Bio de
Casiokids

Biographie MySpace: Old analogue, trashy keyboards and pop melodies make up the Norwegian electro-troupe that is Casiokids. With tunes often sung in their native language and influenced by afro-beat, techno and out-and-out pop, the band draws similarities and takes inspiration from Paul Simon's "Graceland", Ivor Cutler, New Order, King Tubby, Bob Hund, Cornelius and Fela Kuti.

October 27 2008 saw the historic release of the first ever Norwegian language pop single in the UK. Refusing to accept the notion of b-sides, Casiokids released the Double A sided single Grønt lys i alle ledd/Togens hule on Moshi Moshi Records. The band became the latest in a select band of artists to have released through Moshi?s Singles Club including names such as Late of the Pier, Lykke Li, Florence and The Machine and Kate Nash. The success of the first single will now be followed up by the second in a series of 7?s the band plan to release in 2009. Verdens største land/Fot i hose will be released on Moshi Moshi on March 2nd 2009 and will be accompanied by intense touring activity including a European tour as support for Of Montreal in January, a headlining UK tour in March and confirmed appearances at Eurosonic and South By South West to mention just a few of the highlights. Third single on Moshi Moshi Finn bikkjen!/Gomurmamma was released august 3rd 2009.

Since their creation in 2005, Casiokids have experienced everything from playing for hundreds of Norwegian youngsters on a 12-date kindergarten tour in Norway to promote their first album, to playing for more or less grown up indie and electro kids all over Europe. They have also made a name for themselves as providers of sound installations and workshops, as well as DJs and have played numerous renowned festivals and venues in Europe and North America including Roskilde Festival (Denmark, 2008), CMJ Music Marathon (New York City, 2008) The Great Escape Festival (Brighton, UK 2008) City Showcase Festival (London, 2008), Luminaire (London, 2008) Sous La Plage Festival (Paris, 2007), La Fleche d'Or (Paris, 2007), Øya Festival (Norway 2006 & 2008), Ekko Festival (Bergen, Norway 2005), NuMusic Festival (Stavanger, Norway 2005 w/ Jamie Lidell, K.Stockhausen, Datarock, Carl Craig++), Les Nuits Secrètes (Aulnoye-Aymeries, France 2008) Elektroni(k) Festival (Rennes, France 2005), La Lune Des Pirates (Amiens, France 2005), La Guinguette Pirate (Paris, 2005), Paradiso (Amsterdam, 2008), Debaser Medis (Stockholm, 2008) and Scandinavia?s biggest and best showcase festival by:Larm (Stavanger 2005 & Oslo 2008) to name just a few.

"Norwegian electro-pop quintet Casiokids are a roving party of effortless cool that happen to play mind melting, toe-tapping, vintage synth funk. Part chaos, part retro meets outer space, the kids use quirky instruments [cello, cassette-recorder, congas] and unorthodox samples [children's radio shows, cassette-books, interviews of communist activists] to craft a sonically absurd audible mash-up that leaves listeners scraping their headphones for musical resin. Add an exhilarating live show that throws in video projection and puppetry, and it's no wonder concert-goers can't stop raving about this high energy Norwegian export." AOL Spinner

"The name of this cartoon-trance crew implies 8-bit fun, but they?ve got quite a handle on understated ambiance too." Rolling Stone

"My other favourite Norwegian discovery, Casiokids... switch styles so much that it?s hard to really pin them down?variables include high, winsome vocals, rubbery 8-bit melodies, dancey backing tracks, slashy post-punk guitars, a multi-media stage show with various kinds of puppets and video projections, and just generally a sweet and crazy party vibe." Pitchfork

"With their haywire melodies and an exuberant stage show featuring massive puppets, video, and shadow theater they combine electro-pop bliss and indie-kid abandon into one ragtag effusion. Junky analog synths bleat and whistle in a long overture; with the introduction of Windsor-knotted guitars, timbales, and Muppety harmonies, it starts resembling a DiskJokke/Vampire Weekend mash-up." Pitchfork

"It?s an often stunning example of a band that?s mastered the ability to craft songs made for dancing but with enough melody and imagination to stand alone as perfectly sculpted pop gems." All Music Guide

"A sublimely synthy debut from Scandinavia?s premier poptronica outfit?Casiokids are an absolute necessity" NME (8/10)

"Whether you?re looking for ways to indulge your cultural bent (i.e. learning new languages and all about Oslo) or just plain love good old electro-pop music, we?ve got the band for you." FILTER Magazine

"The group?s bouncy U.S. debut on Polyvinyl Record Company, the title of which loosely translates to ?Great Vibe at Local Bar,? is chock-full of positive vibrations and dance beats..." Wired

"It really doesn't matter that the band sings in Norwegian, their songs are so fun and danceable that the music alone is enough. In fact, as on Wednesday, their closing song, "Fot i hose," was the highlight and it's an instrumental, one that easily got the whole crowd going." Under the Radar

"With their combination of old analog keyboards, Norwegian pop melodies, and an amazing live show, the Casiokids have quickly created an imprint for their sound." Consequence of Sound

"I am lovin' me some Casiokids. Try listening to [?Finn Bikkjen!?] and not liking it." Electric Mustache

"They may not sing in English, but I learned long ago that language doesn?t matter. It?s all about intent and feeling. Great music is universal, and on the band?s debut full-length Topp stemning på lokal bar, the band produces a gem." Exitfare

"Stick this, the finest Norwegian record of the decade so far, on in the local and ?topp stemning? is guaranteed." No Music

" (...) it seems crazy that it took so long for these great vibes to infiltrate American bars. It's also a blessing. Young bands seldom get to incubate any more, and Casiokids used their prep time wisely, piecing together a proper album instead of rushing to pad out a few inspired tracks with filler. The record has a unified vibe and a strong sense of balance, but also varies greatly from track to track.
Pitchfork review of "Topp stemning på lokal bar" June 9th 2010 (7,6/10)

"(...)The band basically started a party on stage that emanated into the crowd like beams from the sun - warming all of us who presumably swam there. They swapped instruments, pogo jumped around stage and changed cow bell duties every few minutes. Pineapple shakers, multicolored drum sticks and grinning faces convinced the crowd as they played some absolutely brilliant pop songs."
BBC review of concert at Oxegen Ireland July 12 2009 (8/10)

"I always say, if you want some enormously danceable, minimalist Afro-funk and space-disco (with a donk on it), then you need to reach out to beardy Norwegians, for it is only they who are capable of making records as brilliantly lunatic as this. For a start, it's entirely instrumental; for another start, it is propelled along its golden path by the single greatest synth noise in the history of electricity and wires; and, for a third start, it's all over in less than three minutes. Everything lovable about popular music is here and it has a video to accompany it that is both mentally compelling and sort of hilarious. Casiokids: you rule in all sorts of wonderful new ways."
"Fot i hose", Single of the week in the Guardian, February 28, 2009

"The perfect hybrid of Duran Duran, Kings of Leon, Efterklang, Sigur Ros and 2unlimited (6/6)"
GAFFA (Denmark): by:Larm festival, Oslo 2008

"With their haywire melodies and an exuberant stage show featuring massive puppets, video, and shadow theater they combine electro-pop bliss and indie-kid abandon into one ragtag effusion. Junky analog synths bleat and whistle in a long overture; with the introduction of Windsor-knotted guitars, timbales, and Muppety harmonies, it starts resembling a DiskJokke/Vampire Weekend mash-up."
Pitchforkmedia.com review of Togens hule 2008