Datarock

"The tension between punk and funk that fires Datarock has sent a factory load of other groups up the indie charts. But instead of reducing that potential to a pop formula, Datarock embrace the messy fun of disco punk. It's philandery that winks at indie kids, electronic geeks and the Bee Gees."
- FortuneGrey.com

"Datarock's songs shoot for instant pleasure and accidentally end up being much more than that."
- Pitchfork

Late summer 2000, someone got the idea of arranging an outdoor festival in Bergen, Norway. Not necessarily a very good idea, since Bergen has about 280 rainy days a year. The festival featured a bunch of local artists, and Howie B... and it rained. Sitting under a tree though, watching people trying to dance in the mud, Fredrik Saroea and Ketil Mosnes figured out they wanted to start a band. Problem was, only Fredrik could play an instrument properly. Still, they played their first gig 3 months later.

By '04, things had changed dramatically - the duo, calling themselves Datarock, had played to 3000 people at Barcelona's Sonar Festival, played around Europe and even in New York, had songs on radio playlists and compilations around the world and achieved a reputation as a fantastic live act, after The Guardian described them as the highlight of the Sonar Festival.

Why all this? Well, if you ask Datarock themselves, they'd tell you it's because they're the peak of pop evolution. More objective folk would argue it's their enticing blend of lo-fi pop, disco, hardcore and rock. Datarock. It's incredibly enjoyable and strangely addictive - sort of like Beastie Boys [sans rapping] meets Chemical Bros 'round Frank Zappa's place.

Although Datarock are defiantly independent [the album is released on the duo's own label, Young Aspiring Professionals] and their promo budget miniscule, the underground network has been on their side, with 'Datarock' having been released independently in more than 10 countries around the world and establishing Datarock as more than a novelty Norwegian duo.

Datarock provide a mighty fine mélange of musical styles and reference points that has more hooks than a fishing tackle box!