Norway’s Snøskred (pronounce the Ø as the i in bird) are
here with their sublime international debut album Empty
House, set for release on February 19th via Riot Factory.
Snøskred (Norwegian for “avalanche”) have already set
themselves apart as one of the brightest new bands in their
homeland. Now, following a fantastic response to single
‘Puzzle’ late last year, they prepare to introduce an album
to the rest of the world for the first time.
Citing Pavement, Wilco, Talk Talk and Yo La Tengo as
important influences on their sound, they present an album
of beautifully subtle, slow burning and introverted tracks
that pack a sly punch, lingering in your memory &
earning a place in your heart.
There is so much information and noise around us on an
everyday basis,” says singer Karl Klaseie. “Whenever
something forces me to think twice about it I'm often
inspired to write a song about it.”
Having spent his childhood summers in the US, at his
mother’s family home, Karl’s influences are scattershot:
“This album is me waking from a dream about Scarface, about
the desolation left behind by the American car industry,
about personal stuff that just had to be said out loud,
about Doomsday Preppers and bicycle couriers - about lots of
things, but everything is connected somehow.”
And it’s Snøskred’s playful way of linking these disparate
topics, their recognition of how things that seemingly have
nothing to do with each other are indeed related if only by
our associations with them, that characterizes the lyrical
themes on Empty House.
The album title Empty House is taken from the opening
phrase of the opening track "Motor City" and is quite
literally the opening lyric to the album. “An empty house is
a house ready to be filled with different things, and we
figured that we’d leave room for the listener to do this
with our music as well” Karl explains.
Empty House is self-produced by band members Karl Klaseie
and Kyrre Laastad, and recorded by the band at Greener,
Trondheim between June 2014 and April 2015. Greener Studio
is also run by Karl with Simen Hallset of Gold Celeste, and
was the birthplace of the recent albums by Gold Celeste and
Dråpe.
The making of Empty House was a process of self-discovery
for Snøskred, of learning who they are and who they aspire
to be as a band, of learning how they write together, and
where they stand in relation to both their own previous
music and that of their influencers.
The result is a record that sounds focused and at peace
with itself. Beautifully restrained and meticulously
crafted, it draws the listener in to a place of sun-dazzled
contemplation and rumination. A record packed full of
beguiling melodies that don’t have to shout or showboat to
earn their place in your heart.
The Guardian
«drowsy, dreamy indiepop»
Amazing Radio/Simon Raymonde (Bella Union/Cocteau Twins)
«Wonderful stuff from Trondheim, Norway’s Snøskred»
The 405
«Softly jangling guitars, a jaunty rhythm, and gloriously
understated lines like, "We eat our breakfast anytime we
want" and "The sun is hot / the water's icy cold," prove its
endearing, uncluttered nature and general laid-back vibe.
Feels fresh, and it feels pastoral, as if this advocacy of a
simpler life has deeper connotations of removing oneself
from the modern world entirely.»
Snøskred released their critically acclaimed Norwegian
debut album «Whiteout» in 2012, an album filled with noisy
guitars, seductive synths, pounding drums and rumbling bass.
Snøskred received received lots of positive blog attention
internationally for «Whiteout» and it’s two singles «We Are»
and «Come Closer», but also for their live shows. Renowned
websites Brooklyn Vegan and Mojo Magazine both had Snøskred
as favorites after seeing them live in Oslo in 2012.
