Welcome Back
I have been wondering how I could describe this Norwegian band without sticking them in a particular pigeonhole. Their label, Virgin, calls them an indie-pop duo, but I think that to be rather a simplistic description. Yes they are a duo, they have a great acoustic sound, but are more folk than pop. They sound quite like Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel; yes, they are that good!
The album opens with ‘Homesick’ which, to me, is a reminder of ‘Homeward Bound'; there is a great acoustic sound in this and many of the other tracks. No drums, no keyboards, no special effects. Just good old-fashioned guitar playing with the occasional bit of piano. It is not until halfway through the album that any other instruments are brought in to play regularly.
The second track ‘Misread’ opens with piano and guitar and is reminiscent of a Sinatra ballad. The piano appears again in the middle ‘Know-How’ along with female vocals by Feist. Which adds to this wonderful track. You finally get a backing drum sound and trombone in ‘Sorry or Please’, which is a complete break from the other tracks.
‘Love Is No Big Truth’ has a beat to it via the drums and guitar, and is probably one of the faster paced songs on the album. However, it is not out of keeping with the rest of the album. It sits snugly alongside the other tracks on the album and compliments them wonderfully.
This is a great album for those that want something lighter and more relaxing, but has some great tracks. The wait has been worth it for this Norwegian duet, a couple of years since their last album, ‘Riot On An Empty Street’ is a fantastic album that really showcases their talent.