Formed in 2006, NORMAL LOVE is a Philadelphia-based instrumental quintet which comprises amplified violin, two electric guitars, electric bass, and drums. The band’s music generally has a loud and brutal aesthetic with compositional influences ranging from African minimalism to serialism to death metal, but rarely within the same piece. Normal Love’s debut album was released by High Two in November 2007.
NORMAL LOVE
Tour Dates
- Philadelphia – Johnny Brenda’s – Jun. 05, 2008 (Thu)
- Philadelphia – Green Line – Jun. 16, 2008 (Mon)
- Philadelphia – Photo West Gallery – Jun. 20, 2008 (Fri)
- Pittsburgh – Belvedere’s – Jun. 22, 2008 (Sun)
- Cleveland – Tower 2012 – Jun. 23, 2008 (Mon)
- Lexington – The Void – Jun. 24, 2008 (Tue)
- Detroit – The Trumbullplex – Jun. 28, 2008 (Sat)
- Toronto – The Boat – Jun. 29, 2008 (Sun)
- Ottawa – The Avant-Garde Bar – Jun. 30, 2008 (Mon)
- Gill – Cory’s Barn – Jul. 02, 2008 (Wed)
Audio:
Listen to “Severe Confection” from Normal Love (HT015). Download or stream MP3
More at myspace.com/normallove
Recent Press: 
Normal Love is featured in the new issue of Signal To Noise (issue #50, Summer 2008). It’s out now. Here is the link to our article by Shaun Brady: Normal Love in Signal To Noise
PaperThinWalls
{Phil Freeman, Jan 2008}
“The jazz-grind tumble of Flying Luttenbachers, the short/sharp shocks of early Orthrelm, the poke-’n’-twist of DNA, the fiery electric work of avant-jazz violinist Mat Maneri—Philly-based instrumental quintet Normal Love appeals to all of these sensibilities with a unique approach to punk and jazz.”
Philadelphia City Paper
{Shaun Brady, Oct 2007}
“Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Normal Love’s live shows is the way that, despite the ridiculous complexity of their music, their performances are never staid — concentrated as they are on the dots on paper in front of them, the band maintains a personality. Their self-titled CD, while maintaining the raw edge of their shows, brings the actual compositions to the forefront.”
Prefix Mag
{Adam Webb-Orenstein, Jan 2008}
“Normal Love’s eponymous debut is a parade of frenzied dissonant passages abbreviated occasionally by briefly sustained blasts and a few passages of slower noodling. With this first offering, the band members demonstrate their prodigious virtuosity. They also give a glimpse of their unique and broad sonic palette. …what makes this debut laudable is its refusal to make that kind of concession to the listener. There are plenty of other musicians who want to give you bliss. For now, Normal Love would rather mess with your head.”
Photo by Alison Shildt
left to right: Amnon Friedlin – guitar; Eli Litwin – drums; Carlos Santiago – violin; Evan Lipson – bass; Alex Nagle – guitar
“NL, which recently released its debut self-titled CD on High Two, makes brutally intricate music, aggressive and perfectionist. If the Warriors had scratched past the Orphans and the Baseball Furies only to chance upon a shiv-wielding chamber ensemble, Normal Love would be perfectly cast.”
-Shaun Brady, Philadelphia City Paper