[review]
From Nordic rock come viseMènn and their first official single (released 13th October, 2015). Helge, Lars, Magnar and Sølve (what magnificent names those are – like characters from a grand Teutonic opera) make up this Norwegian band. They are no strangers to our shores and have played at no less an iconic venue than The Cavern in Liverpool.
Described variously as Atmospheric Rock, Ambient Rock and Dream Rock (for you lovely genre nerds), viseMènn worked on this track for a long time, determined to get the exact sound they wanted.
Quite heavy rock dissolves into a slow gentle plea, “I’m begging you please”. Jangly guitar, plus keyboards that add atmosphere and percussion the insistent nature of that plea, are part of the richness. The record’s artwork is abstract and dense, with thick layers of paint, to reflect the complexity of the song, which has many parts to deconstruct on each play.
This band seems to follow where the music, and not the industry, leads them. Certainly their coming together was unconventional. In 2005, bassist/vocalist Helge Corneliussen founded an experimental, improvised jam project, given the name of “A Crack in Time and the Break of Dawn” – sounds like an episode of Dr Who – and the band members met on the project.
As for the accompanying promo video, we see the band performing deep in an autumnal Norwegian wood (and Beatles fans know that Norwegian wood is good). It’s one of those videos where the band is playing, seemingly oblivious to dramatic events happening nearby. A male motorist is trying to resuscitate a cyclist that we presume he has just knocked off his bike. Along comes a female jogger – now she is attempting to resuscitate. There is despair – it’s all very intense, but I won’t spoil the twists and turns that develop as you keep watching.
This is a band I’d like to hear more from. Apparently, the band name means “Wisemen”, a bold statement but one which exudes the kind of confidence that promises much more.
