Photo:
Beck performed an epic headline set to close Friday of Oya Festival 2015, on a day that also saw huge sets from Alt-J, Future Islands and many more.
"If anybody has a kitchen floor, we'd love a place to crash tonight," says Beck, casually sauntering the stage. Indeed, that would seem like the ultimate end to the night. With the collected cool in which he plays master of ceremony and the sheer and staggering range of good time alt-rock classics that get us moving, this feels like the ultimate college party. This is Beck's house, and you're all invited.
Opening with 'Devil's Haircut', the classics came in thick and fast. Held together by elastic dance moves and exquisite showmanship, Beck and co turn the sunset hours of Oslo into one hell of a disco carnival. The ageless twisted charm of 'Black Tambourine', 'The New Pollution', 'Loser' and 'Hell Yes' rank Beck as an artist in a class of his own, and this was just in the first half an hour.
Soulful cuts from the Grammy-winning Morning Phase provide tender respite as 'Blue Moon', 'Lost Cause' and 'Wave' soufully tug at the heartstrings as the twilight hour sets in, befrore the party returns in full swing with explosive renditions of new single and ultimate summer jam 'Dreams', 'Girl' and a raunchy rush of 'Sexx Laws'.
Returning with a costume change into a pure white suit, Beck sensually ran through a version of 'Debra' that would have made Prince blush, before getting up close and personal for one hell of a finale - revealing that Norway is his true homeland, after his great, great grandfather 'jumped off a boat and swam to Brooklyn'. The reception suggests there are quite a few Hanssens in the house tonight. We all feel like family.
"I feel so comfortable with you right now," he croons before sprawling himself across the floor during a breakdown of 'Where It's At', "I just wanna sit here and be with you."
He can crash on our kitchen floor any time.
Beck played:
Devil's Haircut
Black Tambourine
The New Pollution
Think I'm in Love / I Feel Love (Donna Summer cover)
Loser
Hell Yes
Gamma Ray
Soul of a Man
Blue Moon
Lost Cause
Wave
Dreams
Girl
Sexx Laws
E-Pro
Encore:
Debra
Where It's At / The Message / Miss You / One Foot In The Grave
Photo: Press/Markus Thorsen
Warming up for Beck, Alt-J sent Oslo into a deep swoon, as their intricate and tightly-knit cinematic sounds bloomed into something althogether more inclusive in the warmth of the early evening Norwegian sun.
A petite, angelic faced woman stands central, in danger of being a little to close to the edge. She wants to be as close to the sunburnt Oya crowd as possible. Masked by the shade of the stage walls, it's hard to believe these dynamic waves of powerful but smooth sounds are coming from just one person. Siri Nilsen, Norwegian singer-songwriter brought her folksy tones and irresistible smile. We could go on, or you could look her up.
"Don't be afraid to dance now," said Future Islands Gerrit Welmers, threatening to break the reserved nature of the Norwegian bystanders and succeeding as he maniacally stomped the stage with an infectious energy. 'Seasons (Waiting On You)' may have been the anthem of summer 2014, but it still carries one hell of a kick.
Photo: Press/Anna Lerheim Ask
Sunlight does not penetrate the enclosed Sirkus stage at Oya - it is dark, dusty and smokey. The impending surround sets the perfectly uncertain, eery atmosphere for Belgian doom metal quintet, Amenra. Lead guitarist, Mathieu Vandekerckhove, a man with presence and the power to silence a room with one glance, purposely takes to the stage. Nuances cry from his guitar, instructing the rest of the band to join him. One by one, they do. We are teased and enveloped in the emotionally intricate intros that don't let up. Entranced, locked in their intimacy with the music, all five slam their heads down to the ground then up to the sky in flawless unison.
Put simply, if you're rancidly hungover, don't see this band. They will make you search your soul as to why you partied so hard. The up side? They were intensively incredible.
Early victors of the day were Hookworms, who pulled a mighty crowd in the early afternoon to wince and blink into the fittingly blinding sun, as the Leeds five-piece wove a thick web of sound where driving krautrock underlies a mesh of psych, stoner rock and electronica. 'Radio Tokyo' and 'Teen Dreams' form the perfect template for what this band do like no other: this is real music, torn inside out and rebuilt as an utterly glorious noise.
Oya Festival 2015 ends today with performances from Susanne Sandfor, Benjamin Booker, Ibeyi, Natalie Prass, Fat White Family and many more.
