Search - Kings of Convenience :: Quiet Is the New Loud

Truly kings of convenience, and my personal favorites.

K. Warner | 10/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a music producer myself, I've turned wholeheartedly to Kings of Convenience for inspiration over the last few years. Seeing their video "Misread" on TV while on a trip to Italy started it all. The only album available to me at the time was Quiet is the New Loud ("Misread" is on their second album, "Riot on an Empty Street"), their first album, and I thought I'd give it a shot. Off the plane from Milan, I dug in and became a fan over the next week. Here were two guys (similar to me in appearance/demeanor) from Norway performing what should be a rather dated style of acoustic music, but doing it with such relevance, rhythm and soul that I was hooked instantly. The bossanova elements and convenient chordal progressions on "Quiet is the New Loud" are modestly produced yet accented perfectly by the vocal harmonies of Eirik and Erland, two casual Norwegian pals in their early thirties. Comparisons to other 'similar' groups don't hold much water as I've tried to find similar artists (hungry for more!) and haven't found the same exotic quality in any other to date.



Other Guitarists have created somewhat complex tablature for their songs but often overlook obvious ways of playing their songs rather credibly; Truly "Kings of Convenience," this duo often find the easiest yet most fulfilling way of performing their progressions, revitalizing acoustic guitar music with layers of understated strumming, fingerpicking, and soft Gilberto-esque vocals. Understated is the key word here; nothing about KOC is over the top. And the sheer simplicity (a phrase used in their second album in harmony with guest vocalist Feist) of their songs is deceiving. These two know how to play guitar but they want you to pay more attention to the emotion than the production.



While some may take the softness of KOC's music at face value, it is important to look past it to an almost ironic strength hidden in the layers. Very rarely do such beautifully blended melodies offer this level of relevance, carried between the notes in the tone of the voice and the words they sing. I've never been much of a fan of acoustic guitar but Kings of Convenience speak to me as a peer. Their songs are easy to remember, fun to play, and packed with subtleties that will keep your musical tastebuds busy for a very, very long time.



Quiet is the New Loud and KOC's second album (Riot on an Empty Street) hold a joint slot in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. And I can't say that for any other folk/acoustic group. Buy this album; you won't regret it."

A favorite...

Bradley Olin | Santa Cruz, CA United States | 12/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Quiet is the New Loud" was my first exposure to the Kings of Convenience. A few summers ago I was subletting a room in Iowa City, and found the disc carelessly left out and exposed on top of the stereo. As a music director in college I am familiar with various record labels and the general quality of music they tend to release. So it's no surprise that I immediately noticed the Astralwerks logo on the bare CD. For those of you unfamiliar with the label, they've published the music of great bands such as: Phoenix, Sondre Lerche, Air, and many others. I was later excited to learn that somehow I had overlooked the fact that Erlend Øye-- front man for Kings of Convenience-- was also the mastermind behind the DJ Kicks album and his solo dance-tronica debut "Unrest", which was host to some great guest collaborations including Prefuse 73.



Naturally I was curious and so I popped the CD in, expecting to hear some kind of electronica or IDM. This was during the day and I was trying to get myself motivated to be productive. I must say I was disappointed upon first listen. Here was these two Norwegian guys, singing soft melodies about the future, experiences, people, etc, and I couldn't wrap my head around it, and it certainly wasn't getting me up moving around. I decided to give it a second listen later that evening while relaxing with a book.



And then I fell in love.



This is a beautifully complex album. By the second listen, I was hooked. Each time I hear it, I pick up new subtleties, and the album itself is produced in such a way that the tracks really transition seamlessly into one experience. The songs can stand alone, but the album is really best enjoyed in one listen.



This album is especially refreshing amidst today's pop music, chock full of fashion-whoring, emo kids, pop-punkers who've lost touch with their roots (The Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols), boy bands... and all of the other over-produced garbage that floods our senses out there. To find something so simple that it can be enjoyed effortlessly, but still so intricate that it's good through and through and time after time is exceptional. It's a rare album these days that you will find yourself wanting to play straight through from first track to last. I can only think of a few that come to mind ("OK Computer" being one of them).



This is a thinker's album. Great for Sunday mornings in bed, relaxing with books or crossword puzzles, or just general lazing around. Whenever I play this album for a friend, it's an immediate hit.



Recommended if you like: Simon and Garfunkel, Phoenix, Nick Drake, Belle and Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, L'Altra, the One AM Radio, Ben & Jason, the American Analog Set."