Cover photo:
Babies at Paradise Pond
© 1996 Sandy Skoglund

Tracklist
01. I'm Twins (the Babies Said)
02. 88 Kilos of Excrement
03. His Freefloating Affection
04. Institute Benjamenta
05. Thoras Inferno
06. With Love, etc.
07. I Suppose She Was Telepathic
08. Social Wrist-Twistings
09. Lazy, But Comfortable Size
10. Two Men Being Hospitalized When Only One Had to Be
11. Poligraph Polygraphikov
12. Nothing; Only Worthwhile

Music video
Two Men Being Hospitalized When Only
One Had to Be
Directed by Frank Benjamin Finger
Youtube | Myspace (low)

Reviews

English
GAZ-ETA, Soundscaping, The Silent Ballet (1), The Silent Ballet (2), Textura

Various
BT (no), Caleidoscoop (nl), Hamar Arbeiderblad (no), Idé (no), Musiq (no), Plastelin (cr), Studvest (no), Østlendingen (no)

FEN003: Beneva vs. Clark Nova - Sombunall
Released: January 28th, 2008

8.5/10 - "Drawing from electronic and acoustic instrumentation, the Norwegian duo have succeeded in creating the most impressive "folktronic" release since Four Tet's mesmerizing Rounds back in 2003, and there's certainly room to argue that BvCN even surpasses this mark. Sombunall comes with our highest recommendation."
-The Silent Ballet

”A tour-de-force of new, refreshing sounds. The programming is ace, beats are frenzic, chords both liquid and broken, and it all sounds crisp as heck! For fans of music like Four Tet, Squarepusher, Autechre, Plaid, Beneva vs. Clark Nova should become a household name after this, we think!"
-Soundscaping

"Last summer's three-inch Flotsam/Jetsam release was certainly a credible enough coming-out but it hardly hinted at just how splendid the group's full-length debut would be. Its audacious material bursts with activity and imagination, and instrumentally Beneva vs. Clark Nova perpetuates the open-ended tradition of groups such as Múm where every possible sound—natural and artificial—is fodder for the group's idiosyncratic music-making."
-Textura

"Stunning Norwegian electronica that mixes knife sharp beats with floating instrumental tracks and field recordings. Check this out if you like Boards of Canada, Greg Davis or The Notwist!"
-Tiger

"A beautiful bridge between electronic and non-electronic genres. A band and a label to keep an eye on!"
-Caleidoscoop

"Real beauty for those willing to stretch out their hand and ask for it."
-GAZ-ETA

"Flott porøs elektronika av typen vi ikke har nok av i Norge"
-BT

"Få norske artister klarer å åpne både øynene og ørene mine på en slik ubeskrivelig måte."
-Idé

"Et musikalsk terreng som både utfordrer og inspirerer."
-Østlendingen

5/6
-Musiq

5/6
-Hamar Arbeiderblad

B
-Studvest

We first witnessed Frank Benjamin Finger (Beneva) and Rudi Simmons (Clark Nova) in battle at the Great Easter Party (held rather unseasonally in autumn) at Indigo, Oslo in 2005. The host was the wacky Skrudd collective and the programme included music in almost all conceivable directions. Beneva vs. Clark Nova was the stand out act with their careful musical paintings of inner landscapes. We were struck by this beauty and got in touch shortly after. Since that evening over two years ago, they've been been tinkering with a debut album, and Sombunall is the final result of this process.

The listeners got a sneak peak of the duo’s abilities last summer, when Fenêtre Records released their 3” EP Flotsam/Jetsam, which received several good reviews. But this EP showed just a few of the many facets of Beneva vs. Clark Nova. While Flotsam/Jetsam was a trace of the duo’s floating and abstract side, Sombunall is where they show their pop face.

Working together with the up-and-coming Norwegian vocalist Therese Aune, who sings on “His Freefloating Affection” and “With Love, Etc.” (duet with Rudi), the duo could be compared to the off the wall pop sound of Hanne Hukkelberg and Silje Nes. Mix this with the electro-acoustic world of Four Tet, the complex rhythms of Autechre, the indietronica of Broadcast, plus a good dose of charm, melodic oddity and some introverted enthusiasm, and you’ll maybe get a grasp of what Sombunall is all about. Tracks like “88 Kilos of Excrement” and “Thora’s Inferno”, with their catchy rhythms and melodies, have been small ‘hits’ on the duo’s Myspace site. The uplifting “Nothing, Only Worthwhile” rounds off the album, which we believe is one of the most exciting releases of 2008.

The fantastic cover photo is called “Babies at Paradise Pond”, made by the well-known American installation and photo artist Sandy Skoglund.