It’s not often that Scandinavian musicians are released outside their native country before making it home. This, however, is the case for Søren Bonke, a UK resident the past 10 years. The Dane released his debut album as Klak Tik in England last year, earning him both critical acclaim and a worldwide record deal with Danish labels Slow Shark Records and VME. Which all strikes me as every bit deserved, when diving into ‘Must We Find A Winner’…

Who are they?
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Søren Bonke, who’s also produced and mixed the album, Matt Mitchinson (guitar, banjo, backing vocals) and John Beyer (double bass), live beefed up with five additional musicians.

How’s the album?
Really – no, really – good! Also an award winning soundtrack composer, Søren Bonke knows how to compose for our emotional apparatus, something he’s put to very good use in his marvelous orchestral alternative folk. Through one hour and 13 expertly varied songs he takes us over the majestic to quieter singer/songwriter moments, never letting his sorrowful grip around your heart and gut go. You don’t, however, have to be gloomy to get a kick out of ‘Must We Find A Winner’ as there is plenty of musical joy to be had in Bonke’s multilayered, richly instrumented and dexterously performed compositions. By the looks of it, he’s is well in to a second Klak Tik album, recorded in a converted chapel in North Wales, but no release date is set. I am already looking forward to that…

Check it out if you like:
Sufjan Stevens and compatriots Choir Of Young Believers, Efterklang and Slaraffenland.

More Klak Tik:
On Facebook
On MySpace
On www

Genre: Alternative
Who: Klak Tik
Album: Must We Find A Winner
Label: Safety First Records/Slow Shark/VME
Year: 2010/2011
Country: Denmark
Language: English
DOWNLOAD VIA

Recommended tracks:
The 2nd Wave Is Sometimes Bigger – Carpet Swept – With Ernest & George – Tomme Domme – Kneel To Avoid Beheading – Knuckles, Depressed