as a limited 2LP vinyl edition in gatefold sleeve.


www.pitchforkmedia.com
[...] Alog albums have tended to feel like hodgepodges, where the best of what was left after a long period of tinkering was put together without much thought, but Amateur seems more cohesive thematically. They're making greater use of acoustic sounds here-- particularly a wide assortment of percussion, and also a good amount of guitar-- and a few more tracks than usual feature the human voice. Silence is also more of a presence, and the prevailing mood is low-key and reserved.

At one extreme on that score is the aptly titled 'Sleeping Instruments'. It's not completely without sound, but you'll need a low noise floor in your apartment to hear the tiny creaks and scrapes happening far away from the microphone. Or maybe that was just my ceiling fan. 'Exit Virtuoso', 'A Throne for the Common Man', and 'The Learning Curve' all use gamelan percussion, and the latter two make use of various guitars as textural devices. 'The Future of Norwegian Wood' captures what seems to be the groans of a tree branch being stressed by a couple on a rope swing mixed with electronic beeps and .......
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Czwarta płyta tego super-duetu dla wytwórni Rune Grammofon.
Warto przypomnieć, że ich album 'Miniatures' z 2005 otrzymał Norwegian Grammy w kategorii 'Electronica release in 2005'.
Niektórzy fani współczesnej elektroniki krzywym okiem patrzą na laptopowe ekstrawagancje Norwegów, dla innych ta nad zwyczaj szeroka synteza elektronicznych brzmień ma wartość absolutnie niepowtarzalną.
Nowa płyta w jeszcze większym niż dotychczas stopniu sięga do czysto akustycznych brzmień/instrumentów, które bądź w oryginalnym brzmieniu bądź preparowane znacząco powiększają spektrum muzycznych doznań płynących z głośników.
Jako wartość dodaną można potraktować kilka wysmakowanych, zmysłowych piosenek, stylistycznie trochę skręcających w stronę nagrań gwiazdy Rune Grammofon - Susanny z Susanna and the Magical Orchestra.
autor: Paweł Matuła