Mall Girl Share New Jam

When we think about post-emo jams, Oslo is not typically the first place to come to mind. All that may change though with the sounds of Norwegian outfit Mall Girl, and tunes like this new one called “Emo Shred.” Shocker, the title perfectly conveys what you’re going to get from the song with its bright, intricate guitar parts and dramatic, emotional drops. It bangs, for real.

Mall Girl has three more songs currently streaming on bandcamp from their upcoming new album entitled Pure Love. That one is out on January 26th.

Flight Mode Share Twentyfour Single

I’m a big Flight Mode fan, and with the purity of the band’s revisionist Tx ’98 EP, the band landed with Chris Walla for production on their Torshov ’05 EP. This song seems like it has the classic Walla production touch, allowing the verses to wallow in the mellowness before emphatically bursting with a pop hook that swirls in the chorus. Sure, there are tons of bands that pull that off, but perhaps none better than Death Cab back in their heyday with Walla. Maybe that’s just the good songwriting of this Oslo based outfit; their brand new EP will be out next Friday courtesy of Sound as Language.

Flight Mode Announce New EP

Flight Mode won me over with the Texas ’98 EP, which had some nostalgic moments, both for the songwriter, and myself, someone who was living in Texas in 1998. Now, the Oslo band revisit another place in their own history, looking back on the Torshov neighborhood in 2005. Musically, the songwriting is a little more expansive on this first single, perhaps pensive; it feels like something you’d find on a Jade Tree sampler, or a B-side of a Joan of Arc record. I love how the gentle vocals get a heavier backing vocal to give the song just the slightest edge…the faintest, as this track is too pretty to break up. The Torshov ’05 EP is dropping May 6th on Sound as Language.

Rider Release Debut EP

Rider might be a new name on your radar, as it is mine, but the project is helmed by Frode Stromstad of I Was a King. The Norwegian project also includes Honey Radar‘s Jason Henn on drums, which should further our interest on this side of the pond. This project definitely pulls in Frode’s familiarity with little nuggets of pop, though admittedly, this feels a bit grittier, in the best way possible. “Deep Rivers” has some faint GBV references, though Stromstad’s voice is too kind, offering more of a melodic feel. I think the easiest to access for folks will be “Smell the Floor,” built on huge riffs disguised beneath layers of fuzz, though rest assured there’s melodic treasure lurking beneath this song’s surface. Just imagine if Comet Gain were a power pop band; then you’ll understand Rider. Stream the whole EP below!

Flight Mode Tap Into 90s Emo

There are tons of bands looking back at the emo days, some reimagining, some just trying to pull it off the best they can. For me, Oslo’s Flight Mode are one of the few who seem to pull it off with actual sincerity. I tend to think of bands like Braid and Mineral, before the brand was more pop than rock, when it was fueled by overlapping guitar lines and soft (emotional) vocals. You get that here in this new single from the band’s forthcoming Tx ’98 EP, which is where singer Sjur was living, and I was too, so perhaps that’s why I’m tapping into his nostalgic revisiting; the EP is being released by Sound as Language on June 25th.

Intimate Number From Simen Mitlid

On a fairly gloomy Friday morning, this new song called “Birds” from Oslo based artist Simen Mitlid seems to be the perfect song for me today. Though it may come across as a strictly somber tune, it also features some brightness with atmospheric harmonies and clean guitars. Really this is a beautifully crafted song akin to something along the lines of older A.A. Bondy or Iron & Wine. Exactly what I needed to hear this morning.

This track will be the title track on an album of the same name coming out in the fall of 2020.

Welcome The Slow Painters

The Slow Painters are a four piece band out of Oslo who create their very own brand of indie rock, sprinkled with hints of Americana and folk. My first introduction to the band came by way of this impressive new single called “Egon”. It is a tightly wound bit of indie music, exploring avenues of foot stomping folk music and chant worthy epics. Though the band is new to me, and likely you, I expect to be hearing more from them in the future after my favorite single of the week.

The Slow Painters will release their debut, self-titled LP on August 28th via KeepSecret Records.

Raucous New Single From Sauropod

I love when you hit play on a song and it kicks off, without any hesitation, into a fit of rock n roll. That’s exactly what I have for you today in the form of this new track “Never on Time” via Oslo based Sauropod. Having recently signed to rising Scandinavian label Propeller Recordings, the band don’t mess about with their new single as the pace and ferocity of the guitars never seem to let up. And hey, we love rockin’ 3 pieces around these parts.

“Never on Time” can be purchased via your favorite streaming service today.

Missing I Was a King

iwasakingIn the last few weeks, some of the bands I thought were gone have come back (It Hugs Back/Crayon Fields), so I went in search of what was up with one of my favorite acts, I Was a King.  First, I noticed they had recently released a song they’d worked on with Robyn Hitchcock. It’s a beautiful tune, indicative of the growth they’ve made since their early days as a band. Also, and I’m not sure if the two are related at all, but the band has also announced they’re in the studio with Norman of Teenage Fanclub and Joe Perince…looks like we’ll have a new LP form the band soon. Here’s that lost track that’s just appeared.

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