To misquote Dolly Parton, it can take lot of effort to make things look simple. On their first album in 12 years, Norwegian acoustic duo Kings of Convenience – Eirik Glambek Bøe and Erlend Øye – wear their protracted creative process lightly. Recorded over five years in five different countries, their search for clarity on their fourth album feels intuitive rather than laboured.
Befitting an act who called their 2001 debut Quiet Is The New Loud, the pair’s music is delicate and sparse, often beautiful.
Within strict parameters (two voices harmonising, two guitars interlocking), it can fluctuate subtly between textures.
Your guide to what to watch next – no spoilers, we promise
Opener “Rumours” is measured and melancholy, finger-picking “Comb My Hair” is pretty, but “Catholic Country”, written with folk trio The Staves and featuring Feist, adds a Spanish flavour.
A decade of life is poured into achingly raw tales of death, divorce and disputes. There’s no better example than the desolate “Love is a Lonely Thing”, sung by Feist with great vulnerability.
