Langsomt Mot Nord (''en: Slowly Approaching the North'' or alternatively ''Slowly Northward'') is a
Norwegian synth-duo, founded by rock-drummer
Ola Snortheim
Ola Snortheim (born December 3, 1954, Harpefoss) is a Norwegian artist and record producer.
Snortheim is the son of the folk-musician Olav Snortheim. Known as one of the most important drummers on the Norwegian rock-scene of the 1980s and 1990s, ...
. Snortheim a well-known rock drummer of the Norwegian scene in the 1980s and 1990s, and he played in bands with
Blaupunkt,
De Press and Circus Modern.
[En hardtslående Trommeslager](_blank)
Ola Snortheim biography, (in Norwegian) Dølen 01.04.2004, p 14-15
Langsomt Mot Nord has released three albums to date.
Live performances
Despite releasing three albums, Langsomt Mot Nord has only performed live a few times.
They appeared at the ''
TopPop'' program at
NRK TV during the release of ''
Westrveg
Westrveg. The second of three albums by the Norwegian synth-duo Langsomt Mot Nord.
Label: CBS
Record No: CBS 461165 2
Release year: 1988
Musicians: Ola Snortheim; drums, sequencing. Morgan Lindstrøm; keyboards, programming.
Guest musicians ...
''. The show was recorded at the
Rockefeller Music Hall in
Oslo, featuring
Steinar Ofsdal,
Eva Knardahl and ''Atle Sponberg''.
[Fres i fjøset](_blank)
(in Norwegian) VG 23.09.1988 During the Westrveg-period, LMN's use of sampling-technology was on its peak: In the TopPop-performance, one could count no less than seven S series
AKAI-samplers stacked on top of each other near the middle of the stage. This was somewhat unusual at the time, and the group's extensive use of samplers and computers in their works based on Norwegian traditional music was debated in Norwegian media for some time.
During the release of ''
Hildring'', they appeared at the ''Rock On Top Of Europe'' festival in
Hammerfest and afterwards did a few gigs: Among them, one at the
Student Society in Trondheim, featuring
deLillos
deLillos is a Norwegian poprock band formed in Oslo in 1984. They are generally regarded as one of the "Four Greats" in modern Norwegian pop music, i.e. one of the four 1980s groups that founded a new tradition for rock music with lyrics in Nor ...
,
Raga Rockers
Raga Rockers is a Norwegian rock band from Oslo with Michael Krohn on vocals. The band was formed in 1982 by front man Michael Krohn. The other original members were Livio Aiello on bass, Bruno Hovden on guitar, Jan Arne Kristiansen on drums, Hugo ...
and ''Langsomt Mot Nord'', and one at the
Rockefeller Music Hall in
Oslo, in company with "Fläskkvartetten" (
Fleshquartet), ''Stengte Dører'' and ''Einmal Kommt die Liebe''.
The group released a
music video, for the tune "Ola Drar Til Myklagard" starring
Lars Lillo-Stenberg, promoting their first album, ''Langsomt mot Nord''.
Musical style
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.
Personnel
Each album by Langsomt Mot Nord has featured a different line up.
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
deLillos is a Norwegian poprock band formed in Oslo in 1984. They are generally regarded as one of the "Four Greats" in modern Norwegian pop music, i.e. one of the four 1980s groups that founded a new tradition for rock music with lyrics in Nor ...
and
CC Cowboys.
The second album, ''
Westrveg
Westrveg. The second of three albums by the Norwegian synth-duo Langsomt Mot Nord.
Label: CBS
Record No: CBS 461165 2
Release year: 1988
Musicians: Ola Snortheim; drums, sequencing. Morgan Lindstrøm; keyboards, programming.
Guest musicians ...
'', was recorded by Snortheim in company with
Morgan Lindstrøm Morgan Lindstrøm (born 29 April 1956 in Oslo) is a Norwegians, Norwegian artist, composer, and synthesizer-performer.
Lindstrøm was a member of the synth-duo Langsomt Mot Nord during their "Westrveg" period.
His style has been described as "... ...
. Lindstrøm, a synthesizer performer and composer, and is the brother of
Rune Lindstrøm, drummer of
deLillos
deLillos is a Norwegian poprock band formed in Oslo in 1984. They are generally regarded as one of the "Four Greats" in modern Norwegian pop music, i.e. one of the four 1980s groups that founded a new tradition for rock music with lyrics in Nor ...
.
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.
På jakt etter det rette bleep
(in Norwegian) Musikkavisen PULS No 2, feb 1992, p 20-21
Discography
*'' Langsomt Mot Nord'' (1985)
*''Westrveg
Westrveg. The second of three albums by the Norwegian synth-duo Langsomt Mot Nord.
Label: CBS
Record No: CBS 461165 2
Release year: 1988
Musicians: Ola Snortheim; drums, sequencing. Morgan Lindstrøm; keyboards, programming.
Guest musicians ...
'' (1988)
*'' Hildring'' (1991)
References
Sources in Norwegian
Langsomt Mot Nord
Rockipedia
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Musical groups from Norway with local place of origin missing
Norwegian electronic music groups
Norwegian folk musical groups
Musical groups established in 1985
1985 establishments in Norway