Description

Black vinyl with gatefold cover

Norwegian sextet Spurv has made major strides since 2015’s Skarntyde, which demonstrated substantial progress from 2012’s debut. On Myra, the tracks are shorter, the riffs more diverse, the power through the roof. This is not a headphone album, or even a car album; it deserves the full speaker treatment. Even a house is hardly enough to contain its energy; an outdoor stadium would be perfect. Spurv means sparrow, but here it sounds like a pterodactyl. As soon as those monster riffs drop in “Et Løfte I Fall,” we’re sold. Spurv is continually in search of its best sound. The jump from average to good (2012-2015) wasn’t satisfying enough for the band, whose goal was to go from good to great. A few friends came along for the new recording sessions, including members of Moe and Ulver. Together, what a lovely racket they make. The one-two punch of “Og Ny Slog Baeres Frem” and “Far Dypet Under Stenen” is the best thing we’ve heard in this category since Do Make Say Think’s “Bound And Boundless” a year ago: a no-holds-barred style that leaves one pleasantly drained. But Mono is a better comparison, as many are likely to hear traces of Hymn To The Immortal Wind, especially when strings and brass collide, producing an enormous impact. The difference between them is that Spurv has abandoned long repetitions in favours of greater melodic turnover. There’s even a glockenspiel (sparingly used), a nod to some of the post-rock’s most memorable productions. Some say the golden years of post-rock are over, and that all the best bands are on their way down. But Spurv is like a salmon, swimming against the tide. Myra sounds like a classic. It’s the post-rock album to beat in 2018.

Track list:
1. Et Løfte I Fall
2. Og Ny Skog Bæres Frem
3. Fra Dypet Under Stenen
4. Hviler Bekkenes Sang
5. Et Blekt Lys Lyder
6. Fra Myrtempelet
7. Den Gamles Stemme Brister
8. Allting Får Sin Ende, Også Natten