EL/NeUe: Trademark: dark vocal is joined mid-song by the serene voice of Ellady.

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Is it new wave in the year 2022? Is it postpunk? Cold wave rebirth? Electronica with fuzz-guitar? Or something else?

Acclaimed Norwegian duo EL/NeUe have a new single out: Aldri (Er Lang Tid) Never (Is Long Time)

Aldri (Er Lang Tid) Never (Is Long Time) is a beautiful and dark song about love eternal. The song is driven calmly forward by a weeping synth, a deep bass and an industrial beat. EL/NeUe’s trademark dark vocal is joined mid-song by the serene voice of Ellady – as well as a playful, bouncy synth.

The lyrics, in Norwegian this time, are inspired by Icelandic author Jón Kalman Stefánsson’s novel Fjarvera Bín Er Myrkur («Your absence is dark»). EL/NeUe have been warmly received by music blogs and radio stations across Europe.

@Thasoundblog listed «Ich bin krank» as one of their Albums of the Year 2021, og tweeted about previous single «Ich möchte Dinge bauen»: «Dark lush tones mingling like cottonmouths in oil»

«Attention Please» with Eddie Carter on Nova Radio North East had this to say about their single «Det er ikke hos meg det brenner»: «Absolutely spectacular», «A brilliant bit of industrial» (…) «You need to hear this music – this music is sensational».

«Aldri (er lang tid)» is released on all streaming services March 4, and in celebration, El/NeUe perform a concert that night at Oslo’s legendary live scene, Mir.

EL/NeUe is Håkon Johnson (guitar, bass, synth, vocals) and Askild Hagen (vocals, synth, bass). 

They have worked together for a number of years, in music as well as other art projects and also in the field of humour – eg. as writers for Norwegian satirical TV show Nytt På Nytt. They are also known for various other humorous music projects, including The Psycho Halvorsen Brothers and Oslo International Playback Free Jazz Festival.

As long ago as 1987, they released the EP Et Hvilested, under the name EL, before closing the project in 1988. In 2020, they returned as EL/NeUe, releasing the EP Lykkeønskninger 2020, and after three singles, the album Krank.

 Norwegian Music news blog «Musikk fra Norge» praised the album as “a coming classic, and describe Krank as «an album filled with pearls for those who want music to really listen to, to bury themselves in, and to let themselves go with the flow. Pop for rockers, synth for goths, something for everyone who likes music with meaning and content».

Deichmann’s musikkblogg said of the album: «EL/NeUe have their album Krank out now, and again provide you with an experience of esthetics and athmosphere. EL/NeUe touch both the dark and pleasurable part of the soul».

Side-Line Magazine wrote: «The main strength of this work is its atypical approach. EL/NeUe definitely sounds like a sonic trip mixing different influences. My favorite aspect is the deep, vibrating bass lines».

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