Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen

CASIOKIDS - "Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen" - Norwegian synthpop ensemble's third album. Worldwide release is slated for January 2012. This band was awarded one million kroner (about $167,305) last year in a Norwegian competition. This album experiments with different recording techniques. Energetic and fun. (I attempted to translate song titles!) Personal Faves: 8, 5, 2, 7, 4 -- Sunshine, December 2011

**** 1) Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen (Revelation Over the Mountain) (3:25) - Instrumental ballad with mini orchestra, boasting Big sound!
***** 2) Det Haster! (It's Urgent) (4:03) - Upbeat modern oom-pah-pah marching and dancing sound. Happy music. Cool beatz and synths. Subliminal vocals.
*** 3) Dresinen (Hand-car) (3:53) - Cross between AC/DC and a ska pop band. Get out your pogo sticks and Jump! Male harmonies in Norwegian.
**** 4) Golden Years (3:59) - Definitely Not David Bowie's song! Sounds like Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" with a disco twist. Happy, jolly.
**** 5) Olympiske Lester (catalog of Olympic events!) (3:52) - Upbeat calypso rhythms. Drums and shakers, maracas and bongos with bassline.. Poppish vocals.
*** 6) Selskapets Triste Avslutning (Too Much Love) (4:39) - Cool beatz. Vocals sort of ruin the groove, in a high-pitched Chinese restaurant way. Gets a little thumpy.
**** 7) Elefantenes Hemmelige Gravplass (Elephants' Secret Cemetery) (4:40) - Dancey, bouncey beatz, in spite of maudlin title! Vibes. Bassier vocals.
***** 8) Kaskaden (Cascades) (4:26) - Swirly synths. Trancey, Rave-esque. Catchy, energetic, upbeat instrumental. My favorite track.
*** 9) London Zoo (3:57) - Very fast synthetic beatz, combine with slow "piano". Almost sounds like rotating lawn sprinkler, joined by high-pitched vocal harmonies.
*** 10) Aldri Ska Me Ha Det Goy ( Never . . . cannot figure out the rest!) (4:30) Slow blues ballad with harmonies.