Clash Guest Blog: Datarock

Mr Scruff, Chess Club Records and now Datarock. The Clash Guest Blog is turning the tables on the Norwegian dancemeisters this week, and asking them to do the writing. We're sick of writing (our hands are tired from commenting on Eminem's tea bag incident). Its all wordy and stuff. So, Datarock decided to shower us in the underground sounds of Scandinavia. Free downloads included.

Datarock write...

Say hello to our very own label... Yap Records.

One of the great frustrations for a new band is finding a label. In 2004, we found ourselves in that exact position. Our ethos had always been a DIY one, so to take our independent strain a bit further and release our own music seemed only logical. Thus Young Aspiring Professionals was born. With the help of independent distributors company VME (Voices Music Entertainment) the first YAP release became reality in the first quarter of 2005.

Our very own EP on our very own imprint!

Apart from releasing our own material, we had a vision of helping out other bands that shared some common ground with us. Our first signing was a Bergen based punk/new wave trio called Quasimojo. The trio combine the raw power of punk-rock with the intricacies of bands such as DEVO, Talking Heads and B52's. Soon after signing Quasimojo, YAP also started working with instrumental hard rock pioneers Noxagt. Datarock's debut album, Quasimojo's debut EP "Gettin' up 'n Goin' Ova" and Noxagt's self titled third album all recieved critical acclaim. Just as YAP was shaping up, Datarock's international touring schedule basically took us out on the road for two solid years. To be honest, we almost forgot the whole label.

Eventually the seven piece punk/noise/impro collective Syntax Terrorkester redirected our attention, and by now their first full-length album 'Familien Min Forstar Ingenting Av Det' was released. That was just the start of our brand new master plan. Starting in October YAP is releasing a series of 10 limited edition 7", featuring primarily debuting artists, all out of our hometown of Bergen. All the A-sides are produced by Datarock and the B-sides will be dedicated to live takes and remixes. You'll wanna smell 'em while they're fresh out of the oven.

Speaking of fresh, our latest single 'Give It Up' is out now. We got three free remixes from a pick of the best rework wizards on the scene - Chateau Marmont, Fan Death and Kissy Sell Out.
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'Give It Up' Kissy Sell Out Remix

'Give It Up' Chateau Marmont Remix

'Give It Up' Fan Death Remix

On other fronts, we recently put out the album "Ashes To Gold" by Swedish stellar singer/songwriter - Karin Park, to critical domestic acclaim back in Norway. As with Datarock´s first singles off "RED", the whole album was produced by ourselves at Wendyhouse in London. Karin is working with both Ungdomskulen and Ralph Myerz on the songwriting side. She is outstanding and highly recommended if you like artists such as Bat For Lashes, The Knife / Fever Ray, Robyn, Lykke Li, Bjørk, etc.

Links

Bergen based punk/new wave trio,Quasimojo on Myspace

Instrumental hard rock pioneers, Noxagt on Myspace

Seven piece punk/noise/impro collective, Syntax Terrorkester on Myspace

Swedish stellar singer/songwriter, Karin Park on Myspace