Röyksopp is a good Norwegian band, as well as the Kings of Convenience. Royksopp is electroish more while KOC is more indie folk. They are both great bands though from Norway, and they mostly sing in English.

YouTube - Röyksopp - What Else Is There? (HD)

YouTube - Kings Of Convenience - Misread

Otherwise Spanish bands like the Gipsy Kings and Buena Vista Social Club. BVSC do great Spanish-influenced covers of popular songs (like Clocks by Coldplay) but they have some original stuff thats great too. Gipsy Kings are fantastic though. All their music sounds so exotic and fun :)

Italian music is great too, but theres no English speaing songs, unlike the Norwegian bands. Try Fabrizio De Andre, Rino Gaetano and Eros Ramazotti for great Italian music. Eros sounds nasal as but his early stuff is very good.

Thanks, I know about Röyksopp little bit.

Just now I found one band that fits perfectly to this thread too - Afro Celt Sound System.

It's mixture of african, celtic and electronic music. Sometimes instrumental, sometimes with singing in english and some african language. I think it's cool music and I am curious to see them live.

This was my favorite of the punk songs you posted, Swink: I'll have to look up more by Niet. Wikipedia says the group revived in 2008 after more than 10 years of not playing. I'm curious what Niet's music is like now. If I find out more, I'll post in the ex-Yugoslavian music thread.

I listened to the two songs you posted...but during the first one I was distracted by this thought, "Wow! That woman sure looks Norwegian!!! And she's floating." I can't remember much about the song, now, but I can remember her face and blond, blond hair!

Interesting mixture of sounds...the African and celtic, Petula. I don't usually like music with a definite dance beat, but the first song kind of grew on me a little because of the building momentum and intricate sounds.

Well try it again then :D I was distracted by the hair too but if you listen to the song its actually very good.

Okay, I gave it another go, glastonelle...and yes, I agree, the Royksopp song is good because I feel it creates an eerie mood and has a tantalizing beat, and the singer's voice certainly is interesting. The video is quite surrealistic...like a bad dream. One in which you drip white blood...or urinate on yourself...I'm not sure what that is dripping down her leg! ;)

I heard it ages ago when I was about 12, but I still like it today. I was a pretty cool 12 year old, so I trust my judgement even back then ;)

Hmmm... it either represent blood or like some kind of twink which opened and spilled through her pants, if thats even possible. It usually dries before it can travel far, so if it was in her pocket I'd be this big what stain. Could be milk possibly..

I've put far too much thought into this.

Now I found a band Orka from Faroe Islands.
Their MySpace - ORKA on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

It's music for people with open mind for some strange sounds. It's mixture of folk and industrial rock, they play on home-made instruments.
(By the way they had a tour with Yann Tiersen.)

^^That's pretty good. I like it, especially that overall quirkiness. Very interesting music. Nice find.

...I love listening to music from other cultures...other languages...

this is a multi-cultural band called DEBU...


DEBU is a nineteen member ensemble from Indonesia, Sweden, England, the US and Malaysia. But all of them would say that they are one big family, and the music they create is inspired by the Sufi tenets of Love and Godliness. Starting out in Jakarta, they moved to Sulawesi and then to back to the capitol, where they are now a popular musical presence.

though I have read elsewhere...that they are mostly American Muslims...

it is beautiful music...and a beautiful message...

...The Soul and Love...

*******



The Soul and Love became united,
Then into this realm they both came,
Together they’re always undivided,
Joined forever their source the same.

After the two were mingled and blended,
In a mixing that took place in such a way,
That all their boundaries were transcended,
Ever since then together they stay.

And so it was in this amazing manner,
That Love and the Soul were forever blended,
Joined by the One Who is the best Planner,
Both vanish in this mixture so splendid.

From the very strength of this blended state,
The Soul with Love has become united,
Which is the essence and which is the trait,
I don’t see how this could be decided.

Maybe it’s Love that’s become the essence,
While it’s attribute may be the Soul,
Not knowing which has become the quintessence,
I can't say which one plays which role.

I can’t really say if it’s this way or that,
I just don’t know what it is in the end,
There’s no other way I can’t be exact,
This mixture is such a wonderful blend.

The result of this process was awesome indeed,
Both Love and the Soul forever connected,
The two of them speak and the words each one heeds,
Mingled and blended together protected.

The basis of Love is said to be fire,
While the Soul is derived from the wind,
The wind itself it ignites this fire,
And the fire then consumes the wind again.

Old post, I know, but I thought I could add some more information. The singer in that song is a guest singer. It's Karin Dreijer Andersson from the swedish band The Knife, so while she looks norwegian, she's actually a swede. :)

If you like her voice, she released a self-titled debut solo album under her artist Fever Ray in 2009. I've only heard one song or so and it was when it was new, so I can't remember if it's good, but I remember it got good reviews.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever_Ray_(album)

Just so I stay on topic, I'll post this silly little song called "Kåbbåy" by notrwegian band Gartnerlosjen's debut (Krem Fjes) from 1994.