EL/NeUe – Krank (Album – Kulturinstutisjonen Piivv)
Genre/Influences: Experimental, New-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: “Krank” is the first physical release by Norwegian formation EL/NeUe in 34 years. The band doesn’t release new work on a regular basis, but has now released an opus of eleven songs. EL/NeUe is driven by Askild Hagen (vocals, synth, bass) and Og Håkon Johnson (guitars, bass, synth) while Liv Anna Hagen contributed as backing vocalist on two songs.
Content: It’s pretty hard to defy the sound universe of this formation. It’s a versatile production, which is mainly driven by Electronics, but still features guitar playing. The songs are switching reverie and sonic mayhem, pure electro-Minimalism and good-old New-Wave reminiscences. Most of the vocals have been sung in their Mother tongue in a rather whispering way.
+ + + : The main strength of this work is its atypical approach. EL/NeUe definitely sounds like a sonic trip mixing different influences. My favorite aspect is the deep, vibrating bass lines.
– – – : I don’t know what to think of this band; I don’t have the feeling they’re taking themselves that serious, but result isn’t always that exciting.
Conclusion: EL/NeUe is maybe somewhat renown in their homeland, but I’m afraid it will be hard to catch the attention of a wider audience.
Best songs: “Så Fant De Ikke På Noe Mer Å Si”, “
(I Wish I Was) Billie Eilish’ Grandmother (Album Edit)”.
Rate: 5.
Artist: www.kampenkontor.no / www.facebook.com/NeueEL Read the news on ‘Krank’.
About EL/NeUe
EL/NeUe is a Norwegian duo of Askild Hagen (vocals, synth, bass) and Håkon Johnson (guitars, bass, synth), both based in Oslo. Both also write for the Norwegian comedy show “Nytt På Nytt”. The band started in the 1980s under the name EL and released the 7″ EP “Et hvilested” in 1987, contributed to several cassette compilations and disbanded in 1988.
EL’s “Visshet” was included on the 2009 compilation “Maskindans – Norsk synth 1980-1988” and “Og Tilslutt”, from the 1985 demo cassette, appeared on the Domestica Records compilation “Domestic Landscape” in 2014. The band returned in 2020 as EL/NeUe with the EP “LYKKeØNSKNINGeR 2020” and a series of streaming singles.
“Krank” was released on 1 June 2021 on CD and digital platforms, the band’s first physical release in 34 years, with Liv Anna Hagen (ELLADY) on backing vocals on two songs. The EP Det er ikke hos meg det brenner followed in November 2021 and the single “Ich möchte Dinge bauen” in January 2022. In November 2023 the duo recorded Niedrige Erwartungen with Beranek for a limited 10″ vinyl, and the two acts released the single Ein Bisschen Frieden in April 2025. “Krank” is the album that restarted the band’s release schedule.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
