Munch - 1987 - Munch

(41:53; Norske Albumklassikere [2023 Edition] )

Track list:
1. Emptiness 3:17
2. Fun 3:20
3. Tiamotti 4:34
4. Golden Gun 4:22
5. Mouse 3:59
6. 100 Hz 10:18
7. War 5:53
8. MS 6:10

Line-up:
Ivar Mykland - vocals
Lars Aardal - keyboards
Rune Bergstö - bass
Alf Solbakken - guitars
Rich Nordskog - drums


Norwegian band Much was a vital creative entity in the annals of Norwegian rock history, and from they started out in 1986 until their final album was released in 1992 they managed to create some of the more novel sounding productions of that time period, and music that was fairly unique back when it was made and that comes across as possibly even more unique in retrospect. This is especially the case for their debut album "Munch", which appeared in 1987.

What was the A-side on the original vinyl album edition gives us a good handful of songs that are relatively conventional here, at least when compared to the rest of this production. A hard, vibrant bass guitar is central on all of these songs, with sharp industrial style stabbing guitar riffs as a central supporting feature and the various forms of twisted and theatrical vocal displays of Ivar Mykland setting the mood for the songs, with percussion effects and synthesizer sounds, effects and textures added in to create stark, haunting and ominous landscapes. Hypnotizing and alluring landscapes too, but all of them with an otherworldly, nightmare-tinged colouration to them to a lesser or greater extent, which in particular is given life on the track 'Mouse' that concludes the A-side of the album.

When listening to this production more than 30 years after it's release, and giving it an inspection as regarded from a reviewers perspective more than as a fan, it is the B side of this album that is the most impressive one by far. While these are all songs with a much more narrow and niche appeal, the moods and atmospheres explored on this trio of compositions are still among the more unique I have encountered both as a fan and as a reviewer of music. All of these songs explore a landscape that comes with an end of the world vibe to them. Dark, bleak, haunting and theatrical, with different effects applied for each of them to really build this powerful threatening atmosphere that gives you the association to the music explored being the literal soundtrack accompanying the end of the world. On '100 Hz' spoken words in clean and a dark distorted manner combines ominous drones and distant explosion like rhythm effects and later on also distant screams to create an unnerving landscape. 'War' is a more heavy set affair that marches us out into the final battlefield of the final war at the end of days. The concluding song 'MS' opens with a section of elongated vibrant drum rolls which is followed by a slow majestic drums, bass and brass sounding keyboards arrangement combined with spoken words and distant screams; and then later on a pacier version of this second arrangement drives us on to what gives the associations of running towards the final end of life as we know it. This is ominous and unnerving music taken to a whole new level.

This isn't an album that will be loved and cherished by the masses, and for many the B-side of the album in particular will be a challenging listen. A good friend of mine once said that this is the kind of music that could inspire someone who had just won the big lottery ticket to start looking for manners in which to end his life. While I do believe said friend may have adjusted their view on the album in the decades that have passed since then, this is an album filled with dark music and dark atmospheres, with the B-side here probably being a very strong candidate for being the soundtrack to many people's nightmares. For those that treasure dark and unnerving music with a very distinct otherworldly and dystopian character to it, this is an album that will deliver what you crave - and probably a bit more than that as well.

Olav M. Björnsen, March 2023

Links:
https://norskealbumklassikere.no/