The five-man band has released three albums so far, all of which have received very good reviews, but The Man Across the Fountain, which features 18 tracks, is possibly the most accomplished to date. Ole Jørgen Ottosen was nominated for it in the 2009 Spellemannspris awards, the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammys (popular music composers category). Ottosen, who is the lead singer and guitarist in the band, is also the brother of Tommy Lorange Ottosen, the man behind Tommy Tokyo, another very popular Fredrikstad band (check this link for more info http://www.elusivemoose.eu/tag/tommy-tokyo/).

But what about the music? ‘The trademark of this band is the finely balanced energy of their music. Its myriad catchy fragments are sewn together into short songs that seem “full”, i.e. vibrantly whole. At the same time the songs also have insidious properties, so that they gain on the listener unconsciously, who soon might find himself arrested. The countryesque elements provide depth and calm to the songs and thus make the music many-layered and therefore enduring, rather than simply immediately charming.’ (Listen to Norway, www.mic.no)

Discography to date: Tangerine Dreams (2004), Is the Outside Still There? (2006), The Man Across The Fountain (2009).

Tellusalie will be performing tomorrow (19 Feb) at Parkteateret for the by:Larm Festival (on stage at 18.45, free entry), and on 24 April at the Rockefeller (book tickets at www.billettservice.no). Both venues are in Oslo. More info at www.myspace.com/tellusalie