Spoon Train Audio are here with another Oslo compilation, showing yet again how much great music the capital’s independent pop scene has to offer. There’s been a lot of talk about Bergen being the musical capitol of Norway, but for every time I play through Oslo 2, it gets clearer and clearer that Oslo really is the capitol of Norway, musically too.
For us who try keeping up-to-date with independent Norwegian music, there are few tracks on this compilation that haven’t been spun around dozens of times already, but I think this is a fantastic way to introduce the great pop of Oslo to the sheeplike masses who have never heard much of it before. It’s incredible how the majority of people can ignore all this great music. With that said, it’s pretty clear that the music is getting some recognition in various places. Like Hiawata!’s “Valley Boys” being featured on a TV commercial the Norwegian Directorate of Health is running, which was sort of absurd and something I didn’t even realize before I had seen the commercial a number of times.
The album is filled with beautiful indie pop songs both from bands who have been around a while, like Hiawata!, My Little Pony, Monzano and Nomber 5s, as well as some bands that are pretty new to most of us. The biggest surprise for me was definitely Like Spinning. “Chrush (And Naïvety)” is a mellow piece of pop brilliance, the kind you don’t hear too often. I’m really looking forward to hearing more. There’s also the British-Norwegian band Casa Murilo, who’ve just recently released their debut EP. This compilation is packed full of great songs and it’s arranged and put together very well, making an album that feels very whole and right.
Oslo 2 is such a great introduction to the indie pop from Oslo, I think it’s just about the perfect christmas gift for anyone who appreciates music. And if you’re only going to get yourself one album this year, I suggest you get this one.
Tracklist:
- Cold Mailman – Time Is Of Essence
- Hiawata! – Valley Boys
- Children And Corpse Playing In The Streets – France
- The Little Hands Of Asphalt – The Next Time We Meet
- Einar Stray – Arrows
- Therese Aune – Chamelon
- Firetop Mountain – How Can You Dance At A Time Like This
- Go Fandango – End Credits
- Norma Sass – Born In The 80’s
- Monzano – Cold Waters
- Casa Murilo – Murilo I Love You
- Like Spinning – Crush (And Naivety)
- Seppuku Zephyr Dance – Carousel
- Yoyoyo Acapulco – Facial
- My Little Pony – Capital Of Norway
- Nomber 5s – Dancing To The Oslo Beat
The compilation is out 16. november. Release party at Internasjonalen 12. november with live performances by Cold Mailman, Like Spinning and Therese Aune.