Moha! – Raus Aus Stavanger (Rune Grammofon) 2006
Like my love of nearly everything released on Important, I have to confess that my second favourite label right now is Norway’s Rune Grammofon. In the last couple of weeks I’ve been trawling around the bargain bins of large chain record store. I managed to find some interesting stuff by Acid Mothers Temple and Matthew Dear on my travels but the best stuff I’ve come across are the various records I’ve picked up by bands released by this label, namely Shining, Phonophani and In the Country. Each of those records are very different beasts and I will post on them later but listening to them has made me think of Moha! again. I’ve already posted on their second album, Norwegianism and I’m happy to report that their third album has just been released in Europe and is winging it’s way to me (Godbless you Amazon UK) as I type. From my friends who read this blog the video that they most remark on is the one that accompanied Norwegianism. The question they asked was usually the rhetorical “Are you serious!” to the less rhetorical “Are they serious?” to the incredulous “And you paid money for that?” Norwegianism was certainly one of the more “out there” purchases I made last year but in it’s own way it was also one of the most challenging and, fuck it, I thought it was a blast.
Their first record Raus Aus Stavanger, is less frenetic that Norwegianism and certainly less obtuse. It is no less a noise record and in some ways Moha! are one of of the more interesting noise bands out there. Their vibe is pure improv rock, played as free jazz (just listen to that drummer!) but without tune (except for the occasional riff) or structure. It’s thrilling stuff. This is a much easier record to get into than Norwegianism so If your thinking of dabbling start here. I’ll post on their latest effort in a couple of weeks.
Ducks Battle Satan 
October 5, 2008 at 10:38 am
If you come across any Supersilent then I’d recommend picking it up.
November 4, 2008 at 11:43 am
hey man,
love the blog. I’m in Brighton, uk. I’ve seen Moha! 3 times and they are awesome. check out ultralyd and noxagt as well. they have both featured the blonde dude out of moha. ulralyd have a few lps out as far as i know~chromosone gun, self titled, throb and provision. they are crazy free jazz. noxagt are more sludgy with a viola player! early albums better!
both of those bands were superb live too.
keep up the cool posts
November 4, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Cheers for that benjamin,
The chances of a MoHa ever reaching these shores are pretty non-existent i’d say but hey, at least the fuck buttons are turning up for ATP in January! Totally agree with you on Ultralyd. I bought Conditions for a Piece of Music which is probably one of the best records I own. I took Stu’s recommendation and bought a Supersilent record (4) and then stupidity took hold and I’ve also got myself some Ultralyd, Spunk, Food, Skyphone, Shining, Phonophani and In the Country. The Supersilent record is great stuff and the Shining record may be the best record Rune Grammofon have ever released.
Dave