Of Norway & Linnea Dale - Heart & Soul (Beatservice Records)

In 2019, Linnea Dale and Of Norway released Pets, an album collecting the pair’s beguiling collaborative tracks. Now Beatservice is releasing two sets of EPs featuring cool remixes of songs from this album. “Heart & Soul” — the cosmic cover of the Joy Division classic — is the topic of this second EP. In addition to the original mix, this set includes a revamp from Manchester's talented Lovebreak, as well as two reworks from Norway's ambient mastermind Mind Over MIDI.

A guitar-strewn, downtempo ballad across barren vastness, “Heart & Soul” makes for a slow-burning invitation to withdraw oneself from the binary frenzy of our tech-weary world. Both warm and cold at heart and seeking depth amidst an oceanic width of superficiality, Of Norway and Dale bring a lost harmony to life. Linnea Dale's vocals cast a spell of tranquility upon the sore souls, and Of Norway cloak it in the most delicate, bespoke bower.

Lovebreak's Trance Mixx does exactly what's written on it, morphing the original's faded vibe into a concert of elated beauty and teleporting the listener to a positive-minded 90s-like atmosphere. The Manchester-based producer succeeds superbly in giving that crucial upswing that makes a real difference, whilst preserving the track's unique character.

What is the distance between a remix and a reshape? Mind Over MIDI answers that question with the gameness for which he's known. MoM’s remix remains true to the matrix's essential spirit, extrapolating elements and reconfiguring the ballad into something of an even more incandescent ride. Meanwhile, his reshape steers closer to the all-engulfing calm and introspective force of his own compositions, rendering Of Norway and Dale's attributes in all their ambivalence and complexity.

Kid Loco (Flor) – “This is huge. Love the Original and the Mind Over Midi Remix.”
Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) – “This is amazing, I think I love this. OG version for me.”
Sonic Union (Lowbit Records) – “The original is lovely. Amazing vocals. I’m also digging the Lovebreak Remix.”
Joe Silva (Purespace) – “Digging the catchy original and the beautiful Mind Over Midi Rework. Great sound overall.”
Rory Hoy (Super Hi-Fi) – “This is a great release, thanks for sending.”
Eric Shans (3Bridge Records) – “Nice one! I’m digging this a lot.”
Dr. Best (Radio Z, Nuremburg) – “The Lovebreak Trance Remix is my favorite on this one.”
Riz Rollins (KEXP) – “This is lovely, thanks.”
Floored Capri (Kane FM) – “The ambient rework by Mind Over Midi is incredible. Seriously atmospheric. Good for the soul.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Always a tricky one covering a Joy Division classic, but personally I think this is a lovely version. Superb.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Of Norway & Linnea Dale - War With Yourself (Beatservice Records)

In 2019, Linnea Dale and Of Norway released Pets, an album collecting the pair’s tantalizing collaborative tracks. Now Beatservice is releasing two sets of EPs featuring cool remixes of songs from this album. The first volume spotlights “War With Yourself”, with the original mix nicely complemented by two unheard versions — choice reworks from UK nu-disco trio Paper Street Soul (AKA Cuz Electric and Slync) and the Bergen-based organic techno exponent Angermund.

A mischievous workout fusing whirring analog house with heavy-lidded pop tropes, “War With Yourself” proves to have lost nothing of its heavy-duty energy and loungey aptitude. In Paper Street Soul's version, this former stealth club weapon is stripped bare of its ear-wormy bass and jacking pistons to enter a new dimension of coastal plenitude. Scoping out the fringes betwixt solar-powered funk, post-Balearic ambientism, and vaporous pop straight out the can, PSS dish out a seriously addictive number, full of vim and outright soothing euphoria.

Angermund's hair-trigger version puts the pedal to the metal and takes us on a demented safari-like ride across shape-shifting, neon-clad landscapes at full throttle. The result is an utterly mind-bending trip, engineering a mix of steroid-boosted bass, gym-bunnyesque synth leads. This distinctive, hard-hitting affair also features a double-time percussive churn that pulls out all the stops, no matter the hour of the day.

Nick Warren (The Soundgarden) – “The original mix is amazing.”
Hard Ton (Toy Tonics) – “All of the versions are great!”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) – “The original version will fit perfectly in my radio show.”
Kosta (Vibe FM) – “Great vibe, I’ll play this out.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “I love the Paper Street Soul Remix – full support.”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica) – “Great original, brilliant remixes.”
Velanche (Urban Landscapes Show) – “The Paper Street Soul mix is groovy, that’s the one for me.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel) – “Great original, and very cool remixes here. Will support.”
Zach Van Lue (91x) – “Cool remixes. I play the original often, so it’s cool to mix it up.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM 95) – “From its lo-fi, hazy guitar to the gentle club oriented nineties flavored architecture the Paper Street Soul Remix is made to be played to wider audiences.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Of Norway - Eyes EP (Beatservice Records)

Oslo’s Vegard Wolf Dyvik and Christian Steenstrup make up Of Norway, an eclectic electronic duo consistently releasing stellar music for over a decade. Through cuts on the likes of Connaisseur Recordings, Rockets & Ponies, and Darkroom Dubs and explosive DJ and live gigs, the two are a well-known commodity in underground dance music. This latest single, the Eyes EP, continues a string of top notch releases from Of Norway on the Beatservice imprint.

