Credit: Photo by Shelley Hiam

Datarock

The Parish, Thursday, March 17

Anyone remember Haircut 100? Sure, the irritating Rick Astley-ness of Nick Heyward’s post-coiffure output was very much two up, two down, but “Love Plus One”? Classic. Norwegian quartet Datarock haven’t forgotten the sheer, dumb, wonderful fun of not taking yourself too seriously. And thus they owned the Parish crowd by virtue of their brilliantly stupid – in an utterly genius, geek-centric way – mix of maddeningly catchy, hopelessly dancey, retro-electro exuberance. Even the saxophone from Haircut’s “Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)” came into play in their groove-thang-shaking “Dance!” anthem. Kitted out in kingly crimson tracksuits, wraparound shades, with heavenly white pearl gear to match, Datarock could give Devo a run for their brain domes in terms of pure hot couture. But style minus substance is, um, the Knack, and frontman Fredrik Saroea, knobmaster Kjetil Møster, and bassist-cum-funkster Thomas Larssen are as woozyingly, memorably substantive as falling in love at an ABBA gig while on your debut tab of E. New single “Catcher in the Rye” will make Salinger boogie in his grave, and the Elmo-anthemics of “Fa-Fa-Fa” brought the love of learning to your bootie and beyond. Brilliant.

Artist / Band: Datarock

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This article appears in March 18 • 2011.

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