Luistertip: The Fjords (NO) | All In Cinematic Soundscapes

Posted by: Carmel , 9 december, 2014

The Fjords is an aptly named band, hailing from Trondheim in Norway. This can cause some consternation when carrying out an internet search for the band’s music (yet you do unearth some pretty impressive pictures of landscapes, so it’s not all bad) but never fear, because we have all the musical info you might need in this week’s luistertip!

Cinematic sounds swirl around the lead vocals of Petter Vågan. Originally his solo project, The Fjords has now expanded into a four-piece, with Oscar Grönberg (synth), Kim Christer Hylland (drums) and Bárður Reinert Poulsen (bass) joining him to create an intriguing blend of electronica, pop and indie.

All In EP

Deliciously delivered in the band’s first EP – All In (release on Impeller Recordings in February this year) – it is the dark undertones that hit you first, coming about from Vågan’s deep and intriguing vocal tones. The slow start of the first track ‘Solidify’ immediately attracts attention before it hooks you as it builds with its soaring soundscapes.

Pop hooks and hypnotic mellowness

All five tracks on the EP have those hooks, a hypnotic mellowness, some looping beats, even sinister synths. Yes, they do have their pop sensibilities yet with a sensible edge. It’s not frivolous. Yet you will find yourself singing along with Vågan on some of those refrains. I kid you not. Listen up for yourself here or here.

So where does this lead us? It certainly provides fervour for the next release, which is already in the pipeline. A full length album will be out next year, as the singer told us this week: ‘We’ll be releasing our debut album the 2 February 2015 but I’m afraid the title is still to be decided – I’ve got a few equally good candidates, although the jury is still out.’ The first single from the album has been named (‘Polaris Breach’) and was actually released this month. For now, let’s leave you with a teaser of what is to come.