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NOVEMBER
07
2004
ANNELI
BLENDING WITH GREEN ISAC
This
week Green Isac released their fourth album, Etnotronica,
in the US. The Norwegian duo consisting of Morten
Lund and Bel Canto's percussionist Andreas Eriksen
makes electronic music with influences from all over
the world. Anneli appears on the first track on the
album, Siamese Drum, with wordless song. We met the
duo in their studio in Oslo.
THOMAS
OLSEN
Club5:
Discuss "Etnotronica" in the forum!
Buy Green
Isac CDs:
VINTAGE
CORNER: Andreas and Morten (in front) with
their vintage synths. (Photo: Thomas Olsen)
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Green
Isac describes their music as "ethnic percussion
meets vintage synths - bowed strings meet computers",
and a mix of "high-tech electronic grooves and
African / world music textures and rhythms".
How come Anneli contributes on your new album?
- It was something
we've had in mind for a long time. We've both been
Bel Canto fans for years, so we've talket about it
several times during the years, they both reveal.
And it might
not come as a surprise that Anneli said yes to contribute,
after all Andreas joined Bel Canto in 1990 as their
percussionist and has been a regular member of the
band since then.
- Another
reason why it has taken so long is that we also wanted
to keep our music wordless, replies Andreas, before
Morten continues. - Our concept are to not use any
words, we don't want to send any messages with our
music. It should be instrumental.
And nothing
have changed, even though it is the first time they've
got help from a vocalist, Anneli does actually not
sing any lyrics, she uses her voice as an instrument.
THE
NEW ALBUM: Etnotronica |
- We had a
track that needed something extra, then we asked Anneli,
says Andreas. And when Anneli came to our studio,
nothing was prepared, everything was open.
- Anneli was
given a CD in advance, Morten remembers. But somehow
she had lost it and hadn't heard the track before
she showed up here.
The track
didn't have a clear theme at that point, so Anneli
developed the melody of the track while working in
the studio, and she is also credited as a co-composer
on the track.
- I don't
think Anneli was completely satisfied when she left,
she seemed a bit nervous about the result, but we
thought it went very well, Morten says. I think she
felt she was here for days, but actually her job was
done in a couple of hours.
- Most of
the vocals have been modified and edited, except the
refrain. At first, in the start of the track, it doesn't
sound as vocals, but it really is. First you wonder
if it's a voice, or not. And then the vocals take
over. I think it became a very good balance, says
Morten.
STUDIO:
Green Isac's studio in Oslo. (Photo: Thomas
Olsen) |
They also
hope to be able to perform the material live. And
they both hope Anneli will be able to join them on
a concert or two.
The album
is released on Spotted Peccary Music in the US, and
so far the album is not distributed outside America.
Not even in Norway!
At greenisac.com
you can listen to several samples, including Siamese
Drum ("music"). And at the moment you also
have the chance to win a copy of the album ("news").
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