22-10-2009, 00:07
new album released Oct 20th
Declaration Of Dependence
![[Image: n18296h3au9.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drn100/n182/n18296h3au9.jpg)
from the album - Rule My World
YouTube - [HD] Kings of Convenience - Rule My World (New Song #5), Seoul 2008 Part 8
from amg
Bergen, Norway-based indie-pop duo Kings of Convenience teamed singer/guitarist Erik Glambek Bøe and guitarist Erlend Ãye. After first earning notice thanks to a series of acclaimed European festival appearances during the summer of 1999, the twosome signed to American label Kindercore to issue their lovely eponymous debut the following spring. Quiet Is the New Loud was issued in early 2001on Astralwerks. The album used many of the same tracks from the Kindercore release but re-ordered them and replaced a few with newer songs. The remix album Versus followed later in the year and featured remixes by artists as diverse as Ladytron, avid Whitaker and Four Tet. After a three year layoff during which Ãye recorded a solo album, 2003's Unrest, and gained some reknown as an electronica DJ while Bøe worked on finishing up his psychology degree, the pair teamed up again for the recording and release of 2004's excellent Riot on an Empty Street. After a five year break during which rumors of a break-up swirled around the duo, then were dispelled by a series of occasional concerts during 2007 and 2008, they returned with a new album in October of 2009. Declaration of Dependence was made up of songs written during that long break and retains all of the group's trademark sound.
album review
In the five years since their last record, the duo of Erlend Ãye and Erik Glambek Bøe have each been busy, Ãye with DJ gigs and his other band the Whitest Boy Alive, and Bøewith his day job and fighting Clear Channel in their hometown of Bergen, Norway. Getting back into Kings of Convenience mode sounds like it was as easy as putting on a fresh pair of socks. Their third album, Declaration of Dependence, sounds like it could have been recorded at the same session as Riot on an Empty Street; it's just as relaxed, mellow, and dreamy. The pair's voices blend like honey and more honey, each of them possessing vocal chords made of cotton candy. They twine their voices around complex but warmer-than-a-Snuggie harmonies on every song; the comparisons to Simon & Garfunkel still hold up, though by now they really sound most like themselves, and not imitators. This album is sparser than the last; there are no guest vocals and very infrequent extra instruments (strings, piano). It gives the proceedings a very intimate sound, between this, the duo's hushed voices, and the peaceful songs, it's even quieter and more subdued than anything they've done so far. The mood of introspective reflection never breaks, and almost becomes unbearably powerful on a track like "My Ship Isn't Pretty." Bøe and Ãye pull no punches and spare no emotions, they are skilled veterans who know how to format and pace an album. The only thing the record lacks is a song as catchy as "I'd Rather Dance with You," or any songs with drums. It's not really a problem, though, since the overall effect of the album's melodies adds up to something just as powerful. A few of the songs stand out as possible singles, too, like the bossa nova-y "Mrs. Cold" or the almost peppy anti-war song "Rule My World." The lack of drums isn't much of a problem,either, the acoustic guitars that underpin the songs provide all the rhythmic push they need. Adding drums might have spoiled the introspective and feather-light feel of the record. Anyone who's been on their bandwagon all along will be glad of that, as they'll rejoice that Declaration of Dependence turns out to be another autumnal treasure from the Kings.
