KINGS OF CONVENIENCE

KINGS OF CONVENIENCE
QUIET IS THE NEW LOUD (2001)
320 KBPS

Although Kings of Convenience are keen to play down any blatantly self-evident similarities to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, and Belle and Sebastian, the winsome and placidity-favoring Norwegian duo of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe have probably already got the subway buskers of tomorrow lining up to lend an ear. Studentlike in appearance (one of them has a duffel coat and John Major specs) and unashamed to softly impart such nonrock lyrics as "put the kettle on" and "using The Guardian as a shield to cover my thighs against the rain," the weightless and airy acoustic guitar muse of Quiet Is the New Loud isn't a million miles from Radiohead's "Nice Dream" or Pink Floyd's "If" with a subliminal swish of bossa-nova rhythm. A contentedly purring cello, a plaintive touch of piano, and the muffled sound of a trumpet add necessary sonic depth, and the results are as pleasant and civilized as a little light conversation over tea in the drawing room.

1. Winning A Battle, Losing The War
2. Toxic Girl
3. Singing Softly To Me
4. I Don't Know What I Can Save You From
5. Failure
6. The Weight Of My Words
7. The Girl From Back Then
8. Leaning Against The Wall
9. Little Kids
10. Summer On The West Hill
11. The Passenger
12. Parallel Lines