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Spring 2006: Modan Garu doesn't exist. But Tore Renberg seeks new musical directions. Being a longtime devotee of early synthpop, post-punk and electronic music, he travels from the west coast of Norway to the capital in search of the crisp embrace of an old love: The analogue synthesizer.
Renberg gets hold of a wonderful little black and silvery machine; Roland's classic, simple and unstable SH-1. He goes home to Portamento Productions, his own studio, and starts that same evening with newfound energy, exploring the strange world of his first synthesizer. He works, writes and composes day and night, and over the next months things evolve into Modan Garu, a three-piece poptronic act consisting of Renberg, the fabulous, whispery Elisabeth Røise, and Helge Olav Øksendal aka HOH, the baron of underground westcoast electronica.
Now things really begin to boil in the analogue kettles; a lot of songs are being tossed around, a lot of sounds are being tweaked, new machines are being bought, a lot of lyrics are being spoken, shouted, mumbled and whispered; should we use the Prophet 5 here? My gawd, this sounds like Japan's "Ghosts"! Oh, this must be an arpeggio from the library of Nick Rhodes! Ah, now, here's a space for the wonderful SH-1 again.
It twists and turns, the band move from homely pre-production to the lovely studio of HÃ¥vard Rosenberg - Sweet Music; their final stop, where the 20 or so songs are being cut down to eleven, where the album finally is being produced, strengthened and pieced together: nine songs signed Modan Garu, plus two highly original covers, to say the least: Billy Bragg's classic love-ballad "St. Swithin's Day" and Duran Duran's classic "Rio".
September 2007: Modan Garu releases their first single while making their live-debut at the prestigious NuMusic-festival. "Foxhunting For The Future" is available on MG's own label Moga Records, 500 ltd copies, hand-numbered + a promo cds. It is backed by a smoothe & cool Rosenberg-remix, exclusive for this single. The single gained fine critical response and did well on radio, several class DJ's having picked it up.
The band have done several live-shows, gaining fabulous response from both media and audience, and have been picked as one of few acts to play at By:Larm 2008 in Oslo.
Modan Garu release their 2nd single mid-february 2008, the pop-wonder "Schiller's Children", a snappy, catchy gem based on a smoothe piece of german philosphy (what? what!?!). Available in all formats, you want the real thing? Order from [email protected]. You want the digital thing? Surf on: iTunes, Rhapsody ... all over the place.
And now, finally: April 25th will see the debut-album hitting stores and fans.
So please, dear friends: Stay tuned to our MySpace-Site for information and electronic joy & sadness, or knock down our doors if you simply can't wait.
And if you wonder what Modan Garu means, keep on wondering - or travel to Tokyo and start asking around for The Modern Girl.
This is the band that puts the warmth back into cold.
NEW SINGLE FROM MODAN GARU OUT IN FEBRUARY!
7" - double a-side "Schiller's Children" and "St. Swithin's Day"
Modan Garu's new single paired with the trio's highly original electroversion of Billy Bragg's classic 80's ballad of love lost - a most interesting musical rendezvous! Billy Bragg himself says this about the Norwegian's take on his song: "I Love you version of St. Swithin's Day! It sounds like an outtake from the soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange."
12" - "Schiller's Children EP"
A stunning EP with no less than four remixes of Modan Garu's electropop-hit "Schiller's Children" plus the original version. Including a brilliant Techno Romantic Mix from Record Makers stars Sex In Dallas, and an irresistible NuDiskoMix from London-based musician King Knut (one half of Elektrofant, who recently released the acclaimed "Cocaine" on Cassette Records). Transparent Orange Vinyl!
Everything dressed up in Are Kleivan's beautiful artwork.
All songs will be made digitally available for purchase through Artspages / CCAP, all for your delightful pleasure.
You're going to enjoy this, either you go for Sex In Dallas "Rising Sun" remix, which is going to make you want to drive through Berlin at night, King Knut's irresistible Dance-O-Rama NuDiskoMix, Rosenberg's 80's Cheesy SentiMental Mix, Nes' All Ove The Place suprisemix, the classic original - or all of them.
The records can be bought from good record shops, or directly from Modan Garu. Distribution: BAM. Promotion: Head Of Promotion. Booking: 360 B&P.
HOW THOSE OLD STONES MAKE ME CRY!
HOW THOSE NEW TEARS MAKE THE DAY!
"Foxhunting For The Future", Modan Garu's first single, 500 ltd. copies, hand numbered with the beautiful artwork by Are Kleivan. Don't miss this Electropop gem from the band that warms up your heart with analogue love.
B/W a steal-cool Rosenberg-remix "Foxhunting For The Dancefloor".
Order from [email protected]
Or get them here:
Stavanger: Platekompaniet, Tou Musikk Shop, Cementen Pub
Sandnes: Record World
Oslo: Shadowland, Tiger, Big Dipper, Ringstrøms Antikvariat
Bergen: Apollon, Robot
"Great song, top 40 quality indeed." - FdW, Vital Weekly
"Fan vad bra!" - Ronny Larsson, Radio Virus
"Modan Garu er rogalands svar på The Knife" - Jørgen Hegstad, NRK P3