Panzerpappa from Norway

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PANZERPAPPA are a band that has quickly risen to be one of my favourites.
They are a taelented bunch of musicians, which like many others, work for a living alongside their music making. I personally hope and think that given their last two albums, this band should have such a success as to allow them to be full-time musicians (should they choose to).
I'll mention in particular their last album Koralrevens Klagesang which to me is a splendid melange of avant-rock, zeuhl, Canterbury (there's even a song with David Sinclaire singing, fantastic song) and prtrays a joy of life in the tune it carries. This band is not too far from the humourous, fun side of avant-prog represented by what I call the Samla Mammas Manna "school".

Here's their bio in PA:

 PANZERPAPPA is an avant-prog band instrumental band from Norway, similar to UNIVERS ZERO or SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA. They recorded their first album, "Passer Gullfisk" with Knut Tore Abrahamsen on electric guitars; Steinar Børve on saxophones, keyboards; Trond Gjellum on drumkit, acoustic and electric percussion, balaphone, glockenspiel, sampler, trondofon, melodica; and Jørgen Skjulstad on electric bassguitar, additional guitars and piano, melodica, glockenspiel. The lineup changed a bit for their followup release, "Hulemysteriet" where Endre Begby took over on electric guitars. For their third album, "Farlig Vandring" the lineup changed again, but still retains Steinar Børve and Trond Gjellum but Anders Krabberød on electric five string bassguitar, electric 4 string fretless bassguitar, Chapman Stick, additional keyboards; and Jarle Storløkken on electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, accordion replaced Jørgen Skjulstad and Endre Begby, respectively.

"Passer Gullfisk" is a great debut. While it's difficult to get into at first, the songs are very energetic, complex, fun and beautiful. "Hulemysteriet" is a fantastic followup release, with the songs finding even more direction and intensity, without giving up on the fun. "Farlig Vandring" shows the band at their finest, a great mix of obtuse complexity and fun accessibility.

: : : Moses Talbot, USA : : :

For a full bio go to their website, where you can also read about the individual members.  

Links
Official website: http://www.panzerpappa.com/
Myspace http://www.myspace.com/panzerpappa

Here is a live show review by Bj-1 - Review: Panzerpappa Live 16/02/07

Here is an interview I did with them for PA - The Panzerpappa Special - Interview & more

Highly recommended and not just for avant-heads as this music is accessible, not in the likes of avant-prog that some people think about; it's enjoyable, fun, melodic, rhythmic, complex, entertaining. 

They opened for Magma last September in Oslo. 