DATAROCK ARE:
Fredrik Saroea - Vox/ Guitar/Drums/Keys
Ketil Mosnes - Bass/ Programming/Keys/ Backing Vocals
DISCOGRAPHY
Albums
Datarock Datarock
Singles
Split EP w/ Stockhaus
Greatest Hits EP
I Know What Boys Like
Computer Camp Love EP
LINKS
Official Site
Hailing from Bergen in Norway, (also the home of the kings of Convenience and Royksopp), Datarock are the new kids on the block, serving up a delicious mix of processed beats and boshing guitar. Datarock have many members, but Fredrik Saroea (vocals, guitars, drums and keyboards) and ketil Mosnes (bass, programming, keyboards and backing vocals) provide all the material, and are all things Datarock.
So where do they fit in? Datarock sound like LCD Soundsystem, but different. Now I know that doesn’t help much, but their songs come in all shapes and sizes. From the charmingly simple ‘Computer Camp Love’ : ‘… I ran into her at computer camp..She’s not a tramp…Her name is Judy…Did she have a penis? No she’s a venus…’ And so on. A love song for nerds if you like. But goodness me it’s so refreshing. Their current album ‘Datarock Datarock’ (not available in the UK yet but coming soon) is quite brilliant. Songs like ‘Fa-Fa-Fa’ hail to disco beats and funky old skool American boogie. Compared to ‘Bulldozer’ and ‘Princess’ which are like grinding rock pellets (slightly reminiscent of Weezer, Blue album), the album has such a mixed pallet of sound. In ‘Bulldozer’ Fredrik screams out ‘BMX is better than sex’, what awesome lyrics – totally un contrived, and totally nuts.
Currently Datarock have no plans to tour in the UK, but I think that plans should be made soon. The current tour is in Norway only at festivals – catch them if you can.
I was lucky enough to catch up with the boys and to be able to quiz them on all things Datarock…
Hello Datarock! My name is Anna and I’ll be interviewing you today. *Shakes Fredrik’s hand, blows Ketil a kiss*
How are you?
Fine thanks. How are you?
It’s extremely
hot in England at the moment. How’s the weather in Bergen?
Actually I (Ketil)
am in Oslo right now, while Fredrik is chilling at this really small place
at the west coast of Norway, called Volda. We are currently communicating,
using the invention of handsfree phone, discussing how to answer these
questions. It’s really nice with new technology. The weather sucks
though.
What is the ‘special
glue’ that holds Datarock together and makes all things Datarock?
It’s the
paste you get when you mix all bodily fluids.
What bands do you get
compared to the most?
Recently we
were compared to Röyksopp, which was kind of strange. Yes we are
from the same city, but still... Other bands: Talking Heads (for obvious
reasons) , Bee Gees (because of our chest rugs), Kraftwerk (because of
the German sex orgies in the seventies) , LCD Soundsystem (because we
look as grumpy as James Murphy does on press pics)
Your current offering
‘Datarock Datarock’ rocks, quite frankly. What is it that
makes it so darn good?
Probably because
we have no artistic control. But hey, thanks!
Where can the average
British citizen purchase a copy?
We were just
told that the record will be out in the UK during the autumn. Finally
some distribution! If people can’t wait until that, it’s possible
to download it for free from the internet. Try Limewire.
I like your videos.
Who makes those tasty boiler suits? Can I have one?
If you’re
thinking of the ones we use in the Computer Camp... video, we actually
made them ourselves. That’s our second hobby; arts and crafts. You
can have mine, but I have to warn you, it smells funny. See, I couldn’t
wash it, cause then the letters would fall of.
I went to Glastonbury.
It was pretty darn muddy and full of crusty people. I’ve heard you
like playing electro festivals. Are there any crusty people there?
Yes. A lot of
crustyness. Actually, to be honest, neither me nor Fredrik managed to
remember what ‘crusty’ means. Our English isn’t that
good... But yes, sure, they were crusty. Crust crust.
What is your plan for
musical world domination? I think you are so good, can I please help?
Thanks! Our
plan is to play as much as possible. Last time we played in the UK we
had lots of fun. That was as Cargo in London. But hey, if you can help
us book gigs in the UK that would be much appreciated. Actually, you are
our only plan. Our only hope!
Well Datarock, thanks for that. Ten out of ten for the album – zero out of ten for being UK friendly. If you are in a Nordic country any time soon then check them out, or download songs from Limewire, and get Data rocking!
Interview by Anna Bosworth