Nephew a Trip to Christiania Reviews of Contemporary Danish

Danish Review Issue 2 Summer 2013

Danish Coffee Culture

Meatless Meals in Copenhagen

MIxing Languages: Nephew

A Trip to Christiania

Reviews of Contemporary Danish Books Feature articles

The Coffee Collective 3 Harry Evans

The Search for Meatless Meat 8 The Team Nancy Liu

This magazine was created at UCL, London, by Teaching Fellow Jesper Hansen, together with PhD student Nephew: 12 Pei-Sze Chow. We were helped by a Danish or English dedicated team of MA and PhD students Sara Cass without whose help we could not have made the magazine: Sara Cass, Harry Evans and Tom Hoctor. I want to send them my most sincere thanks! A Trip to Christiania 16 Tom Hoctor I also want to thank Dr Elettra Carbone of Norvik Press for her help with the design.

If you have any comments, feedback Reviews or ideas, please do sent it to us at the following email address: [email protected] Fabriksnoter 20 by Glenn Christian Reviewed by Jon Arnfred Jesper Hansen Responsible Editor Hjertestarter 22 Teaching Fellow in by Nephew Danish Reviewed by Sara Cass UCL London

Pei-Sze Chow Editor PhD in Film Studies UCL London

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Danish Review aims to:

Act as a point of reference for students of Danish around the The Coffee Collective world;

Tie more closely together and Editorial form an early career network of people studying Danish and people working with Danish around the world; Welcome to Danish Review 2013, whose focus is markedly different from Allow students of Danish the Harry Evans interviews winner of the World Barista Championship last year’s. This year’s focus is very opportunity to publish their 2006 and co-owner of The Coffee Collective Klaus Thomsen. much on Copenhagen: Food, Music work before they have a PhD; and Drugs. Where is contemporary Danish coffee culture heading? Allow people who are interested I was a little concerned when I first in an area to come forth and heard about the various topics for this write about their knowledge. year’s Danish Review: would they be Danish culture has recently taken a better about quality coffee, but Klaus interesting? Would they be relevant? turn towards that of ‘hipsters’, with contemplates, ‘having a Starbucks or Would they be nuanced or just your cycling and grød - literally porridge: Coffee Republic on every corner started average clichés? a recent trend to create speciality getting people interested in coffee’. porridge, with unique and bizarre This, in turn, laid the groundwork for With the magazine being finished I am combinations taking hold, especially a really successful speciality coffee no longer the least bit worried. I have in the nation’s capital. In fact, Danish business environment. In Copenhagen, never before thought about vegan- – and, more broadly, Scandinavian – however, ‘people don’t go out as much Copenhagen, and though I knew about culture has recently been infallible for lunch. There’s not this culture of hip cafés I never realised just how much in its trend-setting possibilities. One popping out of the office at lunchtime thought and expertise were required to only has to look at Sarah Lund’s to get a coffee and some food’. This is get me my daily cup of coffee. jumpers and Nordic furniture to see changing, Klaus mentions, and more this phenomenon at work. The take-up and more people are taking time at And that is what I hope Danish Review for speciality coffee – with its devotion lunch to sample coffee in Copenhagen. can continue to do: show sides of to sourcing the best beans, roasting Denmark from different points of them with superb attention to detail view, not just from that of the curious and brewing in weird and wonderful traveller for whom everything is instruments – has been comparatively shrouded in mystery, but from people slow in Denmark. who are knowledgeable about the Cover image: ‘Copenhagen seen from the culture but see it from the outside. City Hall clocktower at night‘, 2008 ‘London has been very lucky’, Klaus Photographer: Bill Ebbesen Thomsen tells me in his impeccable English. ‘There are so many cafe I hope you will enjoy the magazine, chains’. In fact, Klaus started his coffee days in a Starbucks in London: Jesper Hansen

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compare it to fine wine, or even craft wrong to take this nonchalance for beer, speciality coffee is sold at too low © The Coffee Collective apathy as The Coffee Collective make a price for the amount of attention and attempts to engage with anyone labour that goes into it’. At The Coffee interested in learning more about the Collective coffee roasting starts with art of good coffee. In London and ethics: ‘We direct trade with all our Copenhagen, ‘there are strong coffee growers, and if we do use an exporter traditions. The Copenhagen coffee or other services we always make sure tradition is much more one of filter it is on a separate contract. That way coffee, and we’ve found that people we know exactly how much money is are willing to experiment more with going to the farmers’. This also ensures new filter coffee than in London’.