Track Listing
1 24-25 Boe, Oye 03:38
2 Mrs. Cold Boe, Oye 03:06
3 Me in You Boe, Oye 03:08
4 Boat Behind Berlolini, Boe, Hett, Oye 03:40
5 Rule My World Boe, Oye 03:31
6 My Ship Isn't Pretty Boe, Oye 03:46
7 Renegade Boe, Oye 04:15
8 Power of Not Knowing Boe, Oye 02:22
9 Peacetime Resistance Berlolini, Boe, Hett, Oye 02:53
10 Freedom and Its Owner Boe, Oye 03:23
11 Riot on an Empty Street Boe, Oye 04:05
12 Second to Numb Boe, Oye 03:36
13 Scars on Land Boe, Oye 03:52
Declaration Of Dependence
from the album - Rule My World
YouTube - [HD] Kings of Convenience - Rule My World (New Song #5), Seoul 2008 Part 8
from amg
Bergen, Norway-based indie-pop duo Kings of Convenience teamed singer/guitarist Erik Glambek Bøe and guitarist Erlend Ãye. After first earning notice thanks to a series of acclaimed European festival appearances during the summer of 1999, the twosome signed to American label Kindercore to issue their lovely eponymous debut the following spring. Quiet Is the New Loud was issued in early 2001on Astralwerks. The album used many of the same tracks from the Kindercore release but re-ordered them and replaced a few with newer songs. The remix album Versus followed later in the year and featured remixes by artists as diverse as Ladytron, avid Whitaker and Four Tet. After a three year layoff during which Ãye recorded a solo album, 2003's Unrest, and gained some reknown as an electronica DJ while Bøe worked on finishing up his psychology degree, the pair teamed up again for the recording and release of 2004's excellent Riot on an Empty Street. After a five year break during which rumors of a break-up swirled around the duo, then were dispelled by a series of occasional concerts during 2007 and 2008, they returned with a new album in October of 2009. Declaration of Dependence was made up of songs written during that long break and retains all of the group's trademark sound.
album review
In the five years since their last record, the duo of Erlend Ãye and Erik Glambek Bøe have each been busy, Ãye with DJ gigs and his other band the Whitest Boy Alive, and Bøewith his day job and fighting Clear Channel in their hometown of Bergen, Norway. Getting back into Kings of Convenience mode sounds like it was as easy as putting on a fresh pair of socks. Their third album, Declaration of Dependence, sounds like it could have been recorded at the same session as Riot on an Empty Street; it's just as relaxed, mellow, and dreamy. The pair's voices blend like honey and more honey, each of them possessing vocal chords made of cotton candy. They twine their voices around complex but warmer-than-a-Snuggie harmonies on every song; the comparisons to Simon & Garfunkel still hold up, though by now they really sound most like themselves, and not imitators. This album is sparser than the last; there are no guest vocals and very infrequent extra instruments (strings, piano). It gives the proceedings a very intimate sound, between this, the duo's hushed voices, and the peaceful songs, it's even quieter and more subdued than anything they've done so far. The mood of introspective reflection never breaks, and almost becomes unbearably powerful on a track like "My Ship Isn't Pretty." Bøe and Ãye pull no punches and spare no emotions, they are skilled veterans who know how to format and pace an album. The only thing the record lacks is a song as catchy as "I'd Rather Dance with You," or any songs with drums. It's not really a problem, though, since the overall effect of the album's melodies adds up to something just as powerful. A few of the songs stand out as possible singles, too, like the bossa nova-y "Mrs. Cold" or the almost peppy anti-war song "Rule My World." The lack of drums isn't much of a problem,either, the acoustic guitars that underpin the songs provide all the rhythmic push they need. Adding drums might have spoiled the introspective and feather-light feel of the record. Anyone who's been on their bandwagon all along will be glad of that, as they'll rejoice that Declaration of Dependence turns out to be another autumnal treasure from the Kings.
Track Listing
1 24-25 Boe, Oye 03:38
2 Mrs. Cold Boe, Oye 03:06
3 Me in You Boe, Oye 03:08
4 Boat Behind Berlolini, Boe, Hett, Oye 03:40
5 Rule My World Boe, Oye 03:31
6 My Ship Isn't Pretty Boe, Oye 03:46
7 Renegade Boe, Oye 04:15
8 Power of Not Knowing Boe, Oye 02:22
9 Peacetime Resistance Berlolini, Boe, Hett, Oye 02:53
10 Freedom and Its Owner Boe, Oye 03:23
11 Riot on an Empty Street Boe, Oye 04:05
12 Second to Numb Boe, Oye 03:36
13 Scars on Land Boe, Oye 03:52
I definitely plan to check out some more when I have the time!