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One dark and snow-stormy day in the
winter of 1997, Alog was born in a basement of a Kindergarten in
Tromsoe - a city located in the far north of Norway. This day a string
of happy coincidences led Espen Sommer Eide and Dag-Are Haugan to meet
up for a session of tablas and guitar, of which they had no idea would
evolve into a creative burst of ideas, involving all kinds of found
instruments and collected sounds. The set of 4-track recordings of
these dark-but-warm winter constellations eventually made it onto
Alog's debut release on Rune Grammofon, entitled Red Shift Swing . In
2001 they followed up with the critically acclaimed Duck-Rabbit CD.

This year they are back with no less than three new releases, and a string of concerts to showcase the new material.

January 2005 saw the release of their
new instalment on Rune Grammfon entitled Miniatures. Critics
unanimously applauded this album as their most accomplished and mature
album to date. The title alludes to Turkish miniature paintings with
their emphasis on details, and their distorted perspective, sharp
radiant colours with a peculiar lack of shadows. The group felt that
this in a good way described in visual terms some of the goals of the
album. Less computerized manipulation was used this time, and instead
many of the tracks was direct recordings of instrumental sessions in
various locations - of course none of them without that alogical twist.
The record showcases Alogs unique combination of genres, often
described as "listener friendly" electronica meets avant-garde jazz and
contemporary composition. This shifting and switching character is an
essential part of the Alog ethos.

Alogs live shows sample the current stage of their development,
giving a glimpse into the creative process often involving violent
improvising and playful experiments. Playing live, the group let go
their control freakish studiolife nature, and reach for those
undefinable moments where music becomes more than mere "music", both
for the audience and the musicians.

"Perhaps
the strongest reference point would be the Aphex Twin of "I Care
Because You Do", but unlike Richard James, Hiorthøy still sounds as
though he gives a damn."