The duo recently contributed to Beatservice’s Prima Norsk 5 compilation, delivering two tracks instead of the requested single cut. “Normal Eyes” appeared on the collection to much acclaim, but the other track — the also brilliant “Dim Your Eyes” – demanded to be heard. The Eyes EP exposes both tunes and includes remixes from Syntax Erik, Terje Saether, Karl Fraunhofer, and Prins Oblonsky.

“Dim Your Eyes” is a moody breakbeat number, featuring transported-from-another-world vocals, bouncing sub-bass, and deliciously tweaky synth sounds. Its distinctive vibe will stand out in any DJ’s set. “Normal Eyes” is also from a similar vein, but works in house music rhythms and spacey pad hits. A warehouse bass-line – reminiscent of early Warp tracks — takes the lead, accompanied by fluttering arpeggios that chase up and down the scales. The remixes take the tracks in various dance floor directions, from deep house, to peak time rumblers, to mysterious minimal techno ambiance. These ‘Eyes’ are a sublime treat for the ears.

Three (Hallucienda) – “Both originals and the Prins Oblonsky remix for me. I’m a big fan of Of Norway.”
Bruce Tantum (XLR8R) – “Gorgeous music all around. Loving pretty much all of these.”
Meri (Rulers of the Deep) – “Very very cool release.”
Arne Goettsch (Electronic Earthquake) – “Dim Your Eyes is a bomb! Full support.”
Lönya (Asymmetric Recordings) – “Great EP! Full support.”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “These are fantastic. Catchy and hypnotic.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Amazing EP. The Terje Saether Remix stands out amongst a very strong tracklist.”
Sharlese (KEXP) – “Very exciting & nice sounds to bring you into the morning.”
Taigo Onez (Bang Le’ Dex radio show) – “Such a beautiful body of work.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT Radio Show) – “Both lead tracks are extremely good, and the remixes turn this into an excellent release. Thoroughly enjoyable.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Linnea Dale & Of Norway - Pets (Beatservice Records)

Oslo-based duo Of Norway — comprised of Vegard Wolf Dyvik and Christian Steenstrup — have made a name for themselves through countless DJ and live gigs and a healthy discography on the likes of Connaisseur Recordings and Darkroom Dubs. And Linnea Dale is a rising Norwegian singer, known as a popular contestant on Idol Norway before contributing to the international success of Donkeyboy's debut album and releasing solo albums on Warner Music Norway and Aftertouch Records.

Linnea Dale and Of Norway have a long history of collaboration. Linnea sang on both Of Norway albums and on various other tracks. Of Norway, in return, have remixed tracks from Linnea Dale's albums. The Pets album, released with Beatservice Records, is a compilation of sorts — a pet-project, if you will — collecting their joint efforts on one album. It spotlights the magical combination of Linnea Dale's dark and sensual voice and Of Norway's electro backbeat. The two tracks in this promo are exclusive to the compilation: “War With Yourself” features cool breakbeats and dramatic, bassy synths under Linnea’s expressive voice. And “Heart & Soul” is indeed a cover of the classic Joy Division song, respectfully translated into a dreamy electronic interpretation and perfect for those special end-of-set moments. Intimate and otherworldly, these cuts are ready to mesmerize fortunate listeners.

Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister) – “Both tracks are great!”
Severino (HorseMeatDisco) – “Love these electro vibes.”
Afrika Islam AKA Charlie Funk (Zulu Nation) – “Good new electro funk.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music Radio Show) – “I dig the beat of ‘War with Yourself’.”
Kid Loco (Flor) – “Well done, great tracks.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel on 107.3, Sydney) – “Love the spooky electro vibe of War With Yourself.”
Toomy Disco (Kitsune) – “Super like! Full support.”
Crate Invader (Point Blank FM, London) – “I’m feeling it!”
Andy Wilson (Ibiza Sonica FM) – “Heart & Soul – A tasteful version of the Joy Division classic.”
MadameFLY (mmRadio) – “Whoa. This is the sound I’ve been craving without even knowing it.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Juno Download, Spotify, And Apple Music.