"The only die-hard avantgarde group of new postrock generation leading from Estonia"
                                                                                                 















       Lauri-Dag Tüür                  Mihkel Kleis                      Andres Lõo                              Ki wa 


In the summer of 1998 Mihkel Kleis and Andres Lõo, both students of the Estonian Academy of Arts, decided to form a rock band as they needed to "experiment beyond boundaries of genres”.


Luarvik Luarvik has never cared to explain their message although it is obviously not plain arty-*arty "reflecting the cosmic unity in our souls" or scarcely the highbrow “deterritorialized mediums after the mirror phase”. Their musical background can be associated with various schools of avantrock rooted back in the early seventies, modern postrock, no wave, spacerock and basically everything that has happened during the last 40 years in experimental music. But all this is just a stepping stone in creating their own unique vision. Some characteristics: dramatic, harsh, energizing, dynamic, playful, sarcastic, provocative...



The name Luarvik Luarvik was taken from an Estonian sci-fi cult thriller "Hotel of the Perished Alpinist" based on brothers Strugatskis´ novel where Luarvik L. Luarvik was a charming alien pilot who was trapped in a malfunctioning human body. This serves as a metaphor for the band’s music as well becaues Luarvik Luarvik sounds just like if a bunch of aliens from outer space would interpret and mix pop music clichés from the past and the future in their own sophisticated way.











In 2000 Luarvik Luarvik released their first demo album "Baltic Station Session".   It was a documentation of their first period as the bass-synth-drums trio playing retrodelic synth-pop lo-fi garagerock. Soon after “B S S” was released the bassist Kert Rebane left the band and since then there has been a constantly changing lineup. At first Lõo and Kleis couldn’t find enough openminded musicians to participate, but after some concideration it became a concept of the band to keep the lineup in constant change.

"Baltic Station Session"   (Luarvik Luarvik  2000)

1. Tuulte pöörises    (In the Tail Spin)
2. Saladus    (Secret)
3. Võiduring    (Odours of Victory)
4. Aitähh "Radar"    (Thank You "Radar")
5. Mõistus ja tunded    (Mind and Feelings)
6. Hassani nõel    (The Needle of Hassan)
7. Luarviku rock     (Luarvik Rock)
8. Looduse kroon    (King of Nature)

In 2002 Luarvik Luarvik published the second album called "Tabamata ime". The title is originally the name of a classic Estonian novel. This is another concept to name instrumental compositions after works done in different mediums during various times, without giving a clear explanaition to create a meta-dimension for interpretation which depends on the point of view of the viewer. "Tabamata Ime" is a cd full of furious jazzrock and free improvised spacerock with guest musicians Tarvo Kaspar Toome and Mart Karu playing vintage synthesizers and guitar. “Tabamata Ime” contains studio tracks with extended lineup and Kleis-Lõo duo live performance titled “Journey to the Realm of Shadows / Improvisation for Four Heads”.


"Tabamata ime"   (MKDK  2002)
("Elusive Wonder")

1. Surma hinda küsi surnutelt    (For the Price of Death Ask From the Dead)
2. AK    (Actual Camera)
3. Läbi lillede   (Tiptoe Trample)
4. Siin olen kasvanud tasasel maal   (Been Raised on Flat Land)
5. Intervjuu iseendaga    (Interview with Myself)
6. Teekond Varjuderiiki    (Journey to the Realm of Shadows)
7. Planeetide paraad    (Parade of Planets)

     *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *

The latest newcomers in the lines of Luarvik Luarvik are Ki Wa, who has gained fame as modern shock artist but is also a talented laptop musician narrator, bassguitarist, and guitarist Lauri-Dag Tüür, who is a student of the Estonian Conservatory. Ki wa (aka Olaf Andvarafors) is an organizer of metaphysical sound- and situationist art event Metabor and contextual investigator of LL syndrome and primordial sound.



This is also the lineup on the latest album "Passioon & Fuuga" – so far Luarvik Luarvik’s most uncompromising work. The album was recorded at the 2nd Studio of Eesti Raadio. "Passioon & Fuuga" explores the obscure territories of dadaistic avantgarde connecting it ironically with symphonic rock. Pretentious ffw-movement and musical paradoxes in focus. Antistyle and protoart.

In the beginning of the year 2005 Andres Lõo and Ki wa left the band for solo.


 

                          I am a quotation 
                                             - Luarvik Luarvik 



 


"Passioon & Fuuga"   (hyper.records  2004)
(“Passion and Fugue”)

1. Multimarginaal    (Multimarginal)
2. Tantsib huntidega    (Dancing With Wolves)
3. Maastik kadakaga    (Landscape and Oak)
4. "Kolmnurga" taustast    (Background of a Triangle)
5. Keskpäeva nokturn    (Nocturn at Midday)
6. Retsidivisti retsitatiiv    (Recidivist Recitative)
7. Sõõm õõva    (Mood of Ooze)
8. Öö astmes n    (Night at Grade N )





Facts

:Mindcandy for adventurous listener who’s not afraid of intellectual challenge

:Eclectic overview of experimental rock from an alien point of view

:Luarvik Luarvik is a rock group and a postmodern art project. All the group’s members are also active as visual artists and share the vision of mixing music and contemporary art conceptions

:Luarvik Luarvik’s keypoint is avoiding commercial clichés by believing in freedom to explore even the most controversial topics. Intelligence means adaptility

Discography

2000 “Baltic Station Session”

2002 “Tabamata ime”

2004 “Passioon & Fuuga”


                                                                                        Contacts 

                                                                                        mihkelkleis@hotmail.com
                                                                                        andres@looming.org


Musicians who have contributed

Karl Laanekask, Mart Karu, Pearu Helenurm, Tarvo Kaspar Toome, Jaak Sooäär, Taavi Laatsit, Heikki Tikkas, Tanel Põld, Aulis Nemvalts, Kert Rebane, Martin Uustulnd, Joosep Miimeister, Mirja Mari Smidt, Liina Vahtrik, Mart Kalvet, Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo

Photos by Mark Raidpere, Herkki Erich Merila, Jaana Nõu, Aliina
Sleeve design by Luarvik Luarvik and Margus Tamm ("Tabamata ime")
I poster by Mihkel Kleis
"Tabamata ime" launch flyer by Margus Tamm (Avangard)