The Airportline: Observations

One of last year’s must under-rated album was Peter Bjorn and Johns Living Thing. Coming off the success of their breakthrough album Writer’s Block they made sure to alienate as many people as possible by throwing out the warm sound of that output and instead land in a colder, more detached and minimalistic landscape. On Living Thing the band steered away from easy to digest melodies of Writers Block favorites like Paris 2004 and Young Folks.

I struggled with that change at first but eventually grew to like their new sound as the songs started to settle, and even though there is a coldness creeping around, the band never forgot how to be blue eyed romantics (I Want You!), funny (Living Thing) and deliver of the most amazing pop anthems of 2009 (Nothing To Worry About). Peter Bjorn and John have always walked their own way and there is a lot to be said for that. In this video by Amsterdam Acoustics they turn It Don’t Move Me into a celebration of musical creativity aided by what must be one of the coolest pianos on the planet.

Below are two other noteworthy video from the people at Amsterdam Acoustics, one where one of my true artistic role models, Erlend Øye plays on an Amsterdam tram, displaying some of the cities stunning beauty when the weather is good (I forgot the weather could be good here!) and a beautifully toned down and melancholic version of Passion Pits normally over the top The Reeling. Thanks to Katharina and Antoinette for opening my eyes to these recordings.

One of Airportlines favourite bands talk about growing up and what sounds like the end of music making from one of my true creative role models Erlend Øye in The Independent:

"Doing this album and the tour is definitely the end of a chapter for me, of these last two years," says Øye. "There are the three Kings of Convenience album, and the other albums I've been making. I feel I've said a lot. It's not the end of the band, but as a recording musician, I would love to take it easy now. I've said a lot of things. I wouldn't want to write anymore after this unless it really came very strongly to me. I don't think I'm going to be looking for it anymore. I guess there is all the other life out there. When you record albums, tour, record albums, tour, it's a constant state of emergency. You are losing out on normal life, on having friendships with people, routines. I guess at my age, either you just continue at a constant state of emergency or you have to really slow the pace down, try to reconnect to normal life, if such a thing exists."

A few months ago I was encouraged to answer various questions concerning the 30 most listened to artists on my last.fm profile. During a feverish June evening I wrote more or less thoughtful answers to these questions which I amid to publish on Facebook at some point. That point never came, since I never do what I intend on doing. So, now I will make a new plan (which I most likely will fail to adhere to as well) and publish some of these short texts on airportline instead. With videos. Here is the fourth post in this new series.

What is your favorite song by 15 (The Whitest Boy Alive)?
Don't Give Up, just because I love it when Erlend Öye sings 'give me a reason to stay constantly ignored' over those careful drums and sparse guitar strokes. It's the most heartbreaking thing I’ve heard since finding out that Burger King does not exist in Brussels. You'll know what I mean when you listen to it. I listen more often to Golden Cage though, because its funkier. But Don't Give Up is pure beauty. Some Germans and a Norwegian. Who knew that kind of combination would lead to this kind of music?!

One of the musical heroes in my world comes from Norway and has curly red hair. He made his name with another, less curly and red haired Norwegian, as the duo Kings Of Convenience in 2001. Erlend Öye now resides in Berlin, where he sometimes plays hipster funk with some Germans under the name The Whitest Boy Alive. They are amazing. But, it will always be for Kings Of Convenience that he will get his acclaim, and rightly so. After two amazing albums of hazy summery, Simon and Garfunkel sounding dreamy singer/songwriter pop the two Norwegians are lining up another album in October. One of the songs from that is called Mrs Cold, and it sounds just like you want it to sound. Like a summer setting on a warm evening the duo tip toe with their guitars over sand castles, lovers kissing and a few careful string swing by as well. Fantastic.