The philosophy of this Norwegian band, named after explorer Thor Heyerdahl, is that anything sung with conviction can make sense. The principle, I suppose, is that in this way language barriers fade away and the world becomes our sonic oyster.
It's a nice idea but it doesn't do much to raise the level of excitement or comprehension for this 30 minute album of plastic synth pop.
The collective is led by producer and songwriter Kenneth Ishak along with co-songwriter Tore Løchstøer Hauge and Knut Frøysnes.
They actually sing in English although the metaphors tend to be obscure.
The process behind the sophomore release involved inviting musicians from various musical backgrounds - dub, jazz, electronica, psychedelia and folk.
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I applaud this level of openness, as I do their declared anti-urbanist stance and awareness of environmental concerns but none of these things endear me to their music.
Acid Rain merely sounds like a Pet Shop Boys outtake and the rest has such a wishy-washy quality there is very little of real substance to engage with.
The title, referenced on the closing track Skægârden, apparently relates to "crazy characters on the island of Su Can who worship the blood sister in the dreamed shape of a panther"!?
If this makes any sense to you, you might like this record.
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