a good relationship between the © The Coffee Collective Filter coffee is a purist method of Klaus has the experience to farmer and the roaster, which means drinking coffee and attempts to get speak knowledgeably about these that Klaus and The Coffee Collective right at the heart of the coffee, ‘and developments, as he became co-owner know they are getting the best beans. this is something people can do at of his first coffee shop in Copenhagen The selection of the beans is a highly home, and we want to be able to show five years ago together with three labour-intensive task, though, and this people that’. Brewing filter coffee uses colleagues. Since then The Coffee is reflected in the premium rate that relatively cheap equipment to bring out the bar as a literal barrier to that. ‘What Collective has grown to three shops The Coffee Collective pay at least 25% the hidden flavours of coffee. This is we wanted to avoid was the stress of across Copenhagen and has gone above the Fairtrade price, and often achieved by using lightly roasted beans being rushed into choosing something. from strength-to-strength as a roaster, much more than that. ‘But it’s about of a high quality and the consumption In a busy environment people often now being served in coffee shops in creating awareness of coffee as a of finely-balanced filter coffee is get to the till and feel like they have London, next to some of the best beans luxury product and we need to tell the often proclaimed as a quasi-religious to make a quick decision’. As a result, available. Despite this expansion, Klaus story of the beans so people know why experience! However, in London and customers don’t have the time to ask insists that it was never their intention it is that they’re paying what they pay’. the UK, filter coffee has been treated about different choices and explore to become too big. ‘We don’t want to with relative suspicion by a coffee- new decisions. At the Jægersborggade be huge; for us it’s all about creating Telling this story begins in The Coffee drinking population that have grown shop, removing the bar is supposed to new and exciting coffee experiences. In Collective shops, where a focus is to love their morning latte. According lower the tension and thereby increase Copenhagen, there’s a real danger for put on weaving this narrative into the to Klaus, this aversion to filter coffee the attention that can be afforded to us of flooding the market’. Copenhagen queue of customers. Klaus provides does not exist in Copenhagen where the coffee. is a moderate-sized market, but the training for all baristas, so that they the tradition has not grown out ‘It was a new idea, and we didn’t know mechanisms in place for the coffee can truly play out their role as priests of Starbucks but, instead, ‘it has how it would play out in Copenhagen’. industry are gargantuan and so if of the temple, answering questions come from the traditional brewing The focus on coffee as well as breaking The Coffee Collective worked to full and imparting enthusiasm to the techniques in the home’. down the boundaries between barista capacity, it would have to accept lower customers. ‘I understand that not and customer was not uncontroversial. standards of beans, and potentially not everybody wants that. Some people The focus in The Coffee Collective’s ‘But we found that the shop did well. be able to treat farmers with shops is on high quality coffee however However, it didn’t take long for people due consideration. ‘So we’re it is made. In attempts to further to comment “it’s lucky it’s quiet. It very selective in who we We don’t want to be huge; for us it’s this, each of the shops has its own would be too difficult to achieve [this provide beans to, and there unifying concept that is subordinate level of focus on coffee] in a busier all about creating new and exciting are only a few coffee shops to the primacy of coffee. In this way, shop”. But we wanted to prove that it with the same attention to coffee experiences. In Copenhagen, each coffee shop can be taken as its could be done, and so we opened the quality coffee as us’. The there’s a real danger for us of flooding own exploration into different ways of Torvehallerne shop’. coffee that is roasted by the market. experiencing coffee. ‘We started with The Coffee Collective is Jægersborggade and the idea here was Torvehallerne market is a haven for served in their three shops, that we didn’t want people to walk in food lovers in Copenhagen and has but also provided to other coffee just want to come in and order their and meet a bar, we wanted them to built on Denmark’s recent success shops that meet exacting standards. drink and not care about the coffee. meet a person’. As Klaus points out, as a food destination. The bustling ‘We want to be top-tier’, Klaus says, But if that’s all you want, then there The Coffee Collective were ‘creating an quality-centred environment was the unashamedly, and also maintains that are plenty of other coffee shops in industry’ and as such it was important perfect place to take the experiment top-quality coffee is undersold, even at Copenhagen that do that; we’re about to engage new clients, and the to a new level. At Torvehallerne, ‘the twice the price of regular coffee. ‘If you creating an experience’. It would be founders of The Coffee Collective saw focus is on the raw product. There

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explained’. This is all a part of telling internationalism starts in Scandinavia, the story of the coffee, to raise the ‘but there’s a tendency to lump Nordic awareness surrounding it. roasters together. It’s really about the international exchange of knowledge

