Quiet Is The New Loud

The Kings Of Convenience are a whimsical duo from the Noweigan city of Bremen, recently gaining attention due to a breathtaking series of gigs at European festivals last summer. Erland Xye and Erik Glambek Bue's tunecraft is based on the simple and effective interplay of two voices and two guitars, at times lushly accompanied by sumptuous strings ('The Weight Of My Words'), gorgeous piano breaks ('Parallel Lines') and beautiful blasts of brass ('Singing Softly To Me'). Despite these embellishments, the songs remain uncluttered and simple, allowing their inherent poignancy to soak through.

Xye and Bve wear their broken and bruised hearts proudly on their sleeves. Also their influences: Nick Drake, Belle And Sebastian and Red House Painters are clearly the acoustic icons that these pretty Norweigans listen to at home. It's a nice little collection, but you'll be pining for some filthy, dirty and loud rock n' roll after a few spins.

So is Quiet really the New Loud? Well, if staying in is the new going out, I can think of far worse soundtracks.