19 Mar 2012 — Henning Lahmann
As mentioned before, Copenhagen outfit
Thulebasen, introduced on this publication
a couple of months ago when they were in town to play for our friends at
Noisekölln, is part of the city's noisy scene around the
Escho label alongside thoroughly hyped
Iceage and others.
Thulebasen's forthcoming single "Forever Grinning" is another killer track, straightforward, noise-infused that is as surprising as it is satisfying. It was written after Copenhagen's Staten Museum for Kunst (National Museum of Art) had contacted the band last October, asking them to create a song for one of the paintings from their collection of 19th century Danish fine arts. Thulebasen picked Jørgen Valentin Sonne's 1847 work
”Midsummer’s Eve. Sick People Asleep upon the Grave of St Helena at Tisvilde” (see above, courtesy of
SMK), which depicts a group of sick people who have gone on a pilgrimage to spend Midsummer’s Eve on the grave of
Saint Helena in Tisvilde, hoping to be cured by the saint. In the words of band member Nis Bysted, "The painting almost shines with the colors used. At the same time there is something dark and magic about it. Such a beautiful and multi-messaging way of expressing oneself is something the band are truly inspired by."
While you might have heard the original already somewhere else, here's one of the five remixes to be found on the vinyl (including contributions by
Hhappiness and
Lucky Dragons), the deliciously off-kilter and pretty insane version by
Black Dice mastermind
Eric Copeland (whose excellent
Waco Taco Combo was also released by Escho last year), a superbly deranged, heavily filtered and noisy extravaganza.
The
Forever Grinning limited edition 12 inch will be released conjointly by Danish label
Tambourhinoceros and Oslo-based imprint
Splendour on March 26. Pre-order now
here or
here.
Listen to the original as well:
