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The band

EPA

emerged several years ago, centred around the music and lyrics of Rune Østhagen. In the songs you'll discover an organic, eclectic blend of acoustic guitars and polyphonic vocals surrounded by the sounds of nature. Veering from electronic to 'out and out' groovy, the tunes are evocative of where they were conceived and recorded. Whether it's in the living room, in a cabin by the sea, in the mountains or in the studio. The mood swings

from the highs of red wine, to hangovers, from pale mornings, warm evenings to regular tues-day afternoons. It's often the collaborations that make the music of EPA so special. Imagine a collective of insightful, and like minded people, not necessarily maestros in their field, but doing it purely for the love of the music. Fuelled by this common goal, there's an air of 'nerdy' interest in creating these soundscapes. It's all about that feeling you get when you find a vocal melody

that melts into the pickings and noodlings played out on a guitar the night before. Think about discovering an odd instrument that suits a particular song or a sound, or the one you picked up in a flea market for twenty euro, then you're getting close. If you're in anyway curious, or simply want to find out more about EPA,
drop a line, and we'll do our best to answer it. You can order all the albums directly from the site, by simply clicking on one of the records.

EPA / CD / 1998

Blomster / flowers

Order EPA / CD / 2008

CD: 150 NOK + shipping

The first output from EPA was recorded in various locations in Norway, dating from the early Nineties to its release in 1998, and can't you just hear it? Sheep recorded in a valley in the North West, to the sounds of rowing and sawing,
in and around a little lake in Østerdalen. Traditional Norwegian folk instruments were used, including the Langeleik and Trerader, alongside noises made on cardboard boxes.
The various recordings were heard by two young hip-hoppers, Jonas Bjerketvedt and Stian Neple from Pen Jakke, who then offered to produce the record. From nearly fifty songs, thirteen were chosen. Obscure acoustic songs with polyphonic singing and noises from sheep were mixed with hard beats and groovy basslines. After two weeks in the summer of ´98, in a studio above a gas station, the record was finished. 500 of the 1000 copies made were sold to Japan.

THE SONGS: EVEREST / THE LONG PLAY / NAKED / FOREST / ALWAYS / HUSONG / BIRD / THEEND / MARS / BELOVED / CHERUBS / BROWNBOOK / THREE ROWS

EVERGREENS VOL.ONE / 7" VINYL / 2000

Blomster / flowers

Order EVERGREENS VOL.ONE / 7 VINYLE / 2000

Vinyl: 100 NOK + shipping

The two songs on this vinyl edition single were written shortly after the release of first record. However, finding the right feeling and the instruments took over a year. It was recorded in a mysterious little brown room filled with many instruments. All the instruments and the soundscapes were created by Rune Østhagen, with the addition of cello by Benedicte Sveinsson and bass by Endre Tønnesen.
These two simple songs deserved a release, and a suitable format was chosen. A vinyl single was produced, 500 in total, 96 copies of which remain unsold.

THE SONGS: STARTOUR / HERE COMES THE SUN AGAIN

EVERGREENS VOL.TWO / STARTOURS / CD / 2001

Blomster / flowers

Order EVERGREENS VOL.TWO / STARTOURS / CD / 2001

CD: 150 NOK + shipping

In addition to the two songs from “Evergreens volume.one”, you´ll find three new songs on this record. Thanks to Chris “The Scotsman” Rodger for his fantastic lines on “Startour”. The songs wouldn't be the same without this. In 2000, some of the most exciting bands in Norway recorded their own versions of “Startour”. It´s certainly worth a listen. 1000 copies.

THE SONGS: FLY THIS / HERE COMES THE SUN AGAIN / AIR / TASTEXPLOTION / STARTOUR BY EPA / STARTOUR BY PÅSAN / STARTOUR BY MICROMARS / STARTOUR BY THEME JENNIE MENID BAND / STARTOUR BY SAFARIARI / STARTOUR BY COMPUTORGIRL / STARTOUR BY ICON OG COIL / STARTOUR BY REMINGTON SUPER 60 / STARTOUR BY HÜDLAGER

EPA BLOMSTER/FLOWERS / CD / 2006

Blomster / flowers

EPA - Cabin Songs  OEPA BLOMASTER/FLOWERS / CD / 2006  Preview and order the album at WIMP

CD: 150 NOK + shipping

Some of the songs on this album were recorded using fairly poor equipment over a period of three years. Despite this, these crude recordings were often used in the final mix. The sessions took place during some fantastic weekends in the summer of 2005 at Silvertone studios in Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad. The musicians slept over in the studio, recording until the morning, catching a few hours of deep sleep here and there. Often they would wake to the sound of birds singing and the sun shining through the studios windows. Days would begin with good coffee, food and a cigarette. These were fantastic hours spent with fantastic people. Thanks to The Fuglband. Many hours of post-production led to the release in 2006.

