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The (International) Noise Conspiracy

Live at Oslo Jazz Festival [reissue] (2007)
Alternative Tentacles Records

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Contributed by: GlassPipeMurder
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on April 6th 2007

As much as I like to maintain a professional demeanor when writing published reviews, I think it’s necessary to dip into a little personal assertion for a moment regarding my thoughts on this album. I would rate myself as a moderate fan of the (International) Noise Conspiracy. I have two of their albums, and have only been mildly impressed with anything they’ve ever done. That said, Live at Oslo Jazz Festival is one of the most fantastic and entertaining live albums I’ve heard since Dillinger Four’s Live at First Avenue.

The performance was recorded on August 6th, 2002 with established jazz musicians Jonas Kulhammer on saxophone and Sven-Eric Dahlberg on Fender Rhodes, a type of electric piano. It is with the addition of these musicians and their respective instruments that turns the otherwise inert garage rock of the original songs into a lively, flourishing makeup of jazz, soul, garage, and punk. It’s truly incredible to think about how much an improvement the performance is over any of T(I)NC’s studio work. Frontman Dennis Lyxzén gives an impassioned effort that holds steady through the nearly 60 minutes of music. In between songs, the listener is reminded that although T(I)NC write their songs in English, Lyxzen has essentially been writing lyrics in a foreign language since breaking the punk scene wide open as frontman of hardcore innovators Refused, and he continues to do so with T(I)NC.

Bubbling with improvisation and spontaneous melodies, the performance hits its peak with the 13-minute long rendition of “Will It Ever Be Quiet,” which nearly answers its own question before breaking into a finale of incredible saxophone soloing. Fan favorites like “Capitalism Stole My Virginity,” “New Empire Blues” and “Ever Felt Cheated” are all included, as well as a superb version of “Bigger Cages, Longer Chains.”

Live at Oslo Jazz Festival shows just what live music is about. Energy, spontaneity, and creativity put a new and improved spin on some of the (International) Noise Conspiracy’s best songs, and the result is a truly memorable experience that stays fresh long after the first listen.

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Anonymous (April 12, 2007)

It isn't hard to write or sing lyrics in English when you have been learning / reading / speaking English almost as long as you have been learning Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish. It's required, and the English language is everywhere throughout Scandinavia.

This record crushes everyone's balls.

Also, "Death Metal" is a genre that everyone is familiar with. "Noise" is barely a genre at all. If they were called The (International) John Cage's Retarded Bullshit Conspiracy, we might be able to see your point.

Anonymous (April 12, 2007)

"Bands like this are the reason The Make-Up broke-up."

Um, how?

Scruffy (April 9, 2007)

It doesn't matter if they know nothing about "Noise" as a genre. The word has other meanings, and one of its other, older meanings is the one intended in the band name. It is not a poor attempt at irony like The Eagles Of Death Metal.

Anonymous (April 8, 2007)

Yeah well you clearly know nothing of the genre. So why don't you just shut up about it?

Anonymous (April 8, 2007)

"First this band, now Eagles of Death Metal, when will bands learn that putting a musical genre in your name and not playing the genre is simply retarded? I'm not saying that their music isn't experimental, but still, kind of a letdown."

"Noise is in fact a musical genre and has been one before punk....whatever you said"

Sure, I'll give you that but its plain to see that the word noise in this instance isn't meant to imply any sort of musical genre...it simply means noise....its really fucking obvious

Anonymous (April 7, 2007)

Dude's been in bands before Refused. Get over it.

- strangenotes

lushj (April 7, 2007)

"Posted by primeevil7 on 2007-04-07 14:55:50

LushJ, Why do alt tentacles mailorders only go out once every two weeks?"

Because the way we process them isn't integrated into the rest of our system. It's a lot more cumbersome and time-consuming then on-line, phone, or fax orders. Combine that with only getting a tiny amount per week (I think the last 2 week total # was 11, and that's on the high end, usually it's around 8), and whammo, that's why.

It sucks, I know, but there's just 1 of us 4 doing all of the mail order.

P.S.- I'm pretty stoked on this record too! A whole lotta MC5 in this...

WainscottRockCity (April 7, 2007)

Most Swedes speak pretty good English...you're required to learn it in school and most pick it up as a second language

Anonymous (April 7, 2007)

"Noise" is in fact a genre of music, and has been a genre of music longer than punk, metal and even rock and roll.

GlassPipeMurder (April 7, 2007)

it means they don't speak English at all (including the inbetween-song commentary) outside of their songwriting on their records. my point is that writing songs in a foreign language is extremely difficult and for bands to do it is impressive and to a lesser degree admirable.

Anonymous (April 7, 2007)

the listener is reminded that although T(I)NC write their songs in English, Lyxzen has essentially been writing lyrics in a foreign language since breaking the punk scene wide open as frontman of hardcore innovators Refused, and he continues to do so with T(I)NC.

Maybe I'm just tired, but I really have no idea what this means. And I'm aware that they are Swedish.

Anonymous (April 7, 2007)

in this use of the word "noise" isn't supposed to represent a genre....it's just noise as if they're making noise

jamespastepunk (April 7, 2007)

LushJ,

Why do alt tentacles mailorders only go out once every two weeks?

GlassPipeMurder (April 7, 2007)

noise is a genre, but T(I)NC is nothing close to playing noise.

Anonymous (April 7, 2007)

Are you really gonna argue that "noise" is a genre?

Greenvandal (April 7, 2007)

Bands like this are the reason The Make-Up broke-up.

T(I)NC is the enemy.

OverDefined (April 7, 2007)

"I'm confused as to what "musical genre" is in the name The (International) Noise Conspiracy..."

It's "Noise" dipshit.

maverick (April 7, 2007)

This record seriously smokes. The auxillary musicians they brought in for this performance made the band about 50 times better. This is definitely one of the best live records I've heard in a number of years.

-Scott

Anonymous (April 7, 2007)

I'm confused as to what "musical genre" is in the name The (International) Noise Conspiracy...

Anonymous (April 6, 2007)

First this band, now Eagles of Death Metal, when will bands learn that putting a musical genre in your name and not playing the genre is simply retarded? I'm not saying that their music isn't experimental, but still, kind of a letdown.

PhantomBoner (April 6, 2007)

Killer album. Nice review, too.

Anonymous (April 6, 2007)

yea, i completely agree with that first comment...i used to love Refused when i was younger, and still like them alot but don't really listent to them all that often these days.
That being said INC has always been kind of disapointing to me. But I did catch them live once and it was a whole different experience from on record.
So with the added instrumentation here, I'm now very interested...and couldn't have cared less before reading this.

Anonymous (April 6, 2007)

Nice review. Right to the point and tells me what I need to know. I didn't give a shit about this release until now. Well done.