UR

UR biography
Formed in 2004, UR were a Norwegian krautrock duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Tom-Erik Løe and Håkon Bjorland Hansen, both of Nærbø-based folk-jazz side project Alveland. From 2013 to their split in 2016, UR released five EPs and a posthumous compilation of demos and outtakes via Bandcamp through Løe's digital label Wudu Productions (with the first three also issued on compact disc). Løe and Hansen shared songwriting and vocal duties, commissioning the help of guest musicians like fellow Alveland bandmates Kristian Gullåsen, Henning Rød Haugland and Roar Skjelbred as well as British bassist and occasional Shpongle collaborator Christoffer Borud.

UR's maintained a diverse, experimental and melodically pop-savvy approach on each of their distinct EPs. Melancholic psychedelic folk found common ground with Crossover-friendly alternative rock tinged with the echoes of Steven Wilson, No-Man and David Sylvian, further incorporating brooding dark ambience, surrealist studio trickery, 1960s garage, post-rock and shadowy loops, twisting songs out of traditional shapes and into elongated tripped-out meditations.


- Gordy, August 2023