© The Coffee Collective Raising awareness isn’t just about and goes beyond the Nordic region. We creating an industry though. Klaus is work with other roasters in London – part of a wider Nordic push towards Workshop Coffee Co. and Square Mile a higher profile for speciality coffee. Roasters for example – and send each Other Nordic roasters, such as Koppi in other coffee. We’re all linked by a Sweden and Tim Wendelboe of Norway shared interest in quality coffee’. produce coffees of as high a quality as The Coffee Collective. This effort means communication across the borders to other roasters in Scandinavia, but Harry Evans is currently completing Klaus is careful not to put this down an MA in Scandinavian Studies at UCL. to some ‘Nordic Model’. ‘This isn’t just about Nordic roasters, it’s not He also writes the coffee blog even pan-European. This is about www.nocoffeeleftbehind.com. is a bar, and it’s really fun working a very positive one, and the expansion international cooperation. We work next to four colleagues’. Torvehallerne has allowed The Coffee Collective to with roasters across the world, and He can be contacted via Twitter produced the milieu for the experiment look at exporting to London. share ideas and coffee regularly’. This @hevans567. to succeed and The Coffee Collective found that they had been crowded But the roastery was to be matched from day one. ‘But we wanted to show with a new coffee shop, and as such that even though it was busy, we could a new concept. ‘We don’t just want to THE COFFEE COLLECTIVE still produce consistently amazing sell a lot of coffee. Godthåbsvej is set coffee, even hand-brewed’. The filter up like a restaurant. At-seat service’. A/S coffee was intended to be hand-brewed Those readers who frequent coffee in front of the customers, ‘so people shops will realise how challenging Godthåbsvej 34B could see how easy it was to turn the this model would be, requiring far 2000 Frederiksberg raw product into great tasting coffee’. more staff, and each of those staff It was part of the originality of The to be well-trained. ‘People come in THE COFFEE COLLECTIVE JÆGERS- Coffee Collective that each shop could and sit down, and they have time to BORGGADE adapt to its surroundings. Torvehallerne take a look at the menu’. And this Jægersborggade 10 doesn’t provide the same ambience as menu, Klaus adds, ‘lists tasting notes. 2200 København N Jægersborggade, and the concept was This way people can order by taste’. adjusted to reflect this. Identifying different flavours in coffee, THE COFFEE COLLECTIVE TORVE- such as spices, aniseed, chocolate, is a HALLERNE However, on the other side of the careful art. When I ask Klaus whether business, the opening of Torvehallerne, this can put preconceptions in people’s Israels Plads as well as increased demand from other head, he replies, ‘I believe taste can be Vendersgade 6D coffee shops meant that the roaster objective, not just subjective. If people 1363 København K situated at the Jægersborggade space know what it is they’re trying they can was starting to hit capacity. In order to decide what they like. They might enjoy expand, it began to become clear that a certain coffee with a strong acidity a bigger roasting area was needed. on one occasion, and the next time Social media ‘A warehouse on Godthåbsvej came they’ll know that that’s what they like’. onto the market, and it was a good The at-seat service complements this Facebook: https://www.facebook. size for roasting. But it was very soon goal by placing the barista in a role as com/thecoffeecollective after opening Torvehallerne, was it too sommelier. ‘At Godthåbsvej, the coffee soon?’ As it turned out, the move was is brought over and the flavours are Twitter: @coffeecollectif

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We made smoothies every day from a vegetarian diets are making their way combination of fresh and frozen fruits in to the mainstream culture through and vegetables. We subscribed to a movies and social media. Documentary delivery service called Aarstiderne. films such as Forks Over Knives (2011) Every week, they would deliver a fresh case of organic fruits and vegetables right One food that I thought I would to our doorstep. The quality not be able to have again is the The Search for of the fruits and vegetables was generally good and the ‘fransk hotdog’, a sausage encased contents varied depending in a baguette filled with sauce or Meatless Meals on what was harvested ketchup. recently.

To supplement our diet, we made and Earthlings (2005) have been making sure to take certain vitamins and also their rounds and gaining exposure for Danish cuisine is not all about open-faced sandwiches, added flaxseed to our smoothies, for vegan diets from health and ethical pork, potatoes and gravy. Omega-3. The only place in our town to perspectives, respectively. So it is no find ground flaxseed was Matas, which wonder that vegetarian, vegan, raw Nancy Liu goes meatless in Copenhagen is a drugstore chain. We also ordered and organic foods are also making some vitamins from online shops as it their appearance in Copenhagen. was difficult to find vegan supplements, especially B-12 in the store. Specialty This was the real test for us, as we When I think of Danish cuisine, I tend options for folks who are searching for items, such as nutritional yeast, (which enjoyed eating out quite a bit in New to picture plates of smørrebrød (open- healthy, meatless meals. is used in recipes to create a non-dairy York. One food that I thought I would faced sandwiches), frikadeller (Danish cheese taste) were only found in online not be able to have again is the fransk meatballs), and herring in curry sauce. Homemade meals shops. hotdog. This is basically a sausage But then one day, my Danish fiancé encased in a baguette filled with sauce and I decided to transition into eating We focused our food shopping on In comparison to New York, I found or ketchup. I was surprised and pleased an exclusively plant-based/vegan1 diet organic vegetables, fruits, whole there to be a lack of plant-based when we found one stand called DØP for health reasons. This meant that we grains, almond or soy milk, and dairy and meat substitutes available (Den Økologiske Pølseman) that sold a would no longer eat any meat or fish nuts. We generally shopped at either in the supermarkets in Denmark. For vegan version made from tofu. It tasted and that we would also exclude eggs Irma or Kvickly, which are two large instance, in New York, it is easy to find great, had a pleasant texture and the and dairy products. supermarket chains. Irma had a slightly plant-based versions of margarine, baguette bread was extremely good. larger selection of organic products sour cream, mayonnaise and cheese I was glad to see this option available We made this decision while he was and was the only place where we could and it is also easy to find tofu, seitan and hope that more of the hotdog visiting me just outside of NYC where consistently find pre-made meatless or other meat substitutes. In Denmark, stands will offer veggie hotdogs. there are many vegetarian and vegan foods. most of these items are mostly only foods option available. We were sure available online. However, it is possible that we could do this 100% with home- In Irma, we found frozen pre-made to create nutritious and tasty meatless cooked meals when I visited him in falafel and veggie burgers which tasted recipes with just the wares available Denmark, but we were uncertain about great and were suitable for vegans. in the supermarket. It just takes a bit our options if we were to go out to eat However, the frozen meat substitutes, more planning and sometimes some at a restaurant. such as soy sausages and spaghetti creativity with recipes. Bolognese with ‘fake meat’ sauce, After spending several weeks in the contained egg whites and so are only © DØP Eating Out suburbs of Copenhagen, I am pleased suitable for vegetarians. If one is to report back that there are indeed looking to avoid egg products in these Copenhagen has been getting a lot of foods, one word to look for on the 1 While veganism is a lifestyle philosophy, for attention in the media for its fantastic the purposes of this article, ‘vegan’ is meant packaging is ‘æggehvide’ [egg whites]. restaurants which are trendy and to describe the plant-based diet that vegans cutting edge. Meanwhile, vegan and consume.

