Ask Geir Hongro

Geir, what are your favorite albums that can be described as lo-fi?

A lot of 60s albums would apply. "Face To Face" by The Kinks is horribly low fi, as in very very very badly produced. But it's still a great album because it contains great songs.

(Needless to say, I would have liked it way better with a state of the art production a la "Revolver" or "Pet Sounds" though)

that's funny, because Face to Face is the last album of theirs that Ray didn't produce. it's pretty flat and tinny-sounding, which is less of a problem on the garagey songs than on the more delicate stuff like "Too Much on My Mind" and "Rainy Day in June". I think Something Else was a pretty big leap in sound quality in terms of stereo effects and the sense of space surrounding each instrument, but I don't know if that has more to do with Ray's creative input than with improved recording technology. both, maybe.

Probably some kind of demand that even they would get access to better equipment. Pye was a small label with a small budget, and Kinks had to put up with really bad recording conditions for longer than most major acts.

Geir, are there any more recent albums (say, last 10 years) of which you're a huge fan, but would consider the production "lo-fi"?

Geir, what breakfast cereal do you eat?

Frosted mini wheats but only the white side

thanks geir

what is your favorite record sleeve?

Geir, are there any more recent albums (say, last 10 years) of which you're a huge fan, but would consider the production "lo-fi"?

Depends on the definition of low-fi and "huge fan". But "Phantom Power" is one of my definite favourite albums by Super Furry Animals. I don't know if it was low-fi per se, but it was a considerably cheaper and rougher production than the ones before and after it. Still sounds great though.

what is your favorite record sleeve?

Probably "Tales From Topographic Oceans".

As for acts I am not necessarily a great fan of musically, I absolutely adore this recent sleeve by Danish postrockers Efterklang:
http://onethirtybpm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Efterklang-Magic-Chairs.jpg

who is your favourite painter

who is your favourite painter

Not very into painting, but I guess it might be Dali or Margritte or somebody from that age.

Weird and absurd, but strictly figurative.
Which sort of parallells my taste in prog and 60s psych pop: Weird and absurd, but strictly tonal.

Geir, what breakfast cereal do you eat?

― glumdalclitch, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 04:51

LOL We usually don't eat cerals for breakfast in Norway. More like slices of bread. :)

oh.

Who is your favourite 19th century German classical composer?

Good name for your putative record label: Strictly Tonal.

Who is your favourite 19th century German classical composer?

Either Schubert or Brahms. Would be Brahms if you count Schubert as an Austrian.

In the last 5 years where have you been on vacation and which would you say was the place you find the most relaxing?

Good name for your putative record label: Strictly Tonal.

omg <3

geir, being married to a norwegian we eat ribba (sp?) every year for christmas. Do you?

geir, being married to a norwegian we eat ribba (sp?) every year for christmas. Do you?

Yes.

In the last 5 years where have you been on vacation and which would you say was the place you find the most relaxing?

Several places, most of which were big cities and great but not particularly "relaxing". :)

(using other superlatives than "relaxing", I loved Rome, I loved Venice, I loved Barcelona, and - in spite of the weather - I always love London and Copenhagen. Hard to pick, really)

do you like the sound of birdsong or other natural 'non-musical' sounds?

Ever fancied visiting Scotland, Geir? If so, what would you most like to see?

are you a side sleeper? back sleeper? stomach??

tmi

How big is your 'record collection'? The exact size in inches.

Geir, have you heard Ron Sexsmith? I get the impression he may be better known in Europe than here in America. I saw him the other night and thought his voice and songwriting (somewhere between McCartney and Costello) would be right up your alley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4X_l8PIobc&feature=related

Ever fancied visiting Scotland, Geir? If so, what would you most like to see?

I am a city guy, and I am sure Glasgow, Dundee or Edinburgh would all be nice. In spite of the weather. :)

Actually not too familiar with Ron Sexsmith other than the name. The cut above there sounds OK, but something about it sounds a lot more obviously American than McCartney/MacManus.

do you like the sound of birdsong or other natural 'non-musical' sounds?

I love birdsong this time of year because it means spring or summer. Otherwise not thinking so much of it. :)

geir are you single?

when did Elton John get off the bus?

when did Elton John get off the bus?

No idea, but his last touch of greatness was the "Too Low For Zero" album in 1983.

Ron Sexsmith is Canadian. And right up Geir's alley.

Yeah, Ron's definitely "melodic" above all else.

Escargot my hongro

Geir, have you seen this movie?:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9a/Lasse_og_Geir.jpg

should he have?

Geir, what is the earliest song or album that you would classify as Britpop?

Geir, which part of "Good Vibrations" do you prefer: choruses or verses?

geir you're in a large courtyard. to your left is a castle surrounded by a moat. a path leads north towards mountains. a fountain in the centre of the courtyard contains a skeleton. what do you do?

need to get geir on hard talk w/ stephen sackur

s sackur cracks me up

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Hardtalkstudio.jpg

Geir, how do you pronounce gyros?

hongroes