“8 Soothing Songs for Rut” is just plain fun. Norwegian rockers Motorpsycho have since its release in 1992 moved to greener pastures, featuring a more pop-driven alternative rock sound, but on this album they retain their at-times eclectic rock style with touches of pop at all the right places. While a few of the songs drag on for a while and the smoked-out vocals of Bent S�ther get tedious a way into the record, there are good moments where Motorpsycho hint at what they would later become, namely one of the fieriest and most innovative bands on the Norwegian rock scene.

Aside from the nonsensical filler “We All Float Down Here”, this is a decent disc with relatively few bumps. While it may not have the same staying power as following 1993-release “Demon Box”, the record is good if only for nostalgic purposes to see how far Motorpsycho really have progressed since their early days as a group struggling to make it. Particularly great is the superbly catchy “Lighthouse Girl” as well as dreamy, then all-at-once-heavy “Sister Confusion”. While it may be of some annoyance to listeners that the songs seem to change so quickly from quiet to loud, it must be said that this does add to the temperament of the record. “8 Soothing Songs for Rut” quite clearly bears the hazy, hypnotic tension that has become the trademark of Motorpsycho’s earlier releases, and is overall an enjoyable listen. Nice touch closing on the trio’s own heavy rock adaptation of Mamas & Papas classic “California Dreamin’”.

Die-hards, lay your hands on it if you can. Newcomers to the universe of Motorpsycho might find some of their many later releases serve a more suitable introduction.

Year Released: 1992
Label: VOW
Related Link: ‘You Gotta Hang On The Trip You’re On’
Date Reviewed: 2003-12-23
Author: Andreas