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A couple of weeks later, we were invited foods in Denmark tend to be meat- to a birthday party with a large number oriented. Denmark has a decent Facts about of attendees. We went to Riz Raz for the Restaurants selection of organic, plant-based brunch buffet. I had read that Riz Raz options available, but there are Plant-based diets was known for their many vegetarian Vegan, vegetarian or definitely some opportunities for buffet options. The brunch buffet vegetarian friendly restaurants growth such as with the lack of listed on Happy Cow (a popular consisted of food for vegetarians and meat and dairy substitutes in local Vegetarian (Lacto-Ovo): Diet that vegetarian website) excludes meat from all animals and some foods for vegans as well. There supermarkets. It would be nice to see fish but includes eggs and dairy. was an assortment of fruits, cheeses, Copenhagen: 24 more of these options made available bread, vegetables, salad, hummus 1 per 23000 inhabitants easily in the supermarket or perhaps Vegan: Vegetarian diet that also and falafel for non-meat eaters. There at a specialty store. Personally, I don’t excludes eggs and dairy. Foods that were more options for vegetarians New York: 250 mind buying food online but it is nice use animal products in production than vegans but there was enough 1 per 32000 inhabitants to be able to actually see the items can also be excluded, such as sugar or wine. food overall. Riz Raz is a great choice before you purchase them, especially if for groups with a mixture of dietary London: 169 you want to always be able to read the 1 per 47000 inhabitants Aside from dietary considerations, preferences and offers a reasonable labels. veganism is a lifestyle philosophy price. which does not advocate the use of www.happycow.net (23/03/2013) There were a few cafes and restaurants any products derived from animals. We went out on a few date nights as that we did not have a chance to try well and looked for places with a yet in Copenhagen and I will make a Raw Vegan: Vegan diet that ex- pleasant ambiance. The first place we point to do so in the future. I would cludes foods cooked above a restaurant. I was amazed at how good tried was Firefly Garden. The restaurant love to see more restaurants that are certain temperature (between 40 the dish was given that Grøften is degrees to 46 degrees Celsius). had a very modern, trendy look whilst not known for vegetarian dishes and not specifically labeled as vegetarian maintaining a generally cozy feeling. I believe that the dish was actually or vegan to include at least one plant- Flexitarian: Diet comprised of most- I ordered the beet, ginger and carrot vegan. I hope that Grøften will continue based meal where the dairy items can be ly vegetarian foods with occasional soup which was served with raw to offer this or other vegetarian/vegan easily removed, or else made with dairy meat consumption. vegetable chips and my fiancé ordered dishes on their normal menu. alternatives. All in all, I was pleased the winter spinach salad. The salad with my experiences both at home and Source: Wikipedia, Raw foodism combined many ingredients, such as The last place that we visited before eating out during my first visit while butternut squash, carrot, and seaweed. the end of my trip was Ambrosias following a vegan diet. I am looking I had never thought before that a salad Have which features an all-you-can- forward to continuing my exploration could have so many flavors, textures, eat, mainly vegan, buffet. There was an of restaurants in Copenhagen and to We found an eatery in Copenhagen and ingredients and be so filling and see how things progress with meatless called 42°Raw which features raw abundance of choices and items that so was quite impressed. For dessert, were not vegan were clearly marked. options at home. vegan dishes, smoothies and desserts. I had the warm apple and pear cup One can eat-in, though the seating is The buffet changes every week and and my fiancé had a cookie served ours included soup, curried vegetables, casual, but it seemed that people also with either soy or almond milk. Both came by to order take-out. I ordered brown basmati rice, potatoes in a desserts tasted great and were the ginger and sesame sauce, salad, Nancy Liu has recently relocated to the mushroom risotto which was perfect ending to a very enjoyable Denmark from the U.S.A. She currently served warm. It had a creamy texture hummus, beets, bread and a pumpkin evening out. tart for dessert. The soup was dhal, works in Human Resources at an and felt like comfort food, despite international company in Copenhagen. being raw food. My fiancé ordered the and was tasty and quite filling by itself, We spent a cozy day at Tivoli and especially with a serving of bread. The vegan lasagna which was not served wanted to eat at Grøften, which was our warm. It was a bit too oily for his taste, atmosphere was casual and the food favorite restaurant there. Fortunately, was delicious, freshly made, and priced but I thought it was delicious. It had they offered a ‘daily vegetarian’ dish the texture of regular lasagna and I right. I think it would be very good for on their Christmas menu. We were people who want to try an assortment thought it was interesting how the presented with 3 or 4 large spring rolls ‘noodles’ were made from some kind of vegan/vegetarian foods without which were made with mushrooms and spending too much money. of squash or zucchini. I hadn’t tried any carrots and had a nice crunchy texture. raw vegan food up to this point and I The salad included mixed greens, nuts found it to be a pleasant introduction Overall, I was pleased with my and pomegranates and looked like experience, given that the traditional to raw foods. it belonged in an organic vegetarian

