In basic terms, OSKAR is an incongruous collaboration between former Collapsed Lung bassist and fine artist Jonny Dawe and former Strangelove keyboard player and soundtrack composer Nick Powell, that feels comfortable calling itself art rock, and drawing on sources such as Krautrock, systems composers Michael Nyman and Steve Reich, Sonic Youth and folk-psych. OSKAR is a group, then, but OSKAR is also a name, and in the boys’ pursuit of music, OSKAR is also a character as well as a state of mind.

"For me," explains Nick, "Oskar is from the boy in The Tin Drum, who refuses to grow up. But Jonny hasn’t read the book or seen the film - for him, I think it’s because he likes The Six Million Dollar Man, in which Oscar was the controller. We just like the fact it’s a name, which relates to its own zone or world. When Jonny and I make music together, we just know when it’s right for OSKAR. It’s not so much about me and Jonny, then."

OSKAR was originally formed in 1999 not to rock the world in a dazed’n’confused manner, but in order to create an original soundtrack for performance art group The Max Factory, which was performed throughout Europe. Other OSKAR projects include the composition and live performance of soundtracks for Suspect Culture’s experimental theatre piece ‘ONE TWO’ and three Miu Miu catwalk shows in Milan, one of which, ‘Air Conditioning’, was subsequently released on Leaf Records’ Invisible Soundtracks compilation. It was also the title track of 2005’s critically acclaimed debut mini-album.

Nick: "These things become apparent after the event, but to us, the album had some kind of ‘weather’ thing going on, so the title seemed right. ‘Air Conditioning’ seemed an interesting way to describe an ambient piece of music too..." From this angle, the album conjured up the shade, mood, colour and dimensions of a hidden garden - something beautiful and expansive that teeters on the edge of a secret, or even eerieness. ‘P.S.I’ saw the darker side of OSKAR and fittingly now
provides the soundtrack for the UK’s current TV campaign about Climate Change; the title track and ‘Peripherique’ displayed the band’s dreamier, peaceful side; >

‘Chi Chi, Cha Cha And Guy’ had a Neu-like motorik throb; ‘Missing Piece’ ‘and ‘Cloudy Day, Sunny Day’ were like gorgeous synthetic watercolours; finally, the two tracks with guest vocals (from Astrid Williamson, formerly of Goya Dress, and whose Incarnation label released Air Conditioning), turned ‘Bang That Drum’ and ‘Strike This’ into thrummy, witchy folk.

Other OSKAR album collaborators were string players Sarah Willson (Belle and Sebastian) and Lucy Wilkins (Massive Attack),whilst OSKAR’s live persona has featured Ruth Gottlieb (Calexico,Sparklehorse) and Alex Lee (Suede).

Last year, OSKAR provided an introductory sound installation for the V&A’s sonic exhibition ‘Shhh...’(alongside the likes of David Byrne and Cornelius), of which Jonny was co-curator. Having found success providing soundtracks to events, performances, short films and their own installations, 2006 has seen OSKAR embracing the digital age with a 4 track EP, ‘rerun’, released through Universal Digital. In September 2006, OSKAR releases a new ep ‘Domestic’, again through
Universal, featuring another quartet
of sublime new tracks that carry the
music further down the band’s
unique path. Beyond the Net,
expect to see OSKAR soon,
actual size and in real time. Nick:
"We’re going to try and do as many
live shows as we can. But we like to
do unusual live shows. Places that
are a bit more, er, strategic."

Just your everyday art rock
strategists then. They’re OSKAR
and they’d like to be your friend.

MARTIN ASTON