Live photos 2004 - Everything Goes For Believers Web Site

Translation by Mem Pedersen of the article in Dagbladet 19th May 2001

Thanks also to Narve and Gunn!

Little in London

Morten Abel (39) went to London to get big. But it's the small life that made him love the metropol. Here is Abel's London.

Morten's street: Whitecross Street, Shoreditch, East-London is where Morten has his flat. It consists of one room and a bathroom with a bath which takes one hour and fifteen minutes to fill up. The landlady Phillippa "Pippa" Ungar (to the right) runs the vegetarian restaurant Carnevale on the first floor.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS TWINKLE BRIGHTLY inside the hillbilly-inspired basement of The Borderline. It's buzzing from chatty Norwegian students. At the back of the room towers NRK's sensual London-alibi Jostein Pedersen. In the bar, Tottenham-professional Steffen Iversen hangs around with a damaged head and female fans.

On stage stands the adult Norwegian popstar with detachable moustache, Morten Abel. For the ninth time in four months he holds a concert in London. He does it because he refuses to give up the big dream: a break through in the world's most particular popmarket. He does it in a backyard club where the Norwegian presence of community is insistence. It's only a matter of seconds before one of the students has had enough beer and comes out with thoughtless outbreaks. Now it's coming:
- Heia Rosenborg! He stands in the middle of the room and seems to think that Morten Abel has played enough unknown solo songs.
- Play something we know, shouts his friend impatientiently.

THE DAY BEFORE, early Sunday afternoon Morten Abel sits comfortably outside Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen with a beer together with his friend and drummer Børge Fjordheim. Hoxton is about a twenty minute taxi ride East from Tottenham Court Road.

Abel is delighted to find out that he is mentioned as "massive in Norway" in the urban bible Time Out. In England he's no bigger than the slip of the pen to "Morton Abel". This is perfect for Abel who would like to be "massive" over here as well, but who grows on the resistance which the merciless city gives him.
- I could've stayed in Norway and been a success. But it gets too boring for me. Too comfortable and safe. I've got mustard in my arsehole. When I've been at home for a couple of months, it tugs at my foot, he says. And backs it with his favourite-quote by Hamsun: "When you sit there at home, you become sentimental just looking at flower pots. Go to sea, and the manuscript will look different".
- That's exactly how it is. If you make it a little harder for yourself, your life and even the things you make become more interesting.

And it's literally close to what Abel has done for himself. About 15 minutes walk from Hoxton Square, southwards in the Shoreditch part of town, Morten's London-shelter lies.
- It's a room and a bathroom with a bath which takes one hour and 15 minutes to fill up, he says pleased.

ABEL LEADS A REGULAR DOUBLE LIFE. He commutes between a civil Stavanger-life with cohabitant and garden in a big house he inherited from his parents, and a restless artist's life in East-London.

It's the fifth London-room Abel is renting since he moved over for the first time in 1996. Though, the very first time was with The September When in 1992. At that time he lived in Bethnal Green. And at that time, as well as now, Abel searched inspiration and played gigs at small pubs and clubs.

Shoreditch, a part of town which, like a lot of other territories in East-London, is mixed with slum and wellfare, Morten has had his playground in more turns the last three years.
- For a period I had a big corner-apartment just right up there, he tells us when he comes out and enters the street again.

ABEL TURNED HIS NOSE TO SPITAFIELDS MARKET which, with its position right at Shoreditch South, not far from Liverpool Street railway station, is less famous than other London-markets such as Portobello Road, Petticoat Lane and Camden, but precisely the reason to be a popular excursion place on Sundays. In a relaxed bohemian way, Abel glides into the quantity of young, self-assured, East-London's old freaks with something to sell and streetsmart babes with shopping scent. The smell is a mixture of incense and fish & chips, the atmosphere a combination of a traditional English market, pubs at the corner and hippie-penances at the 'Roskilde Festival'.

At the sight of a stand full of sunglasses, he lights up. Discreet black sunglasses don't appeal to him. Abel wants big, colourful 70-models which make him look like a mixture of a lost clown and a eccentric English lord with doubtful sexual habits.