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and their second this is the case, as tone of the humor set by the music is the band changed their sound and darker, as though someone is telling presentation of their music drastically. you a joke with a serious, straight face. The use of Danish has only grown, as The real heart of Nephew’s work can the entire album is almost entirely in be seen in the albums that came after Danish. USA DSB had a slightly more Swimming Time. Nephew’s second intimate blending of the two languages, album, USA DSB (2004), is the first but in Interkom Kom Ind the majority Nephew: album that presents a mix of Danish of the song titles are in Danish, and and English, it is also the best example the one song that isn’t – ‘Sway’ – is of Nephew mixing the two languages still sung in Danish, with only a few Danish or English? together into their music rather non-Danish lyrics. This in conjunction than separating them. Unlike with with the previous two albums would Swimming Time, Danish has become seem to imply that Nephew has been the main language while English is progressing towards using more regulated to single lines or verses only. and more of their native language in Apart from slang and swear words, most Danish bands sing Furthermore, this marks the beginning their music. One would expect that of Nephew’s song titles being mostly after Interkom Kom Ind, Nephew either in English or in Danish. But what happens when you mix the in Danish. The evolution of Nephew’s would continue to make albums in two languages in the same song? Sara Cass looks at the evolution sound and tone begins here as well. Danish and not in English, especially of Nephew and their use of language(s). The synth keyboard makes its first considering that their popularity is appearance, bringing a more upbeat sound to When one thinks of Danish music, the genre have changed over the years. the tracks it appears on, It is the complete change of tone bands that come to mind are generally like ‘Milk & Wine’ and ‘En the few that have international Nephew’s first album, Swimming Time Wannabe Darth Vader’. As that sets USA DSB apart as the true recognition, such as Mew, Alphabeat, (2000), is almost entirely in English. hinted by these new song beginning to Nephew’s sound. Nekromantix, and Aqua. However, this There are a few Danish phrases here titles, the subject matter is not representative of Danish music or there, but they are regulated to a of the album has also as a whole, and in particular, leaves out role of emphasis, and generally fade changed. Gone are the mellow, deep mostly in Denmark. However, this is one of the most recognized bands in into the background of the songs as a tones to be replaced with humorous, not the case. Denmark – Nephew. While unheard of whole. The songs themselves all have often nonsensical topics. Though the on the international level, almost any English titles and mostly English lyrics. language has changed, many of the Nephew’s fourth studio album, Dane will be able to tell you that Nephew However, this album is musically very lyrics continue to make little sense. It is Danmark/Denmark (2009), goes is a popular rock band in Denmark. different from any of Nephew’s other the complete change of tone that sets back to the formula of USA DSB in Nephew has been releasing albums albums. Though still a rock album, the USA DSB apart as the true beginning to many ways while still retaining its own since 2000, and they are still making majority of the songs are slow with a Nephew’s sound. independent sound and identity. The music today, having recently released soft and deep tone. The subject matter humor returns in full force with songs their latest album Hjertestarter (2012). of the songs makes little sense, but all Nephew’s third album, Interkom like ‘Police Bells and Church Sirens’, Nephew’s popularity is mostly confined carry undertones of a serious message, Kom Ind (2006), represents another which has great lines like ‘Well I’m a fan to Denmark with fans scattered in even if the lyrics don’t match the mood change in tone, continuing Nephew’s of days in bars and nights in school’, Germany and Norway, and beyond these set by the music. Absent in all of the progression away from Swimming and ‘Va Fangool’, which outlines a three countries, the band is relatively mellow tones are both the synthetic Time. This time, the synth keyboard meeting between Simon Kvamm and unknown. This is rather unfortunate, keyboard and synth-rock sound that and lead singer Simon Kvamm’s keytar Tony Soprano. The upbeat synth rock as Nephew not only makes popular Nephew adopted in their later albums. – a small keyboard-synthesizer that has returned to replace Interkom Kom music in Denmark, but the band itself Giving someone this album and is worn like a guitar – are present Ind’s more serious tone, and the result helped innovate the concept of songs claiming it represents Nephew would throughout the entire album. However, is a more polished version of the sound that blended both Danish and English mislead a listener. This doesn’t mean unlike USA DSB, Interkom Kom Ind has first presented in USA DSB. Danmark/ together. Nephew’s unique blend of that it isn’t a good album, but the a harder, heavier rock sound to it. The Denmark is the best example of languages began as early as their first Nephew of today doesn’t exactly fit the humor is still present, particularly in Nephew’s use of Danish and English, album and has continued to this day, Nephew that is presented in Swimming songs like ‘Science Fiction og Familien’ with the best equal mix of the two even though their tone, lyrics, and even Time. Even between the first album and ‘Mexico Ligger i Spanien’, but the languages of all five studio albums. Six

