Acres Wild
'63
AW (digital via Spotify/Wimp/iTunes)

Acres Wild presents their first single (digital only), and show their love and affection for 60s jangly pop, tinged with a sun tan, vocal harmonies, hand-claps, mellotron, and cool guitars. "Wipe the dust of these old guitars, wipe of the dust of this old chair..."

Acres Wild is a quartet counting vocalist (and songwriter) Magnus Askjer Lefsaker, lead guitarist Simen Følstad Nilsen, bass-player Even Andenæs, and drummer Mads Frøystadvåg Skovdahl. Since they're a bunch of highly active souls and creative minds, Simen Følstad Nilsen and Frøystadvåg Skovdahl also play in the band Alion. Besides this Simen also slings his guitar in Aiming for Enrique and in Antipoison Slammer.

"'63" is a slightly Midlake-ish tune, or a more up-tempo song by Teenage Fanclub; both bands named as Influences, along with The Zombies, The Byrds, The Decemberists, R.E.M, and... Jethro Tull! (In fact, The band is named after a song from Heavy Horses by Jethro Tull). Anyway, this single is a sunny pop song, catchy and ear-tickling, with some delicate guitar playing. Quite impressive, indeed charming. An EP will follow in September, presenting a more melancholy side of the band, which could be quite fitting for the season. We'll just have to wait and see.

For now: The summer starts here!

Copyright © 2013 Håvard Oppøyen