Helge Gaarder - 1984 - Eine Keine Angst Musik

(42:31; Norske Albumklassikere [2021 Edition] )

Track list:
1. Obsession (5:59)
2. Dance (2:08)
3. Chant! (My Timbre Is Versatile) (4:25)
4. Keine Angst (5:03)
5. Dissolve (3:06)
6. Depart (3:06)
7. Arbeid og Fritid (2:54)
8. The Darkest Night (6:00)
9. Branca (3:37)
10. Location (6:13)

Line-up:
Helge Gaarder - vocals, piano, programming, percussion, synthesizer, bass, effects
with:
Jörn Christensen - guitars
Kristin Kopperud - vocals
Kjell Fosstvedt - drums, percussion
Viggo Vestel - guitars, percussion, piano, harp
Erik Aasheim - percussion, vocals
Paul Austad - bass, vocals
Brynjulf Blix - synthesizer
Sven Kalmar - drums
Bygg Band - tape effects
Björn Pettersen - bass
Ola Snortheim - drums
Mari Wendelboe - strings
Karin Westrheim - saxophone


The late Norwegian artist Helge Gaarder is possibly best known for his tenures in the bands Kjøtt and Cirkus Modern in the early 1980's, but he also found the time to record and release his only solo album in the period when he was active in those bands. The album was called "Eine Keine Angst Musik", and from what I can see it was self released back in 1984. The album was reissued in 2021 through the project Norske Albumklassikere.

While this is a production that could be described in a number of different manners, the key ongoing feature throughout is experimentalism, and as such experimental rock is probably the best general description to give this production. With alternative rock a possible secondary one.

Gaarder do play around with music typical of the time and era the album was created in, and poppier new wave types of songs sit side by side with numbers with more of a post-punk feel to them, although the dramatic and theatrical aspects of this production does give a Gothic feel to many of the songs too. The theatrical and expressive use of vocals and voice effects as well as the manner in which keyboards in general and the organ in particular is used rather emphasize this at times. But minimalism is something of a key trait too, with several songs where Gaarder opts to focus on a less is more approach on quite a few occasions. This will, of course, also emphasize the dramatic and theatrical effects used in these circumstances quite nicely indeed. World music elements is a part of the totality too, and noise rock details also make some appearances here and there.

At the end of the day it is the experimental and theatrical aspects of this production that leaves most of an impression, and those curious about this album should probably do so out of an interest in that aspect of the album experience too. It should perhaps also be noted that this is very much an album of the time and era it was created in, and especially for those who didn't live at the time there will be material that comes across as dated in 2021.

Those with a firm interest in new wave, post-punk and even Goth rock will all find songs of interest on this production, but those who appreciate experimental, expressive and theatrical rock in general will have an album's worth of material to be fascinated by. As the album itself is uneven and dated will limit its overall appeal somewhat of course, but for the right audience this is an album that will be regarded as quite a treat.

Olav M. Björnsen, September 2021

Links:
https://norskealbumklassikere.no/