Retrovision: Bel Canto - Birds of Passage

"Birds of Passage" was the third single release for the Norwegian multi instrumental dream pop trio Bel Canto and was taken from their second album of the same name. The single was released in Canada in 1989 and in some of the European countries in 1990.

 

Instant Hit: Clockwork Orange- Sensation Boys

Clockwork Orange was a short-lived Norwegian synth-pop group that emerged in the 1980s, releasing only a single during their brief existence. Titled "Sensation Boys," it debuted on Temptation Records in 1985. Despite its likely underground status at the time and its dark tone, it had the potential to resonate with both underground and mainstream audiences. Today, it remains emblematic of its genre's standards. In 2015, the song was reissued as a single under the title "The Last Sensation," featuring a 1984 demo alongside a new remix version of the track.

Instant Hit: 3rd Man- Oral Pleasure

3rd Man was a Norwegian minimal-synth duo who release their only single "Oral Pleasure" thirty years ago. The group consisted of Bjørn Sorknes and Morten Sjøberg who was also a member of one of the finest Norwegian post-punk outfits Fra Lippo Lippi. The single was issued as 7" on Unition Records and featured "Pleasure Recycled" as B-side. The song appeared on the compilation Maskindans - Norsk Synth 1980-1988 which was released in 2009. 

 

Fra Lippo Lippi Release 6 LP Vinyl Box Set

Rune Grammofon have released a 6 LP remaster compilation which features all Fra Lippo Lippi's albums. None of group´s six studio albums have been avaiilable on vinyl since they were first released and ”Dreams” has never been available on vinyl. This 6 LP box collects all studio albums, "In Silence" (1981), "Small Mercies (1983), ”Songs” (1985), ”Light and Shade” (1987), ”The Colour Album” (1989) and ”Dreams” (1992) and comes in a limited edition of 300 with personal liner notes from Rune Kristoffersen on each album and stunning design by internationally acclaimed designer Magnus Voll Mathiassen. 

  Official Label Site
More about the band...

Fra Lippo Lippi

Fra Lippo Lippi is a Norwegian band formed in Nesodden, near Oslo, by Rune Kristoffersen, Morten Sjøberg and Bjørn Sorknes. In the early 80's they experimented with music, releasing two albums under the post-punk influence. They scored their biggest hit in 1985 with "Shouldn't Have To Be Like That" after they changed their musical direction to a more popier sound.

They released their debut four track EP on Private Records, offering short, funny and quirky stats of electro pop. Their first album In Silence was an attempt to funeral rock of Joy Division. It was muted by incomprehensible vocals and dismal, meandering music. In 1983, FLL were joined by Per Oystein Sorensen who raised the bridge to cross from desolate goth rock to a piano-laden amalgam of sophisti-pop and light jazz. After a year, before their first single "Now and Forever" was released, their second album, Small Mercies followed. It was still sinister, with funeral percussion, but with FLL now being a quartet and with the piano given an important role in the scheme of things, they continued towards a more defined pop direction, with a more personal style than previously.

In 1985, Fra Lippo Lippi were signed with Virgin Records in the U.K., releasing their third album, Songs. Fra Lippo Lippi jettisoned the gloom of their earlier efforts on Songs, experimenting with synth-pop and romantic balladry powered by Kristoffersen's piano. During the same year the latest member Øyvind Kvalnes and founder member Morten Sjøberg quit at the prospect of giving up their day jobs for the uncertain careers as professional musicians. This leaves FLL as the duo of Rune Kristoffersen and Per Øystein Sørensen.

In 1986 the first single for Virgin, "Shouldn't have to be like that", was released. It reached number 4 in the official Norwegian sales charts and the lower regions of the UK charts. It also remains Fra Lippo Lippis biggest hit. "Come Summer" and a completely reworked version of "Everytime I See You" are released as singles number 2 and 3. As a live band, FLL is extended with 4 musicians. They successfully tour Norway in the autumn, sold out concerts everywhere. They released another two album during the late 80’s 'Light and Shade' and The Colour Album

Fra Lippo Lippi became a huge hit in the Philippines in the late 80’s and were invited there for concerts. Ticket demand was huge and they sold out the 11.000 capacity Folk Arts Theatre in Manila 6 times over two weekends. In 1992, they released their sixth album Dreams and after releasing few best of compilations they split. Kristoffersen launched his own record label, Rune grammofon and Sorensen continued as solo artist. In 2000, Fra Lippo Lippi performed in the Philippines, a country where the band landed numerous hits during the 80's.