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Under Byen

About:

Under Byen (Danish for "Below the City") is a Danish band founded in 1995. Most of the music is written by mainly by Katrine Stochholm (arrangements) and Henriette Sennenvaldt (vocals and lyrics). An important part of the music are also the poetic Danish lyrics which are presented to the listener by female vocals. Oddly enough Katrine doesn’t play on the albums were the music is made by Sara Saxild (bass), Thorbjørn Krogshede (piano), Nils Gröndahl (violin/saw), Morten Svenstrup (cello), Morten Larsen (drums), Stine Sørensen (drums), and Anders Stochholm (band doctor).

It took some years before their unorthodox approach of music (soundscapes dominated by piano, cello, violin, electrically-distorted saw, organ, drums and percussion) was released on cd. In 1998, They were signed as the first band to the new Danish label "have a cigar" and released their debut album ‘Kyst’ (Coast). The reception of the album was extraordinary, and the band was nominated for a Danish music award as the best new Danish band.

In April 2002, the band released the album ‘Det er mig holder traeerne sammen’ (Its me keeping the trees together). The album featured nine compositions with the ten minute ‘Om vinteren’ (In Winter).as the most eye catching. The album was picked up by American radio DJ David Fricke who helped to get the band noticed abroad. In 2004 the album was re-released outside Denmark.

In 2006 the band released their album ‘Samme stof som stof’ (Same fabric as fabric). Next to that the band also works on film and theater scores and released a remix of ‘Ohne dich’ for German band Rammstein. In 2008 they released the mini-album ‘Siamesisk’ which featured recordings made together with the Danish Radio Sinfonietta. In 2010 they release new work.

On the web:

- Under Byen's website: http://www.underbyen.dk/

What do we think:

PR: XXXXX

DB: Leadsinger Henriette Sennenvaldt has been quoted saying her music was inspired by traffic. To me Under Byen has something unmistakable Scandinavian or even Danish. Obviously you can relate the band to other Scandinavian acts like Stina Nordenstam, Sigur Ros or Bjork. But somehow there is something…maritime about their music. When I close my eyes the sounds they make always remind me of the sea (with Henriette as mermaid?). Strange, experimental music with lots of ideas. Under Byen has not come to it’s full potential but is very interesting none the less. The three stars for every album till know means actually: if you like their music you'll like everything they made until now; if you hate it don't even try one of them. .

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts

Sigur Ros (Iceland)

Albums:

- Kyst - 1999

♪♪♪- Det er mig der holder træerne sammen - 2002

- 2 ryk og en aflevering (soundtrack) - 2003

♪♪♪ - Samme stof som stof - 2006

- Siamesisk - 2008

♪♪♪ - Alt er tabt - 2010

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided