Asif Khan Inc.

Declaration of Dependence – Kings of Convenience

In our part of the world, we have usually known the Scandinavians for their hard hitting versions of heavy metal. Or if we belong to another generation, we might remember them for their catchy dance pop tunes. Which is why when you are faced with mellow, folk based acoustic guitar work and sugary vocals emerging from that part of the world, you are forced to sit up and notice. With a sound that can most closely be identified with a modern day Simon and Garfunkel, the duo of Erlend Oye and Erik Glamben Boe are gradually making inroads across the world from their native Norway. On their third album, “Declaration of Dependence” the duo drip honey with their voices. The accompanying music on the strings is as sparse as the Nordic landscape, but in no way as bleak. The powerful introspection on “My Ship Isn’t Pretty” makes you wonder in ways not known before. This feeling spans itself through most of the album with its astute lyrical quality. It has its own moments of relief with the foot tapping “I’d Rather Dance With You” and “Mrs. Cold”. Themes of war are touched upon too. But they don’t drag you down, with a somewhat uptempo feel on “Rule My World”. With a debut album named “Quiet is the New Loud”, they hold potential to be part of a revolution to change the obsession with mammoth decibel levels we usually have.