Infusing nostalgic spy movie inspiration with a knack for hooky psych-pop expanses, Evasion is the riveting new album from Y is Nature. The undertaking of Danish composer and songwriter Hjalmar Littauer excels with a replay-inducing, fashionable sound that definitely succeeds in its purpose to seize “one thing cinematic and theatrical,” per Littauer. The Oslo-based artist additionally notes Portishead as an aesthetical affect. The general end result blends these spy thriller inspirations with a melding of pop, various, dream-pop, psychedelia, and disco for an immersive fashion known as “spy pop.”
Alongside Littauer’s illuminating manufacturing and hooky songwriting comes quite a lot of gifted collaborators, particularly within the vocal realm. Ronja Katrin Larsen’s magnetic vocals star on the observe “Transition,” seamlessly escalating from the luxurious acoustic-set ruminations into the flourishing synth colours; stunning synth work is a mainstay on the album’s manufacturing, with some contributed from Simon Littauer, who co-produced half its tracks. Radiant synths and alluring vocals construct into a beautiful flute-laden breeziness, which Littauer likens to an accompaniment to “a James Bond-type character coming to the rescue, saving the day in a movie’s remaining scene.”
One other standout comes within the observe “Take Care of Me,” the place haunting piano and atmospheric guitars complement the chilly vocals of vocalist and songwriter Tuva Svendsen Hesmyr. “And I attempt to so onerous to breathe,” heartrending vocals set free amidst solemn string preparations, traversing cohesively from this elegant balladry into extra rousing rock theatrics. “Hassle” is superb as effectively — embracing these spy components within the whispered vocal components and preliminary development; shades of James Bond movies are once more evident. Sindre Bjørkli Ramberg (Nice Individuals) lends a compelling vocal presence right here, with the foreboding “ship is sinking quick,” lyricism infusing inside vintage-sounding strings and hypnotic guitars for an additional ravishing aesthetical success. Evasion is an entirely memorable success from Y is Nature.
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“Take Care of Me” and different tracks featured this month will be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Rising Singles’ Spotify playlist.