Abel, drummer Børge and guitar player Inge Helland park at a table inside the Spitz, the cafè at the end of the market with Art on the walls, vaguard jazz in the evenings and uncomplicated beer-service on Sunday afternoon. Spitafield is a perfect arena for one of Abel's favourite revolvings in London: mingling.
- That's what my job is all about, to mingle. For an artist, existence consists of 10 percent work and 90 percent mingling. London is full of good mingling-places.
- I like Greenwich and South-London. There it's green and nice. And then I like the flower market up here at Hoxton Square. I go there as often as I can on Sundays, smell the flowers and take the cool vibration with me.
East-London is definately the part of London where Abel spends most of his time.
- Since I was little I've had a built-in competitive instinct. In East-London it really is so: you've to fight to survive. People are standing on the street selling jack-knifes and stereos very cheap and madly great!
But - also the paradox is typical for Abel: if he had the will to choose from the top shelf, he would've had an apartment in West-London.
- The choice would've been Notting Hill. I like the fine hurdles, fat cars, fancy clothes and the snobbery things this part of London has been marked with, he says without blushing.

Brick Lane: "Prefer to stay insane/than to walk the narrow lane" sings Morten Abel. In East-London he willingly frequents in Brick Lane. With sunglasses he bought at Spitasfield market he sends SMS-messages at the corner of Boxton Street before he ends up taking some beers together with musician friends Inge Helland (to the right) and Børge Fjordheim at Vibe Bar, 91 Brick Lane. An English fan, Suzie Dent, has got Morten a gig at Borderline near Charing Cross Road. His wardrobe is small and dirty.

ONE OF MORTEN'S FAVOURITE CLUBS in London, Notting Hill Arts Club, is at 21 Notting Hill Gate.
- Some of what I really like the most about London is to stand alone in a bar and not know any one in the room. It's an enormous feeling of freedom. You try to get in contact with people, and if it doesn't work, you just have to do it better. London makes you wanna try harder, he makes clear.
- Here I ran into Pete Townsend once, he says with gentle voice as we magpie into Brick Lane.
- I'd had a couple of beers, and walked straight up to him and said "Hey Pete!" Then he praised me for "All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes" (Who-boss's obscure solo album went out in 1982, red.inf.). He liked it very much, Abel is pleased to tell.
- As we pass by 82 Brick Lane, a Muslim's pleading call catches Morten's attention. The sound comes from a Pakistani cassette-dealer. He wants the tape. It hits him that he can use the pleading call to something. Maybe a new song. Or a concert-intro. Typical Abel.
After dinner at one of Brick Lane's many curry-restaurants, the crew end up at The Vibe Bar. In here it's noisy dj-music which young city veterans are dancing to, fresh Sunday sipping of import bottled beer and deep sofas perfect for mobile-lovers. Morten is an SMS-junkie. With solid Norwegian turned up lip he torpedos the surrounding world with SMS-messages untill the battery is empty and the night is over.

"A bullet in your chest is never gonna be fun." It is early Monday afternoon, and Abel is surrounded by his musicians and producer Gabriel in the studio in Dalston North-East London. They're listening intensely to a new Morten Abel tune "He Died In Germany". Abel sings the refrainline with German accent and effected voice.
- The lyric's about a Turkish moviestar who plays a political figure.
- I see?
- I got the idea of the words when I went out to buy a bottle of red wine in the Turkish neighbourhood around here.

ABEL IS AFRAID that his record isn't obliged to become good enough. Now he's well in progress with the follow-up to "Here We Go Then, You And I" which has sold 140 000 in Norway. Abel is beginning to feel the tension in his body. Are the new songs he'd made good enough. All the people who are around him, say that they're fine, but it only makes him more uncertain really.
- Has it been too easy lately? Do you have to be miserable to write good songs? It's questions like that I'm asking myself all the time. It's about squeezing a little harder, then it'll very likely come.
Producer Pascal Gabriel is Morten's new favourite games organizer. Gabriel has been able to build himself a new studio after making a little pound over a transaction as songwriter for Dido. Next client out is Kylie Minogue, and a little giddy Morten has already sent in his name as tea-maker for the tidy Australian.
But before that time Pascal and Morten have to play together a little.
- We have a complete playground in the studio, says Abel after listening through new tunes such as "Slow Guy" and "Trendsetter".