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band, and leaves one wondering where Simon Kvamm, Roskilde Festival 2010, Photographer: Bill Ebbesen Nephew’s next studio album release. Nephew could possibly go from there. Either way, Nephew is a continuously Discography evolving and growing band, and worth That question is answered with listening to if you are hoping to break Nephew’s most recent album, Swimming Time: 2000 into Danish rock music as a whole. Hjertestarter. The album is a return to the spirit of Interkom Kom Ind, but USA DSB: 2004 like Danmark/Denmark, Hjertestarter Interkom Kom Ind: 2006 has forged a new identity and tone Sara Cass is an MA European History for Nephew as a band. The synth candidate at UCL. While not part of her Danmark/Denmark: 2009 rock tones of the previous albums are degree, she studies Danish language regulated to a background role in most Hjertestarter: 2012 and culture in her free time. of the songs, particularly in the album’s of the twelve song titles are in English, titular song. Only four of the ten songs have obvious synth work within them, four are in Danish, and one title is the Nephew’s career leads to an interesting same word in both Danish and English none of which use the sound to indicate the humor of the song or eccentricity of picture of Nephew’s development. (the final song title, ‘Va Fangool’, is in Based on the four albums to follow Italian). There are a few songs that are the lyrics as had been done before. The serious synth rock has made a return Swimming Time, one can assume that entirely in Danish, a few that are entirely Nephew’s use of Danish denotes a in English, and several which are a mix to Nephew’s music, but like Danmark/ Denmark, it feels even more polished tonal shift in their music. This doesn’t of the two. This is the album I turn to necessarily mean that every song in most often when trying to introduce than Interkom Kom Ind in the creation of a specific tone. In addition, this is the Danish is meant to be serious; songs newcomers to Nephew’s style and like ‘En Wannabe Darth Vader’ and sound, particularly when it comes to first of Nephew’s albums to be entirely in Danish; all of the song titles are in ‘Superliga’ are both in Danish and their mixing of languages. The music both not meant to be taken seriously. is not only an excellent However, what is apparent is that when example of Nephew’s Nephew makes an album with mostly typical ‘sound’, but it also Danish songs and mostly Danish lyrics, portrays the band’s well- Hjertestarter is a return to the spirit of Interkom Kom Ind, but like the album will have a more serious tone established quirkiness and than the albums that mix Danish and humor in most of the songs. Danmark/Denmark, Hjertestarter English together. Both Interkom Kom This isn’t to say that every has forged a new identity and tone Ind and Hjertestarter have the heavier, song is a mix of Danish for Nephew as a band. thoughtful tone of Nephew’s five studio and English, or meant to albums, and both are entirely in Danish. be taken with humor in Similarly, USA DSB and Danmark/ mind. For example, one of Denmark have more quirky and funny the songs, ‘Det Her Sker Bare Ikk’’, is Danish, as are all of the lyrics. While songs, and both have a nearly equal entirely in Danish, and seems to carry individual lyrics themselves may be mix of Danish and English. The albums quite serious implications. This is funny or seem to carry the trademark that mix Danish and English could apparent in the song title itself, which Nephew quirkiness, it is clear that the be intended for a more international roughly translates to ‘this can’t be album itself is made with a different audience, whereas the albums that happening’. This and a few other songs purpose in mind. The end result is an are entirely in Danish are meant for a on Danmark/Denmark indicate that interesting deviation from the tone Danish audience. However, this could Nephew didn’t completely move away set by Danmark/Denmark that once be a mere coincidence, and it is true that from the tone they set in Interkom Kom again begs the question of what a sixth this theory doesn’t allow for Swimming Ind. On the contrary, they seem to have Nephew album might bring and how Time’s mostly serious tone and English embraced it, and mixed it with the tone the band might further evolve from lyrics. However, it is interesting to note from USA DSB, just as they mixed their this point. that with a change in how language is Danish and English. The end result used, such a connection can be made is an album that truly encompasses Looking at both the change of tone and between the albums, and whether or their development and evolution as a use of Danish and English throughout not this pattern continues depends on

16 17 Feature Feature

Free State has periodically tried to the place as a political or social entity. purge itself of the harder drugs which Unsurprisingly, a Danish book about came in with the weed dealers, success Christiania was much more positive and has been variable. The whole project had more of a sense of fun and adventure was and is enormously contentious, than the police website. I had no idea what but despite the best efforts of the to expect, although I imagined a place police, politicians of all persuasions somewhat like a cross between Camden and the violent and reckless behaviour Town in London and Amsterdam. A Trip to of some groups within the Free State, Christiania is still going strong more than ‘Have Fun. Don’t Run. No Photos.’ Christiania forty years later. However, it faces challenges to this day – perhaps the most critical of which is that it is being forced to The smell of weed hits you as soon as pay for the land that it occupies. With you walk through the archway into As you walk down Prinsessegade there is a slow but appreciable this fascinating history should be no the Free State. The next thing you surprise that the Free State is a major notice are the signs displaying the shift in the visual surroundings. As you reach a brick archway tourist attraction and a fascinating three rules to having a good time in mostly obscured by trees, critical mass is reached... social experiment. I had to see it! Christiania: ‘Have Fun. Don’t Run. No Tom Hoctor takes you on a trip to Christiania. Photos’. As you proceed through the As well as seeking advice from people cobbled part of the Free State there who had been there I also looked in are various stalls, but things really get Gone are the crisp suits and fashionable middle of Christianshavn, one of the guides and read up on the place in weird on Pusher Street. Here, as if to jeans so de rigueur in the rest of the most beautiful and historic parts of general. While on the bus between spite Copenhagen’s Police, there are city; they are now replaced with canvas Copenhagen. The area which is now Aarhus and Copenhagen I thumbed my tents and tables everywhere selling backpacks and dreadlocks. Welcome to Christiania was an old military barracks friend’s Lonely Planet guide to Denmark weed. There is also an enormous shack the Free State of Christiania. when it was reclaimed by a motley for tips about what to see once we got draped in the flag of Greenland (and group of hippies, anarchists, artists there, and, in particular, to see what run by Greenlanders, more on them As soon as I mentioned that I was and students who were struggling advice it had about visiting Christiania. later) for the same purpose. The dealers interested in visiting Christiania I was to afford homes in Copenhagen and It was disappointing. Although Lonely are not shy either, there is a huge immediately bombarded with advice. As felt disenchanted with politicians. In Planet had a few interesting tips amount of cannabis on show and as we is frequently the case in situations like response they simply took the land and about the Free State, the majority walked along they entered into lengthy this, almost all of it was contradictory. created a settlement where they could of the entry was a discussion about and detailed chats with customers. This made me realise very quickly set the rules. Christiania’s reputation. The website for These conversations were a little that almost all suggestions I received Copenhagen’s police was little better. A surreal, as they were conducted with were inextricably linked with people’s And set them they did. Controversially, search for Christiania turns up reports a connoisseurial air almost as though reactions to the place. It was those who cannabis use has almost always been about drug raids, and a number of daily the participants were discussing a enjoyed it who recommended having a tolerated in Christiania. Although the reports, but little of real interest about fine port, but contained phrases like: beer at Nemoland or the best place to ‘Do you like to bong? This one is good sit by the lake. People who had more to bong’ and ‘With this one you won’t

