This is the truth and nothing but the
truth…
Always somewhat outsiders of Bergen, Norway’s thriving music
scene, Emmerhoff and the Melancholy Babies have since the late
Nineties been carving out their
own niche, far removed from “quiet is the new loud” ramblings
and electronic pop favoured by some of their fellow Bergen dwellers.
The guitar, acoustic and electrified,
has and will always be Emmerhoff’s weapon
of choice
In 1996, Emmerhoff and the Melancholy
Babies were formed, originally to perform
material from Gunnar Emmerhoff’s low-budget solo album, “The Joy
of Mourning”. There
was no denying the immediate group chemistry, though. Using their
common love of Led Zeppelin as the main
fuel and mixing that with the band members’
diverse individual influences, they set out to create the sound
that still keeps them one of the most
identifiable bands today; melodic,
dynamic and charismatic - sometimes quiet, sometimes monumental,
always intense and always willing to
explore to the full the sonic possibilities
of the three guitars, bass and drums line-up. All
five men were born and raised in rural areas scattered around the
west coast of Norway. A definite
closeness to the elements may have had an impact on
their fondness for applying musical dynamics with such ease, and
their ongoing quest to create
music as diverse as the coastal meteorology itself…
In November 1999 they released their
debut album, “Viva Revenge” on their own
label. This led them to finally
getting some attention outside of Bergen, as the national
music press obviously felt like they had been aurally ambushed by a
band they had never heard of – which
was a situation soon to change, as Emmerhoff
and the Melancholy Babies was to become a household name for radio
listeners, concert audiences and cd
buyers alike. Among other live activity, 2000
saw the band performing at several of Norway’s biggest festivals,
including the Quart Festival, supporting
Lambchop. Inbetween one-off gigs
and short tours, most of 2001 was spent recording what
was to become the album “Loosebox”, released (also on their own
label) February 2002.
Getting massive airplay on national
radio (two A-listings + album of the week
on NRK P3) and earning a veritable avalanche of rave reviews, this
paved the way for the deal signed with
Bauta Records in September 2002. The track
“Baby Sinister” was also included on the compilation “This Is
Norway”, and consequently
earned the band some excellent reviews abroad as well:
“Emmerhoff and the Melancholy Babies menace beautifully with the
icy charm of an arctic Nick Cave”
Paul Stokes, Q Magazine
The third album by Emmerhoff and the
Melancholy Babies, “If This Darkness Lingers”
was released in Norway September 1st, 2015. It was instantly rewarded
with what must be one of the most impressive collections of fantastic
reviews ever published in the Norwegian press, and with its international
release, it is now making the boys known to new fans throughout
the world.
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