Norse Star

Ringing it in with Datarock

by A.D. Amorosi

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You'd have to be a dead, deaf hater to not groove to the snap, crackle 'n' laptop pops of Datarock. The DEVO-licious robotics and gorgeous guitars are courtesy of Bergen, Norway's Fredrik Saroea and Ketil Mosnes. The boys are headlining Paperstreet's "I'm with the Band" New Year's Eve bash, which will also feature Low B with Brendan Bring'Em, DJ Dee Jay and Juiceboxx. When it's all over, Fredrick has the after-party covered.

City Paper: Is anything happening in the Bergen music scene other than you, Annie and Röyksopp?

Fredrik Saroea: To be honest, I guess it was more of a scene when we started up than it is right now. A few great new bands have come crawling out of their igloos, though: Quasimojo signed to our very own little imprint, YAP; Ungdomskulen, who tour with us on a regular basis; the brand-new combo Denga Denga, recently spawned from our old label mate and close friend Rundfunk's beautiful mind; and our old buddy Audiogarde, although he made the mistake of moving to Oslo.

CP: I know you guys met through some form of civil service. Do you think the staidness of real work filtered into Datarock?

FS: We met through mutual friends, but none of us can accurately pinpoint exactly how. I'd say we met thanks to being students in Bergen at a time where music was of the essence if you wanted to have fun in a kind of depressing place. The staidness of real work never really filtered into Datarock, unfortunately.

CP: Not that I don't love this album. But I feel as if I need something new from you. So where is it?

FS: It's lying under a very old tree in the mysterious Norwegian woods, guarded by a gigantic troll, two polar bears and a lone swordsman. I'm saving up to buy enough gold to get it back. It's spellbound and can only be given to the man who can lure the crow, bribe the witch and dance the dance of the One.

CP: What is the weirdest American moment you've witnessed?

FS: Probably getting the grand tour of DEVO's infamous studio, the Mutato Muzika in L.A., by Mark Mothersbaugh. I realize that might sound far from as weird a moment you could hope for. But have you ever stood in the basement of a circular, green, two-story building at Sunset Boulevard with your No. 1 inspiration and surrounded by vintage one-off synthesizers? Exactly.

CP: What should Philadelphia do in 2008?

FS: You know how the French have protected the trademarks of champagne and cognac by defining it as locally specific? That's what you should do in 2008. You know, with Philadelphia cheese!

CP: What are your plans for the night after you get done playing?

FS: When we're finished our live set, we'll celebrate the most insane year of our lives by getting absolutely absorbed in the party. Then we'll end the day by running up those stairs and potentially get hospitalized from the effort.

Datarock Mon., Dec. 31, 9 p.m., $20-$30, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., 215-627-1332, livenation.com