mixed views about it advised me not Photographer: Bruno Jargot remember the last 24 hours’. to take too much cash and to leave my phone at the hostel. But why this On the other side of Pusher Street is ominous advice? A little background Nemoland and beyond that is one of for the uninitiated is in order. the most picturesque green spaces in Copenhagen, complete with a large Christiania was founded in 1971 at lake and the amazing architecture the height of the Danish student which has been the result of Christiania movement. The Free State stands, as a spatial experiment. As we walked partly obscured from sight, in the around the lake and discussed what Photographer: Stephan Ertman

This authentic cannabis stand ‘Den blå Hashbod’ is now in the National Museum. It was built in 1996 and was decorated 18 on the inside by the artist William Skotte Olsen and on the outside by John Vestermark Rasmussen. 19 Feature Feature

to drugs and the resultant influx of petty criminals (and no doubt more Facts about serious ones too) made it difficult to realise the Free State’s primary goals. Christiania My final reflection is this: it is ironic that a place which broke away from state oversight in pursuit of freedom The entrance is from Prinsessegade on Amager (closest metro station is can be so threatening to women, when Christianshavn). in the rest of Copenhagen women are able to walk home alone at 5am mostly Approximately 1000 residents. securely and unthreatened.

Covers 34 hectares (84 acres).

Created in 1971 in an abandoned military area.

Until 2004 the selling and buying of we’d seen in the bustling centre of the When we arrived the revelry was spilling cannabis was open and silently ac- Free State we passed a Children’s Play out of the door, and as we walked cepted by the authorities - all other Area. It had a sign: ‘This is a Children’s in the first sight that greeted us was drugs were and are seen as counter play area. No Hangout on Weekdays’. a man so inebriated he was virtually to the Christiania-spirit. Outside a teenage girl sat doing her prone on top of a fellow reveller. The French homework, dictionary at her hubbub of drunken chatter was almost, In 2004 the government began a process of “normalization” which side. I was totally amazed. As we but not entirely, drowned out by the has led to several conflicts between walked we passed many groups of efforts of a Greenlandic folk band. police, residents, cannabis-dealers people sitting by the water smoking, As it was so full we got some beers and buyers. Tom Hoctor is a PhD student at UCL drinking and generally chilling out. We and sat at a table outside. My brother in the Department of Scandinavian also saw families with pushchairs in mentioned at this point that as he Studies whose interests include history, full rambling gear totally unthreatened walked in somebody had said to him: politics and gender in Scandinavia, by all that was going on around ‘Nice scarf. Are you planning to hang in order to reassure the Free State’s especially Denmark. them! This certainly seemed like the yourself?’ It was probably a good idea drug dealers. From what I have been atmosphere of tolerance and respect not to stay inside! This was the first told the penalty for violation is forcible that Christianians had been hoping for time that I had felt a little threatened ejection with a minor beating thrown in 1971. in Christiania, and I was glad to leave in for good measure. I suggest that the with all my teeth. It also caused me to combination of ubiquitous drug use On the second day of our trip we headed reflect a little further on something I and the somewhat tense and highly for Nemoland to sit and play cards had noticed in the time we had spent masculine atmosphere in Christiania while sucking up the atmosphere with there over the preceding days: there puts women off, at least as visitors a bottle of beer brewed in Christiania. are very few women in Christiania. from outside. The majority of people who sat around There was almost none in Woodstock, us were tourists, like us. Additionally, although there were some Greenlandic This brings me on to my final they were almost all male, like us. In women. However, even during the day observation about the Free State. What the evening we had arranged to meet I observed the same phenomenon and fascinated me about Christiania was some friends and friends of friends it set me wondering, why? its founding principles of equality, and head to Woodstock, a Greenlandic freedom and community. Ironically bar inside the Free State. As we were I think the answer is that social though, as a tourist, I wasn’t really running late my friend called ahead to and political experiments such as able to see that in action, although people arriving separately, two women Christiania are often designed and/or I saw plenty of other things which and a man, to tell them to wait, saying: effectively run by men. For example, reassured me that Christiania could be ‘On his own he isn’t enough to defend take the latter two of the Free State’s a very relaxed and friendly place. On them’. Once we got there I realised he three rules: ‘Don’t Run, No Photos’. the other hand, I also saw plenty which was only half-joking. These rules are explicitly designed made me think that the relaxed attitude

