Way back in November Norwegian quartet Kråkesølv were part of both the Music Alliance Pact and our SpaceScan series, the latter causing me slight embarrassment with a from-the-hip translation of their name. Around the same time they released their debut album, ‘Trådnøsting’ (which I was clever enough not to try to translate), sporting ten indierock songs with lyrics in their local Norwegian dialect (which I’ll elegantly skip any analysis of, but from what I’ve read they’re of high lyrical quality).

Understanding these isn’t particularly important, however – although I’m sure it would add to the overall experience – because of one excellent aspect: Their ability to weave melody into the musical fabric, making the vocals as much an instrument as drums (Thomas Litangen), bass (Petter Undstad) and the dominant – and no less excellent – guitar work of Kristoffer Unstad and Fredrik Olsen, witnessed especially by magnificent opening trio ‘Skredder’, ‘Hell Litervis Med Sand På Timeglasset’ and ‘Privat Regn’.

With a little help in spirit from acts like Death Cab For Cutie, Sonic Youth and Pavement, Kråkesølv have created a complex yet catchy, melancholic and beautifully airy debut, and I for one am looking very much forward to the followup which is due out this fall according to the band. Until then I’ll leave you to check out ‘Trådnøsting’ which is streamed in full on krakesolv.no.

(By the way: Kråkesølv means “mica” and trådnøsting is the art of “unraveling a ball of yarn”. Thanks to Friend Of Mine Records for straightening that out…)

Genre: Rock/Indierock
Who: Kråkesølv
Album: Trådnøsting
Label: Self-released/Diger
Year: 2009
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian
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Recommended tracks:
Skredder – Hell Litervis Med Sand På Timeglasset – Privat Regn – Waldemar – Kastes