WHILE HE'S CELEBRATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY this year as recording artist with over 600 000 records sold in Norway, is the total absence of abroad-success a sore spot.
- I've been totally ignored by Virgin, he cracks to. He's the gold calf of the company's Norwegian office, but the London-office have refused to introduce "Here We Go Then..."
- It's horrifying. Getting published in England has been the big goal for me. That it hasn't happend yet is tedious and stupid. And yet I can't free myself for thinking: am I any worse than Robbie Williams? Is my music worse than the worst that has been published over here? He's asking out loud.
- I believe I've something to run with. My record has been 53 weeks on the list back in Norway. It has to mean that I've got a winning personality. And great looks! He adds cheerfully.
- But why, don't they wanna publish you then?
- It's all about "tits and ass" I guess.
- You're not 22 any longer, you're Norwegian?
- Yes, something like that. But sooner or later I'll have a break through in England.
He think carefully a moment before he continues.
- The disturbance, that adds to these frustrations, is that I'm having an enourmously exciting time. The last year has been unbelievably productive. I'm happy when I'm in London. I really like this City, I love to be here. When I'm here I know that I'm working. And I'm dying to work. I'm working more energetically than ever.

IT HAS BECOME LATE AFTERNOON. Before the soundcheck Abel and his musicians have time for a trip along the inside of Gibson's premises in the instrumental Denmark Street. Abel estimates to buy himself a classical Gibson of the Country Gentleman type. He can get it for 45 000 Norwegian kroners (approx. £3500).
- That's only pocket money for you, guitar player Helland teases him.

Just across Charing Cross Road secretly lies The Borderline. It's an English fan of Morten's, Suzie Dent, who has booked tonight's concert.
To Abel, small unglamourous concerts on London's small stages is no new experience. He did it with The September When in 92, and threw himself into it again in 96, at the time with Peltz. Now it's round number three. Abel's eagerness is as big as before, the break through as far away. Guitarplayer Helland walks around among the audience fifteen minutes before the start of the concert.
- Are there any natives here at all, he asks.
The answer is no.
- I always feel that it's important to play in London, says Morten.
- It's probably not, but that's what I feel, he says. And pushes the point:
- I most wanna play for Bob Dylan, Bono, Jimi Hendrix, the whole of Queen, a couple of prime ministers and some Royals. That's the audience of my dreams, Abel ascertains. But there are 4000 Norwigian students who live in England, a market there as well.

Music guide for London

Many leave London disappointed because they get a kind of lost in the jungle of offers. Here are some tips for travel-lustfull music fans who have decided to do better next time.

Live venues

Small places worth checking out no matter what's on the program.
Ocean: 270 Mare Street, Hackney. London's most modern concert scene. Three stages. All genre.
100 Club: 100 Oxford Street. Historical place. Today a lot of jazz for grown-ups, but also 'indie rock'.
12 Bar Club: 22-23 Denmark Place. Very small place. People, blues, country, troubadours.
Africa Center: 38 King Street, Covent Garden, African groove.
Jazz Cafe: 5 Parkway, Camden Town. Funk, soul, blues - and jazz.
Half Moon Putney: 93 Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge. Pub rock from 'since the beginning of time'.
Blackheath Halls: 23 Lee road. Everything.
Dingwalls: Middle Yard, Camden Lock. Comedy, pop and rock.
606 Club: 90 Lots Road, Fullham Broadway. Young jazz and latin. With restaurant.

Clubbing

A lot of the best places lie quite a distance from the centre, but the West End is gradually filling up with good clubs. Where you wanna go depends on what kind of music you like to dance to, and what club draft the individual club has that night. Check out clubinlondon.co.uk for updated info. Watch out for long queues and fascistic doorkeepers on the most popular evenings.
The 333: 333 Old Street. One of London's most exciting and predictable places. Three storeys with hip hop, disco, funky house, dj-jam and live acts with among other things jazz and poetry.
The End: 18a West Central Street. Driven by Shamens Mr. C, who some remember from the early 90's. Rumour as West Ends most sophisticated club.
Ministry Of Sound: 103 Gaunt Street. Lies far South-East of the City in a sad area. If you survive the doorkeepers you can dance till 9 in the morning.
Heaven: Villiers Street, Charing Cross. London's biggest gay place with a quantity of bars, dancefloors and corridors.
Propaganda: Wardour Street. Soho's most popular place at the time. House, UK Garrage, hip hop and r&b.
Scala: 278 Pentonville Road, King's Cross. One of London's new big superclubs.
Cargo: 83 Rivington Street, Shoreditch. East in city. Latin, house, funky soul and new jazz.
The Social Bar: 5 little Portland Street. The place for mingling with artists and music-trade people.
Bar Rumba: 36 Shaftesbury Avenue. Partyplace with one of London's best dancefloors.
Café de Paris: 3 Coventry Street. Glamourous lounge from 1924 where the dress-code is strict and conservative.
The Wag: 35 wardour Street. Ealier Whisky-a-Go-Go. Three-floors, unpretentious rock-influenced place with young audience and good dj's.

