|
10/03/09 Nalen Stockholm län
Discography
10/04/09 Mejeriet Lund 10/05/09 Train Arhus, Syddanmark 10/06/09 Vega Copenhagen, Nordjylland 10/08/09 Huxleys Berlin, Berlin 10/09/09 Konzerhaus Dortmund 10/10/09 Kampagnel Hamburg 10/11/09 Paradiso Amsterdam, 10/13/09 De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill 10/14/09 Barbican London, London 10/15/09 Warwick Arts Center Coventry 10/16/09 Airwaves Church Reykjavik 10/28/09 CONCILIAZIONE Rome 10/29/09 CONSERVATORIO Milan 11/01/09 TEATRE CIRCO PRICE Madrid 11/02/09 THEATRO CIRCO Braga, 11/03/09 THEATRE CAIXAVIGO Vigo 11/04/09 COLISEUM Lisboa, Lisboa 11/06/09 Palau de la Musica Barcelona 11/07/09 TEATRO VICTORIA EUGENIA 11/09/09 CIRQUE ROYALE Brussels 11/10/09 WATT (Main Hall) Rotterdam 11/11/09 Bataclan Paris, Ile-de-France 11/20/09 Sentrum scene Oslo, Oslo 11/21/09 Grieghallen Bergen, Hordaland
|
At their first show in New York since 2005, Kings of Convenience’s Erlend Øye joked, “This next song will sound like an old one, and you’ll probably cheer. But it’s not.” And so it goes with their latest album, Declaration of Dependence. It’s a seamless continuation of their 2004 release, Riot on an Empty Street. It’s all there: the flawless harmonies, the intricate melodies, the blunt, sometimes wordy, lyrics. But despite this, Øye and Eirik Bøe avoid being redundant. Strangely enough, the new songs are so similar to the previous ones that they are immediately welcoming, like a postcard from a long lost friend.
This sense of familiarity works in their favor, as most of their fans have been waiting for Øye and Bøe to reunite for some time now. Through his extensive solo work, Øye has proved his chops at electronica and proper rock music with his DJ Kicks series and Whitest Boy Alive stint. With Bøe, Øye returns to Kings of Convenience’s default format: deceptively simple acoustic songs, brimming with keen insights on love and everyday life. It’s a formula they’ve got down cold, and as a team, they turn their meticulous pop songs into something more and something beautiful.
Most tracks consist of nothing more than two acoustic guitars and Øye and Bøe’s polished vocals. Opening track, “24-25” starts things off quietly, a telltale sign of the boys’ return to form. But sprinkled throughout similar hushed tracks are small details of the band’s small move forward. A jaunty piano in “Me In You” offers a playful tone, while lively strings add a touch of irony to “Boat Behind’s” harsh lyrics. Although the album is primarily acoustic guitar, these minute details stand out, and when used sparingly yet efficiently, they distinguish this album from previous ones.
By only allowing themselves to indulge in subtle details, Øye and Bøe are free to focus on the band’s calling card: their vocals. Bøe sings lead on most songs, with Øye weaving in and out of the songs, adding an extra layer of warmth behind various words and phrases. With such quiet bravado between the two of them, they are able to deliver frank lyrics with a sense of humor. Throughout the album, they play on the idea of dependence and ownership in relation to love and day-to-day life. On the verbose track, “Rule My World,” the boys rhapsodize that “only someone who’s morally superior can possibly honestly deserve to rule my world,” all the while wrapping their pseudo-political message in beautiful rhythms and elaborate guitar work. It’s a lot of work for a song that, at first listen, comes off as just another pretty melody.
The boys have a talent for making their songs appear effortless, but further listening often reveals something new each time. It may be nothing more than the unassuming percussion or a charming turn of phrase, but Øye and Bøe have a knack for passing off the complicated as crisp and concise. Sure, they’ve been doing this since their first album, but it doesn’t make it any less striking. These days, when it usually takes an arsenal of glockenspiels and drum machines to keep a pop song interesting, it’s quite impressive that all these guys need are two guitars and the occasional violin.
09/29/2009 13:22:42 ♥ kateg (
) ♥ kingsofconvenience.com ♥ myspace.com/kingsofconvenience
Comments