Podcast: Summer bummer, pt. 2

Washington
A new order rising
Glitterhouse

This Tromsø-based Norwegian band offers melodic epic rock reminiscent of bands like Radiohead, Coldplay and Muse. Guitarist/vocalist Rune Simonsen even sounds a bit like Thom Yorke in ballad mode at times. But this debut full-length (the band released an EP a few years ago) stands on its own quite nicely. If you can avoid thinking about all the stylistic touchstones, "A new order rising" is a very pleasant listen. "Landslide" is a sweet mid-tempo radio-friendly tune where Simonsen quickly shows his voice can soar with the best of 'em, while drummer Esko Pedersen and bassist Andreas Hoyer lay down a solid rhythmic foundation that's crisp and clear. "Have you ever" is actually one of the nicest slow songs I've heard this year, thanks to one of those stick-in-the-head melodies and a beautifully clear vocal (hey, a Norwegian Thom Yorke ain't such a bad thing, right?). Nice mellotron right in the middle, too. "River run by night" sounds like it's in a weird time signature, and it's so mesmerizing and carefully arranged that you imagine the band spending hours in the studio getting it just right. The cool percussion and lap steel guitar make it a standout track. The acoustic "Hymn" lets Simonsen show off his delicately beautiful falsetto, and if that's an autoharp being played behind it, bonus points for your good taste, guys! You're also gonna see a lot of reviews that single out the track "A long poem about the acts of heroes or gods." This nine-minute excursion into deep, Floyd-ian, guitar-based melancholy is the kind of big, expansive tune you can either lose yourself in, or shrug off 'cause it sounds like a bunch of other groups. I've opted for the former, and I've grown fond of this disc, even if it's a little monotonous in places.
- Kevin Renick

It took me awhile to appreciate Washington. I got their album "A new order rising" quite some time ago and initially wrote it off as generic mid-tempo melancholy. Y'know, that whole bloated genre populated by bands like Kent, Coldplay, Doves and countless others following in their wake? How much of that stuff do we need, right? But when I heard that Glitterhouse had licensed the record for a full European release (due out June 27), I figured I should probably give 'em another shot. So of course I went back and revisited it and found out my initial opinion was premature. There is a lot to like about this band, it's just that the record is really mellow and subtle, so it can take awhile to connect. For instance, the song I'm posting today is about as uptempo as these guys get. They spend a lot of time in more of an ethereal/folky mode and that doesn't always make for gripping listening experience. Yeah, they borrow quite a bit from Radiohead and Travis, but I think they add enough of their own touches to make it worthwhile. I especially like the use of pedal steel and what I believe is 12-string guitar on this track. Good stuff.

Norwegian Eardrums posts a bunch of new music, including tracks from Washington, Daisytown, Lites and Petiko: http://noreardrums.blogspot.com/2005/06/some-new-norwegian-music-for-you.html

Norway's Washington has announced that Glitterhouse Records will be releasing their debut album "A new order rising" all over Europe in late June.

Check out the video for "Landslide" from Norway's Washington: http://www.washington.no/video/lv.mov

Tromsø, Norway-based band Washington will release their debut full-length album "A New Order Rising" on August 9. As with the band's previous two EPs, it was produced and recorded by Lars Lien of Motorpsycho.

Norwegian band Washington has set their debut album "A New Order Rising" for an August release on Tuba Recordings, but will also put out an EP called "Maker of Time" in May. In the meantime, check them out on tour around Norway:

05/10 - Kampen Bistro, Oslo
05/11 - Lundetangen Pub, Skien
05/12 - Charlies Bar, Kristiansand
05/13 - Stødden, Haugesund
05/14 - Garage, Bergen
05/15 - Fraktgodsen, Voss

The young band is said to sound a bit like Radiohead, but more lo-fi and 'obscure'.