Under Byen

Country of origin:

Denmark

Type of music generally:

Experimental ethereal alternative pop/ectronica

Status:

Most recent release, Protokol (live, 2013); most recent release of new material, Alt Er Tabt (2010)

See also:

Under Byen's Facebook page

Wikipedia's entry for Under Byen

A fansite

Comparisons:

There's something Björk-like in this, at least like her quieter moments; maybe a mix of Björk, Stina Nordenstam, Cocteau Twins, and Sigur Rós

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Dreamy, quirky, melodic, oceanic, gorgeous sweeping vocals, Nordic... Not unlike Sigur Rós, Under Byen transports you into another world. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Det Er Mig Der Holder Træerne Sammen or Samme Stof Somstof (2006)

Recordings:

• Puma (ep, 1997)
• Kyst (1999)
• Remix (minialbum, 2001)
• Det Er Mig Der Holder Træerne Sammen (2002)
• 2 Ryk Og En Aflevering / 2 Moves And A Pass / Kick'n'Rush (soundtrack album, 2003)
• Remix 2 (minialbum, 2004)
• Samme Stof Somstof (2006)
• Siamesisk (live, with the Danish Radio Sinfonietta, (2008)
• Alt Er Tabt (2010)
• Protokol (live, 2013)

Kyst

Release info:

1999—Plade Selskabet—EMI 5234072

Availability:

Europe

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Katrine Stochholm—piano, melodica
Henriette Sennenvaldt—vocals
Morten Larsen—drums
Sara Saxild—bass
Myrtha Wolf—cello
Poul Rørkenfelt—violin
Anders Stochholm—accordian and percussion

Guest artists:

Lisa Rydberg—additional violin, hardangerfele
Jona Nyström—string arrangements on 3 tracks

Produced by:

Jazz Beat Production

Comments:

sort of like the cocteau twins but more understandable...beautiful stuff. (gordodo@optonline.net)

Kyst is full of gorgeous moments. Truly lovely, and unique. (Neile)

Det Er Mig Der Holder Træerne Sammen

Release info:

2002—Plade Selskabet—EMI 5394302

Availability:

Europe

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Henriette Sennenvaldt—vocals
Katrine Stochholm—piano, Wurlitzer, melodica, percussion, backing vocals
Thorbjørn Krogshede—piano, Wurlitzer
Sara Saxild—bass
Anders Stochholm—percussion, ukelele, bass, moog, organ
Morten Larsen—drums
Myrtha Wolf—cello
Nils Grøndahl—violin, saw, lapsteel, guitar

Guest artists:

Mathilde Stengaard and Lotte Maxild—wind instruments
Rune Krogshede—trumpet
Sofus Forsberg and Flemming Bloch—programming

Produced by:

Under Byen & Jakob Berthelsen

Comments:

Gorgeous. (gordoja@optonline.net)

One of my favourite discs of the year. Lovely, dreamy. It's so hard to describe and yet I love to listen to this album, and highly, highly recommend it to all lovers of Björk and Sigur Rós. What they're doing is very much their own, a mixture of dreamy pop and atmosphere that creates its own world. (Neile)

Samme Stof Somstof

Release info:

2006—Morningside Records—MORECD017; Paper Bag (U.S.)

Availability:

Wide in Europe and U.S.

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Nils Grøndahl—violin, saw
Thorbjørn Krogshede—piano
Morten Gunnar Larsen—drums
Sara Saxild—bass
Henriette Sennenvalt—vocals
Stine Sørensen—drums
Anders Stochholm
Morten Svenstrup—cello
Myrtel Wolf—cello

Guest artists:

Anders Lofting—tuba
Savane Lund—tuba

Comments:

One of my favourite discs of the year, and I was thrilled to see that the band finally had a disc released in the U.S. Just as wonderful—and perhaps more so—than Det Er Mig Der Holder Træerne Sammen. Their dreamy, gorgeous music is making them one of my favourite bands. (Neile)

One of the best of the year. (gordoja@optonline.net)

Siamesisk

live, with the Danish Radio Sinfonietta

Release info:

2008—Paper Bag Records—PAPER032

Availability:

Wide in U.S.

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Stine Sørensen, Morten Larsen, Nils Grøndahl, Henriette Sennenvaldt, Rasmus Kjæ Larsen, Morten Svenstrup, Sara Saxild, Anders Stochholm

Guest artists:

The Danish Radio Sinfonietta

Comments:

Often live recordings are muddied or somewhat lifeless since the music is mixed for those present rather than a recording and the presence of the band creates the energy. This is an exception, and one of those few times I was exceptionally glad to pick up a live recording. (Neile)

Alt Er Tabt

Release info:

2010--Paper Bag Records (Canada)--Paper050

Availability:

Wide in U.S.

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Nils Grøndahl, Morten Larsen, Sara Saxild, Henriette Sennenvaldt, Anders Stochholm, Morten Svenstrup, Stine Sørensen

Produced by:

Under Byan

Comments:

Not quite as catchy as either Det Er Mig Der Holder Træerne Sammen or Samme Stof Somstof, nonetheless this has songs that are mesmerizingly fragile and gorgeous but with perhaps more edges than previous albums. (Neile)

	UK Heights/U. Kay Hytz
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	Untamed
	The Unthanks