20 21 Reviews Reviews

Han er lige blevet He has just been

Fabriksnoter fundet på come up with

Glenn Christian til at tage to include

Not translated weekenden med the weekend Publisher: Ovbidat Published in 2012 det giver ekstra it gives extra

32 pages lyder løgnen is the lie ISBN: 978-87-994016-3-5

The ‘I’ of the first section is easily read as the ‘he’ of the second section. So the same kind of experience is described from a first-person and a third-person Reviewed by Jon Arnfred perspective in the two different sections of the book. It appears most of the notes are jotted down by the subject while at work, and consequently there has not been sufficient time to make them easy to comprehend, as when he writes:

Fabriksnoter (Factory Notes) was published in 2012 by Glenn Christian (b. 1976). Christian is a highly productive author who has until now published six books Et fremstillet behov, er nu kaffen inden arbejde of poetry since the debut in 2008. For most Danes, a factory is something long since outsourced, an old-fashioned industrial way of producing ‘things’ that now A manufactured need, is now the coffee before work resides south of the border or, more likely, in Asia. In contemporary Danish society, the factory has been replaced by the office, heavy machinery by computers, and routine by flexibility. But even though Fabriksnoter depicts the experience of Usually in this sentence, one would place the grammatical object ‘et fremstillet factory work, I believe it describes a fatigue that could just as well arise from behov’ after the grammatical subject ‘kaffen inden arbejde’, and the fact that it spending your days in an office. On one page it says: is not gives the impression that the sentence was not even meant to be read by anyone but the writer himself, that they are personal notes on his own alienation and deterioration. In the poems of the second section, however, the worker is Under mig, gulvet. Dette hav af jord i store bølger denoted by a ‘he’, thereby introducing a distance allowing the subject to present his misery to the reader. Mine sko, i tyk læder op til knæet Fabriksnoter is in itself a very well-constructed piece of work. In addition, I think it ligner to snørede hove. Jeg nærmest humper rundt is a very timely book; Christian lets us imagine a mode of working antithetical to what we find in prevailing discourse in Danish society. According to this discourse, work is inherently good and healthy, essential to self-fulfilment. However, not all Underneath me, the floor. This ocean of earth in large waves work deserves to be viewed in this light; one example is exactly routine labour coupled with a Ford-like atmosphere of productivity. Christian is himself a very My shoes, thick leather up to the knees productive writer, and Fabriksnoter is accessible, at times difficult and beautiful, and at times absurdly fun reading. resemble two laced hooves. I almost limp along

I believe these lines could be a metaphor for the entire collection: the factory Jon Højlund Arnfred recently finished a master’s degree in philosophy and a occupies the subject to the extent that his uniform is difficult to extricate from his minor in art history. During his studies he ran Alkvantor, a non-profit publishing own body. company that published interdisciplinary anthologies written by students. He now makes a living selling newspapers while focusing on writing poetry, fiction and Fabriksnoter is composed of two different sections, one consisting of note-like plays. He writes about some of the books he reads on the blog: sentences like the ones just above, and another section consisting of poems with www.scandinavianbookreviews.wordpress.com. more classical line breaks:

22 23 Reviews

Hjertestarter Nephew

Published in 2012 Copenhagen Records CD, LP and Download

10 Tracks

Reviewed by Sara Cass

Nephew’s fifth studio album, Hjertestarter, is a departure from the tone set by their last album Danmark/Denmark (2009). While Danmark/Denmark had more upbeat, humorous songs with a few somber ones dispersed throughout the track list, Nephew has moved away from the humor to a more serious and somber tone.

Hjertestarter is reminiscent of Nephew’s third studio album Interkom Kom Ind (2006), though while it had songs like ‘Science Fiction og Familien’ and ‘Mexico Ligger i Spanien’ to lighten the tone of the album as a whole, Hjertestarter is more focused on producing rock songs without the humor and jokes.

The titular song ‘Hjertestarter’ is easily the best on the album, with its pounding drums and Simon Kvamm’s vocals blending together to create a wonderful sense of unease in the main chorus, while the verses soften the guitar chords and communicate a form of redemption.

The album becomes upbeat with ‘Klokken 25’, though the heavy rock guitar is rarely heard throughout the rest of the album. Worth mentioning also is the fifth song ‘Tak Du’, which demonstrates expertly mixed background vocals, pulling off both a sober and upbeat tone, though not simultaneously.

The album is fairly short at just ten songs, and it is begging to be extended by just one or two more numbers. Despite this, the album is a wonderful example of Nephew’s evolution as a band and definitely worth listening to if you are familiar with Interkom Kom Ind and Nephew’s other albums.

Hjertestarter is not the best introduction to the band, however. I found it enjoyable and worth repeated listens, but for a listener interested in Nephew’s more serious and somber music, Interkom Kom Ind stands out as the better album in comparison.

If you have never listened to Nephew before I would recommend starting with another one of their albums first. For the dedicated fan or the casual listener, however, there is much to like in the new sound Nephew has put forth.