They sing exclusively in Norwegian with a smattering of English when only absolutely necessary and make no apology for it. Kaizers Orchestra are by far the most talented, enigmatic and unique rock band around, so why don’t we, a nation that champions world music, know about them, especially now that the show is over? They are regulars in the mainstream Norwegian press, appear on breakfast telly, recurrently sell out arena tours and have their own brand of vodka. They have achieved the kind of success and adoration most well-respected and established indie bands can only dream to achieve in Scandinavia. The six piece band that since 2000 have risen to mega stardom in their native Norway and Scandinavia, remain virtually unknown in the English-speaking world. Amidst the textural splendour of accordion, strings, driving guitar and occasional Balkan/Mariachi brass, lies a calm, structured, perfectly imperfect melody. Images of the Iron Curtain and vodka induced polka are elegantly depicted in the smashing of the crowbar to an oil drum, constructing a beauty in chaos. After 15 years of the recording / touring / recording / touring grind, the boys have grown into men, and these men are in need of a holiday. Not entirely deceased but put into an induced coma for an undetermined time. But I’m afraid this circus has rolled on and most of you have missed it, for it is soon to be no more. In a world of the yawningly mundane that is force-fed to the masses, we are hypnotised into believing that this band or that band is amazeballs. How often does a new musical genre evolve? How often does a band actually change your life? How often, if you are really honest, do you fall in love with a band? And how often can you truly attest, with your hand on your heart, that all of a band’s work has produced music worthy of total prostration? Norway, most famously known musically for death metal and plucky acoustic folk, has seemingly produced magic True genius in the form of the totally un-categorisable.Īmidst the blandness that is modern manufactured indie, rarely does a group come along that you can say I haven’t loved a band so much since⦠fillintheblankâ. Not to mention a little gig in old Blighty. What is the future of the staged Rock Opera? ‘Violeta Violeta’, of course. Elisabeth Robson documents the epic rise of this little known Norse phenomenon, and eulogises their legacy and immense body of work which culminated in the awe inspiring ‘Violeta Violeta’ Trilogy. Norway’s finest, Kaizers Orchestra, are taking a hiatus after more than 12 years of ascension to the top of the indie heap.
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