Record Stores:

Berwick Street, Soho: A notion for record-collectors. Here they are on line. The Soho Music Company in 12 have rare things within vinyl as well as posters, Daddy Cool in the basement are Europe's oldest reggae-shop, Reckless have departments for mainstream, curiosities and soul & dance in no. 26 and no. 30, Selectadisc in no. 35 are covers a wide indie-selection. XSF in no. 39 have the dance scenes. Sister Ray in no. 94 is maybe the best of them all.

A little further down in Soho, in 53 Rupert Street, lies another well known, Cheapo Cheapo.
Portobello Road: Honest Jon's in 276/278 is the favourite for those who know of black music. Intoxica! in no. 231 is a real record-collector-shop. In 130 Talbot Road lies Rough Trade, one of London's most acknowledged record-shops through 25 years.
Camden: Rhythm Records in 281 Camden High Street have one of the city's best collection of underground music, from 60-psychedelic to electronic music. And record fairs in Camden Town on Saturdays.
Others: Look out for second-hand-shops in Hanway St. by Tottenham Court Road, jazz specialist Mole Jazz in Gray's Inn Road, film music by Rare Discs in Bloomsbury St. and African music by Stern's in Euston Road.

Instruments:

Denmark Street: Has a ten year long tradition as London's instrument street. All stars shop here, from Noel Gallagher to Espen Lind.

Books/magazins:

Helter Skelter: 4 Denmark Street. London's only pure music book trade. The room used to accommodate Regent Studios, where Rolling Stones had one of their first recordings.
VinMagCo: 39-43 Brewer Street; back issues of NME, Melody Maker, Rolling Stones, posters, T-shirts etc.
Otherwise: Foyles in book street Charing Cross Road have all types of literature, also music.

Hotels:

Classical rock'n'roll-hotels are not London's strength, but Columbia in Bayswater Road have a certain aura. Do you have a hope to hang around in the bar with Marilyn Manson, Destiny's Child or Mick Jagger you ought to rob a bank and check into Metropolitan (with well known Met Bar), minimalistic Hempel or Ian Schragers St. Martins Lane.

Pilgrimplaces:

London is brimming with music historical places. None less with connection to
The Beatles. There are organized trips in the footsteps of The Beatles. Check out fabfour.com or beatletour.com for more information.
There is also a special London-book for Beatles-fans, "The Official Abbey Road Cafe Guide To The Beatles London".
The a-ha Cafe: In 106 Westbourne Grove lies Blue Sky Cafe, the place which inspired a-ha to write their "The Blue Sky". A-ha had a studio just around the corner from the cafe which today is called "The Cafe".

Here The Stars Have Lived:

Noel Gallagher: Steele Road's, Primrose Hill. Called the house "Supernova Heights". Little brother Liam lived near by, in Elsworthy Road. But now both are divorced and have moved.
Madonna: Earl's Terrace, Kensington. Madonna rented the house in Kensington for 78 000 norwegian kroners (approx £ 6,000) a week. Bought a house in Belgravia for a little more than 100 mill. kroners last summer, but has already been seen house-hunting near Regent's Park.
Jimi Hendrix: 23 Brook Street, Mayfair. Lived here in '68/'69.
George Michael: 73 Church Lane, East Fichley. George Michael was born and grew up in modest conditions at this address in North-London.
Otherwise:
Buy Time Out: Released every Wednesday. Complete survey of concert venues and clubs with addresses and phonenumbers.
Also OK online-version at timeout.com.