Music Information Centre Norway
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Popkomm showcase profiles
08/11/2003
The headliners of the 2003 Zoom promo tour, x.lover, Silver, The Ricochets and Helldorado are set to increase the already soaring German temperatures. The Cologne audience are in for some seriously sweaty gigs.
Last year saw Zoom winners Camaros, The Jessica Fletchers and Surferosa causing a major local heat wave in the wake of their massively successful showcases at Popkomm 2002. This year the Zoom promoters are bringing in x.lover, Silver, The Ricochets and Helldorado to keep the temperature up. The bands are set to play the Underground club in Cologne on Thursday the 14th. There’s no entrance fee.
x.lover is a hyper-charged four piece that describe themselves as being “spicegirls on speedballs”. The aptly named Jin Dim, M: Banshee, Violet Heart and Thea describe their unique sound as being Velvet Underground vs. Grandmaster Flash, Madonna vs. Lydia Lunch and Sonic Youth vs. Le Tigre. It’s twisted electropunk at its best. X.lover recently released their first release, the Kick It EP and are currently working on their debut album.
Listen to x.lover tracks here.
Silver, who recently signed to respected and influential label Bad Afro Records, are gearing up for the release of their debut album. The collective was discovered by a larger audience two years ago at the key Norwegian showcasing event by:Larm. The influence of such legendary bands as Ramones and Hanoi Rocks is evident but the young and energetic outfit manages to pass on the tradition and infuse fresh blood into the veins of a genre that sees fierce competition for a place in the spotlight. Silver are set to outlast short-lived media hype – its raw and traditional rock and destined to last a life-time.
Helldorado’s description of themselves paints a portrait of a band that differs a lot from their Zoom compadres: “Helldorado evokes the sensation of burning sun on your neck, crunched sand between your teeth, a salty taste on your lips, a shaky finger on the trigger of a Colt 45, circling vultures silhouetted against a blue-white sky, a double whiskey on an empty stomach, the smell of bacon, beans, gunpowder, leather, sweat.” Helldorado released their debut album, “Lost Highway” on renowned Stavanger label CCAP last year to wide critical acclaim.
Ricochets have successfully resurfaced after their split-up two years ago. The acclaimed collective had at that time released the massively acclaimed “Slo-mo suicide” album and toured relentlessly. The band decided to call it the day at the peak of their career, but luckily for the growing die-hard fan-base, Ricochets have now returned – stronger than ever. Earlier this year Ricochets released their second album, “The love is gone” to massive acclaim and rave reviews. The band has performed a number of festival gigs this summer – all of them have garnered near ecstatic reviews in national and international press.
