The film explores “the rise and rise” of Norway’s dance music (because it’s never gonna drop).

“We were trying to escape the dull reality of living in Norway,” DJ/producer Bjørn Torske says of the impetus to create a dance music scene in his culturally and geographically isolated hometown of Tromsø. In the late ‘70s and ‘80s, a group of bored Norwegian teens led by Torske set up radio stations, built synths and created a sound that took its cue from synth-pop but was infused with a myriad styles from krautrock to italo and jazz.

What came next was decades of lush, disco-driven dance music helmed by labels like Tellé Records and with international stars like Todd Terje, Lindstrom, Andre Bratten and Prins Thomas currently flying the flag for Norway.

A new documentary, set to premiere at the UK’s Doc ‘N’ Roll festival on November 5, traces Norway’s “space disco” phenomenon from its first steps to the present day. Northern Disco Lights: The Rise and Rise of Norwegian Dance Music features contributions from the scene’s key figures and some of their international fans, including Bjørn Torske, Lindstrøm, DJ Strangefuit, Prins Thomas, Annie, Idjut Boys, Greg Wilson, James Hillard of Horse Meat Disco and Joakim Haugland of Smalltown Supersound.

Watch the trailer for the Ben Davis-directed film and visit the Doc ‘N’ Roll site for tickets to the screening, which includes a Q&A with the filmmaker.

Read next: A Decade of Space Disco: What’s eating Oslo’s club scene?

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