Magnus Abelsen: Guitar, bass and vocals
Andreas Ihlebæk: Organs, pianos and vocals
Grim Stene: Various guitars
Fredrik Braarud: Drums
Tor Inge Rishaug: Strange guitars
Anders Lie: Lapsteel and banjo
Mathias Steinbru: Trumpets
Rune Østhagen: Acoustic guitars, vocals and samples


THE SONGS: MAYBE / BLOMSTER / TODAY / YESTERDAY / HEYDAY / TRÄDGÅRDEN / GREENDALE / THE END AGAIN / SUN DAY / HEY / MORNING GLORY / SPELLEMANN / NEST / FLOWERS

EPA CABIN SONGS / USB-SOUNDSTICK / 2010

Blomster / flowers

OEPA BLOMASTER/FLOWERS / CD / 2006

UTSOLGT

In February 2010 Rune Østhagen spent one month alone in his cabin in the mountains. It was in this cold and snowy landscape, far from civilization that he used his time playing guitar and crafting his songs. The songs were recorded into a MacBook charged by solar cells. The rhythms of the songs were made by drumming on tables, bottles and different parts of the body. On his return to the city, Rune brought the songs into the studio to recreate the feeling of the echo found in the mountains. The best way to create this was to run the songs through an AKG BX20, a fantastic wooden echo box from the Seventies.
Microscope records are delighted to offer you these songs on an USB-Soundstick designed as a creditcard. Using pinewood as an element of the design. It all fits you see!

THE SONGS: SOUND OF MOUNTAIN / SOUND OF CABIN / IN MY CAVE / INSULATE / URINE SONG /
FOREST GREW

EPA SKOG OG MARK / CD / 2015

Skog og mark

SKOG OG MARK

CD: 200 NOK + shipping

Låtene på «Skog og mark» ble tenkt ut, skrevet, spilt inn og produsert i Høydehuset på Kråkerøy i Fredrikstad. Naturen er igjen inspirasjonen, og nå synges det på norsk. Om utsikt og innsikt, om steder i skogen, på fjellet, ved havet, om nakenbad i myr og vann og om å stikke av inn i naturen – alene eller sammen. Trompeter spilt av Henrik Lorentzen. Fløyter spilt av Nina C. Dahl. Koringer sunget av Elisabeth Thorsen, Sara Leander-Østhagen, Magnus Abelsen og Rune Østhagen. Elgitarer spilt av Magnus Abelsen. Bass av Endre Tønnesen og Rune Østhagen. Diverse instrumenter på iPad spilt av Magnus Abelsen. Atna Trioen sto i kuling i Østerdalen og spilte horn. Vokal, piano, orgel, pumpeorgel, harmonica, triangler, bjeller, rytmer, klapp, trommer, samples, gitarer, mandoliner og bass spilt av Rune Østhagen. Brune og skranglete polske trommer fra 1927 er lånt av Christian Udnæs. Mastering gjort av Christoffer Schou. Tekster og låter er skrevet, arrangert og produsert av Rune Østhagen. Cover trykket og produsert hos Magnus Stensvik Wilhelmsen og Presserommet på Hydrogenfabrikken i Fredrikstad.

LÅTENE: NATUR / BRUNRØDT MED LILJER / DEG OG MEG / STRANDKORS / JORD / HAVNA / VÅT FJELLMYR / MORGENGRY PÅ HVALER / PREPOSISJONER / NATT / PARADISKORN / URIN / KOMPLEMENTÆR / LYDEN AV / GRØNNE GLITRENDE / TREFILTER / EN LITEN FUGL MED ET LANGT NAVN / TANTE BRUN