Norway's I Was A King have regularly chosen interesting Producers. This time round it is Bill Ryder-Jones and that is a really wise choice for the more ethereal Pastoral Pop they regularly come up with. The band's beautiful arranged songs are lovingly recorded.
But lest we forget, there is more to I Was A King than just stunning heart melting Indie Pop. They have what could almost be an alter ego. One listen to Sleepless Nights and the fascination with Teenage Fanclub breaks out. It is pure early TFC, all distorted guitar glory.
Pool Painted Black follows suit and you realise how good they are at the noisier stuff. The closer, Until The End, edges towards modern day Fannies, wonderful Jangle Pop with a superb violin interlude. Mainstays Frode Strømstad and Anne Lise Frøkedal share vocals on a delightful song.
But you just cannot ignore the moodier, slower songs which are crafted to perfection. Dust Bunnies is pure Dream Pop with a magnificent String arrangement, it just melts your heart. Falling is Piano led and so so fragile, you now feel that your hear is gonna break.
November is a big piece of work, approaching 6 minutes, it builds and builds and broods and broods, without ever breaking out, adding an instrumental soundscape to the close. A mesmerising listen. The Birthday Song is a little Folk, Americana even and dare I say it, there is a hint of The Coral.
House Warming is pure C86 UK Jangle, all jaunty with a slight Psych Pop feel to the chorus. Until The End is quite a special listen. I Was A King mix the melancholic with the rock out so well. A band with many directions, but all of them equally great.
You can listen to and buy the album here. Sadly, the Vinyl has now sold out. Hopefully, there will be a reissue.
........................
No comments:
Post a Comment