YOUTH PICTURES OF FLORENCE HENDERSON

It's been quite the week for me with three problems escalating in my life to the point I feel like I'm close to the edge. Yet I'm too self-aware to do anything crazy, so I endure. Still as I walked my dog Wednesday night late all I could do is muster "God" as I was about to ask for relief. I didn't ask as I became emotional only being able to say his name. I composed myself and continued to walk. In less than 24 hours each of the three different problems were dealt with. Yeah I believe in God.

The connection to that story with this recording is that the albums that I review each weekend are really the soundtracks to my life the previous week, whether my life is boring, tragic, amazing or whatever. Right from the first listen I felt that this was a special album. Instrumentally this is a Post-Rock album for sure but what did surprise me were the vocals which really make me think of Indie music. It's very uplifting and bright much of the time with lots of vocals, also a surprise. These guys are from Norway and this is their second studio album released in 2010. This recording is divided into two sections with the first called "Puzzle" worth close to 32 minutes and the second section called "The Detective" worth around 34 minutes. There are four songs in each with some amusing titles so lets have a look.

"Lets Rent Bikes From 1942" opens with picked guitar, atmosphere and drums as the violin joins in playing over top. Enjoyable stuff. We don't get vocals until just before 2 minutes. "I'd Rather Listen To Weston" has a beat to start as picked guitars join in. Such a feel good song as the vocals arrive. Some noisy Post-Rock styled guitars arrive before 2 minutes as the vocals stop. It settles quickly but then builds. The vocals are back after 3 minutes and the focus is back on them before 4 minutes. "He Can't be Dead, I Got His Autograph Last Week" has bass and drums leading early on as the guitar joins in then vocals. A fairly melancholic mood here. Violin 5 minutes in as it settles back. Spoken words end it. "To Sit Down Or To Follow, So I Follow" has these beautiful picked guitar sounds as drums, violin and more join in. Vocals before a minute and it picks up after 1 1/2 minutes until they are kicking ass. A complete calm 3 minutes in and it's gorgeous after 6 1/2 minutes. Children can be heard as it ends.

The second section begins with "Our Door Handles Stopped Moving Years Ago" where we get atmosphere as the drums and guitar join in. The vocals bring back sad news. Why does this move me? The violin leads 2 1/2 minutes in. "The League Will Never Let This Albino Kid Win" is a bright feel good track with vocals. The vocals stop as we can hear a female talking. Lots of droning violin over top of the upbeat sound. A triumphant final minute to this one. "I Think E.T. Is Involved In My Family" is very Post-Rock-like as the violin comes in over top. Vocals after 1 1/2 minutes as it settles some. It kicks in hard before 2 1/2 minutes but it's brief. How beautiful is this when it settles back. Check out the guitars 5 1/2 minutes in. It's so intense when it kicks in after 8 minutes, the most powerful part of the album. Insane! "Scientists Now Think This City Is Overdue" features guitars and sampled voices and children singing. Vocals before 2 minutes as the drums also join the guitars. Violin too. It brightens and becomes lighter a minute later which is my least favourite part of the album. It does change back though. Picked guitar only after 6 minutes but the drums and violin return. Violin to the fore and then it turns intense after 9 minutes, vocals too.

This is such an enjoyable album for me, so uplifting, it makes me smile just like the band's name. 4 solid stars.

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