Infusing nostalgic spy movie inspiration with a knack for hooky psych-pop expanses, Evasion is the riveting new album from Y is Nature. The venture of Danish composer and songwriter Hjalmar Littauer excels with a replay-inducing, trendy 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 outcome blends these spy thriller inspirations with a melding of pop, different, dream-pop, psychedelia, and disco for an immersive model 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 plush 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 closing 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. “Bother” is great as nicely — embracing these spy parts within the whispered vocal parts and preliminary development; shades of James Bond movies are once more evident. Sindre Bjørkli Ramberg (Nice Folks) lends a compelling vocal presence right here, with the foreboding “ship is sinking quick,” lyricism infusing inside vintage-sounding strings and hypnotic guitars for one more ravishing aesthetical success. Evasion is a completely memorable success from Y is Nature.
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“Take Care of Me” and different tracks featured this month could be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Rising Singles’ Spotify playlist.