I keep tending to blab on about the strength of Scandinavian Pop at the moment. It's not intentional, there's plenty of great stuff elsewhere, but I've just been enchanted by more than one band from that part of the world and the latest are Armchair Oracles from Norway.
The band aren't strangers to the UK, Atle Skogrand's outfit have been over here in the past for IPO. However it's their latest offering that should captivate a far greater crowd. This is great pop with plenty of variation.
High Wire Walkers sounds like something out of Manchester or Stockport in the early 90's, morphing into a sort of early U2. Jitterbug sounds like a more melodic happier Doves, whilst Scared Of Light sounds Celtic, possibly Runrig. Utility Man is pure Brit Pop, The Lemonheads crossed with The Boo Radleys.
You sense though that the band are happiest being purveyors of sleepy laid back power pop, in TFC mode if you like and that's really apparent on the likes of Phantom Bliss and Long Time.
It's the variance that grips you tough across this splendid 12 track offering. Here Comes The Feeling is pure Psych Pop, Climbing Walls is mid 70's Pop Rock, 10CC springs to mind and Panic King is awash with brass, very Northern Uproar until it blends into great harmonic 60's melodic pop.
The stand out song is Sound Sleep Sound, it meanders wonderfully. I will though leave you the opener Considerations. In Machina is simply ace, a real listen from start to finish. I can't wait to hear more from the band.
You can buy the album at the likes of Amazon here or CD Baby there. You can also listen to more of the band's stuff here.
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