Recently I read an article with blogger Katrine Diez stating that great fiction literature will save us from modern slavery. Her point was that we learn empathy and the way human minds work through literature written by great authors and philosophers, and that makes us more able act and live together than we will be if we are just effective work-robots 12 hours a day.
Whether she is right is up to you to decide. But I agree that if she does have a point it must go beyond literature … I feel the same way about great music, not the kind that climbs the streaming charts to be forgotten next week, but the kind which is written and composed by artists with empathy and something to say. That is why I was delighted to discover that Bremen Teater has created a full evening to this kind of music, for free.
The concept is quite simple; 3 established artists, called trustees, chose a new artist to present to the audience. All hosted by the skillful radio host Carsten Holm from P6 Beat. It takes place several times a year by the name of “Nye Toner” (new sounds), and I chose to attend Nye Toner #15. As a tradition there is a music quiz in the bar before the audience is allowed into the hall. Here it is possible to team up with your friends and beat some of the most nerdy music enthusiasts – or at least try.
But let’s get straight to business and the new sounds of the Danish underground in music 🙂
First artist on stage was a young woman called Bess. Her sound was loud, electronic and never short of surprises. Throughout her show I found it really hard to figure out what she might come up with next in her breathtaking performance. I felt trapped in a mixture of MØ, PJ Harvey and some sort of disco mixed with feminist statements, dressed in one(!) stiletto heel. I was impressed and so was her trustee; singer/songwriter Bisse presented her with a word of not really know what to expect from her. A bright future in music might be a good guess.
Next up we had Anders Boserup. Unfortunately, trustee Jannis Noya (from Choir of Young Believers) chose to sit in the audience instead of being on stage for the presentation. Being a great fan of COYB I was mildly disappointed.
Nevertheless, Anders did a great job on his own, since he is already an experienced musician and producer, working in the collective Vellness-plader. This time he was on his own with a bit of futuristic indie, skillfully performed with different layers in music that he and the band managed to weave into each other in a constant cloud of sounds. Actually not that far from COYB.
Last – but not least – the grand old man of Danish psych-rock, Uffe “Guf” Lorenzen, entered the stage. He was the trustee of a band he got to know very well when his roommate needed to shoot a video for the band, meaning listening to the same song over and over again for a full Sunday!
The band was The Love Coffin, which played grandiose melodic rock music with great feelings. It takes a little effort to listen, but if you are into a bit 70s rock paired with bands like Suede and Nine Inch Nails from the 90s and guitars, you will definitely like this. Just don’t label them “psych-band” – they will hate you for it.
When each artist had played a set of about 30 minutes, it was time to go back to the bar – and the dancefloor. Bremen Natbar is known to make a great party happen with music that you will not find in any of the average nightclubs in Copenhagen, usually with a twist of a theme or a free concert on the top. Who doesn’t remember the triple concert 4 clubbers?
This night was no exception. Soon Uffe Lorenzen was behind the DJ desk and ready to let us into his universe of vinyl. Good vibes of 60s psych and surf rock set the frames for a fantastic night. Paired up with Cold Hawaiis from the bar, of course.
Don’t forget that you can also let your philosophical soul be saved new sounds.
The next event will take place at the 18th of November with Nye Toner #16. The event is free, but you must book a ticket. And don’t forget the music quiz before the show.
If you are as curious to listen to the artist from Nye Toner #15 as I am, you can do it here:
I might see you at the next Nye Toner? Have fun 🙂
