KNEKKLECTRIC

I have repeatedly raised the point on this site that Scandinavia (or the Nordic countries, or however you want to define Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland) punch above their weight in the world of rock music. Based on their populations, those five countries (though less so with Denmark) comprise a disproportionately large chunk of my library. Today I'm specifically focusing on the Norwegian act Knekklectric.

Alt blir verre (Eng: Everything Gets Worse) is their first new full-length since 2017. The brand of music they play is fun, clever, and overall relatively sunny, especially when compared to some of their compatriots. Their lyrics are also in a non-standard dialect of Norwegian (the sociolinguistics of Norwegian are quite complicated), so I had to make some slight guesses when translating song titles.

The album opens with the tinkling piano of "Angra på" ("Regret On"). Right off the bat, the harmonized vocals and whirring synths add a celestial quality to the music. Twin guitars add a bit of Thin Lizzy-style fun during their brief appearances, and there's a sense of grandeur as the song builds. An extended solo in the song's second half introduces some small touches of jazz, and it resolves into an enveloping reprise of the chorus.

The album's title track follows. There's a laid-back, jazzy flow in its early moments. Folk influences appear, as well. I don't speak Norwegian, but contrasting the title against the light nature of this music gives me the sense that there's a nice, thick layer of irony here. Around the two-minute mark, the song bursts into a new movement. Clavinet and a Neil Peart-style tom fill kick off an energetic synth solo, and when the vocals reenter, they're hoarsely screamed. The song closes on an extended instrumental passage featuring a majestic synth theme and dark backing guitar and piano.

"1992" opens with guitar and organ that are reminiscent of many classic Italian prog acts, though the upbeat, buzzy verse is decidedly modern. The chorus is big and has a nostalgic feel to it. The instrumental passages, like on the preceding songs, take up a significant portion of the runtime, but they're fun and feel purposeful. In the song's final two-and-a-half minutes, following the solos, the vocals build from subtle and gentle to huge and triumphal.

Space-jazz synth textures and a steady rhythm kick off "Muknado" (no translation given in Google Translate). This song is fairly light overall, though big guitar lines and organ dominate the chorus. 

"Rød bil" is another fairly light cut, featuring prominent folk influences in the verses. The inclusion of a vibraphone is a nice touch. In the midsection, understated vocals and acoustic guitar are paired with a lovely synth solo, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition. The opening theme eventually gets reinterpreted in an energetic fashion in the song's final minute.

The opening guitar of "Beksvart gull" ("Black Gold") is ragged and bluesy, and the first verse features some interesting vocal experiments. This song features more funky clav in its midsection, and the blending of jazz-rock and space rock is done very well.

Alt blir verre ends with "Se på me no" ("Look at Me Now"). The opening is slow and gentle, featuring just electric piano and vocals. These low-key verses are contrasted against much grander choruses, which prominently feature walls of organ and crashing cymbals. That said, this is probably the weakest song on the album, and it doesn't really feel like a fitting conclusion.

This Norwegian act's latest release is fantastic. The songs are smartly constructed and strike an impressive balance between artsiness and accessibility. There are strong melodic hooks mixed in with densely-layered instrumental passages, and the whole affair is a deeply satisfying listen.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2022/05/30/album-review-knekklectric-alt-blir-verre/

Knekklectric is a band born musically in 2012, releasing its 3rd album, 4 years after the avant-garde 'For Mange Melodia'. This new album offers 7 tracks from our current era, in the singular 'lesund dialect, signing colorful, fruity, bucolic compositions from which each note and air seems to squirt here and there like a new chance for the world going worse and worse!

'Angra Paa' starts with a fruity fusion pop rock with the vocal particularity of 'lesund to which it will be necessary to acclimatize, like the Nena of the 80's in Teutonic; you have to wait for the drum roll to have the sumptuous progressive variation. 'Alt Blir Verre': softer, jazzy fusion with the keyboard forward; by far or near an air of course from last year's Meer which I had made the top of the year; a calmer digression, then shouted, progressive, eclectic and airy, unclassifiable. '1992' follows on the same tonic framework and it is only in the break that the new prog of the decade has an effect, fresh, strange, appetizing. 'Muknado': on a thundering jazzy-rock tune, a little on the intimate Joe Jackson, a playful South American tune, disturbing because far from prog and also filled with progressive sap, musical paradigm at its height. 'Roed Bil': with the priority given to the voices on this convoluted and precise title before a final pleasurable vocal climb. "Beksvart Gull" is hard to decipher, jazzy Alan Parsons, Frank Zappa modern jazz, progression of crystalline, aerial instruments. 'Se Paa Me': melancholy and/or explosive ballad, song-hymn of a new musical order of the decade of 2020, the vintage keyboard amplifying nostalgia.

Knekklectric releases a fusion album between prog rock and jazzy pop, fresh, furious, colorful, funky and groovy at the same time. An album full of meticulous arrangements, seeming to come out of nowhere, a discovery album where classical instruments make fun of the guitar; album with a dark, sly language to shock even more.

What a colourful landscape and catchy, friendly atmosphere their opus is. Such refined rhythmic bases and pleasant melody lines remind me of the similarity to another Norwegian project of the same generation NEEDLEPOINT. Their creativity and soundscape give me an assumption the two splendid units would be conscious of each other. Of course I cannot say which band I prefer and I should completely be absorbed and addicted to both of them. Their creation's shot me a massive bullet that encourages me under such a tough, depressive pandemic situation. I have definite energy even after hard work for covid-related issues around me. Let me say I wish I could go to Norway and attend their gigs soon.

Beautiful keyboard plays give me enthusiasm at the beginning of the first break "Angra P'". Their sound tension never falls to minorities, and uptempo powerful melodic / rhythmic management makes me quite optimistic. Such musical medication is crucial. Their chorus is not so dreamy but delightful. I'm wondering why their anti-popism can catch my heart firmly. Guess they always enjoy playing from the bottom of their hearts. Give a listen to their perfect instrumental combination, that shows me another safe and sound mindset. The following titled track gets jazzier and more stabilized but their colourful policy cannot be lost at all. "Alt blir verre" means "Everything gets worse" in English but mysteriously no bad image but bright hope I can feel via the track, there are infernal shouts in the middle part though.

On the other hand, "1992" is kinda nostalgic one I can listen to without any tension on my shoulders. "Muknado" is one of the poppiest / catchiest tracks in the album but their strong intention for musical innovation and sound impact. Not so simple nor easygoing but relaxing stuff really. I feel slight roughness deeply into "R'd Bil" based upon silky smooth texture. "Beksvart Gull" is a heavier electronika. I love such a dissonant potential. Their chorus is pretty enjoyable. Bright percussion plays are also immersive. Magnificent stability and calmness of the last "Se P' Me No", the shortest song of all, is quite suitable for the epilogue of this magnification. This epilogue would mention we reconsider our lives even in such a crazy, difficult situation. Such an energetic message should encourage me clearly.