A solid runner-up in the “longest album title of 2009” race (Mew are surefire first), Norwegian alternative pop outfit Pilemil was according to legend originally a group of artists and craftsmen who shared workspace – where some in fact dabbled in ceramics – until they found out that they’d rather make music. At which, as it turns on out on ‘If You Make A Lot Of Ceramics; Ceramics Will Make A Lot Of You As Well’, they’re quite apt.

Like compatriots Firefly Effect and their debut ‘Everything Is Beautiful And You Are The Reason’ (they really got a thing for long titles), Pilemil – although slightly rougher around the edges – move about the left field of pop with richly layered songs, performed pleasingly loose, and the psychedelic 60s rearing its synthesized head throughout. And then FE main man Truls Solerød Johnsen in fact handles the guitar here, too…

Although referred to as a group it looks in the cover like the driving force in and aka for Pilemil is singer and multi-instrumentalist Emil Høgset, who – apart from having written everything – delivers a general highlight on the album with his deadpan vocal work. Often sounding a bit like a snotty teen who can’t be bothered to do anything, including singing his own songs, it adds a charming touch to the quartet’s quirky universe.

I dunno how making art was working out for the group, but over their debut’s just eight tracks and 27 minutes – peaking with upbeat album opener ‘Woke Up Inside A Drum’, despondent glockenspiel pop gem ‘I’m Glad I’m Sad’, the elegant ‘Late Out’ and almost electro-rocking album closer ‘No-Pil’ – Pilemil show that turning to music wasn’t a bad decision.

Genre: Alternative pop
Who: Pilemil
Album: If You Make A Lot Of Ceramics; Ceramics Will Make A Lot Of You As Well
Label: Metronomicon Audio
Year: 2009
Country: Norway
Language: English
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Recommended tracks:
Woke Up Inside A Drum – I’m Glad I’m Sad – Late Out – No-Pil