Pica Pica is the solo project of Maribel’s Rebekka Maria Markstein (vocals, tambourine and organ). Pica Pica sees Markstein take center stage as the chief songwriter and front woman while still involving some of the creative minds that brought you Maribel’s Aesthetics (Pål Espen Kapelrud and Lewi Bekkesletten) as well as members of other well-known Oslo bands (Even Aarebrot of Simon Says No!). The result is a sound more sentimental, washed-out and desperate than Maribel’s droning shoe-gaze rock. Pica Pica is a down tempo trip to the very low and high places in life driven by Markstein’s breathy angelic vocals on planes of fuzz created by Kapelrud and Bekkesletten, all the while tied together by dreamy melody. It is often compared to Cat Power, Grouper or Hope Sandoval.

Released on Oslo Grammofon Records in early 2009 ‘Oh Captain! My Captain! EP’ is a collection of home-made demos written, recorded and produced by Markstein in her bedroom in Oslo. This preview of things to come from PICA PICA takes a simple, lo-fi approach to her dream-pop tunes but the LP set for release in 2010 will take a slightly more contemplated approach involving her new members and some well-known figures in shoe-gaze. The EP has received quite extensive radio play in Germany, Norway, USA and Canada while even peaking at number 10 on the Canadian national college charts.

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