VELVET THUNDER

The Norwegian post-rock band Dim Gray has followed up their magical and mystical debut, Flown, very rapidly with the vitally strategic second album Firmament. I wasn’t the only one to fall head over heels for this band when they arrived like a bolt out of the blue with what must surely be one of the greatest debut albums of all time. A bold statement indeed but if you have any doubts then have a listen to the album and tell me that you are not impressed with its maturity, the strength of song composition and the unique and breath-taking delivery of an outstanding team of major league musicians. I’ve been to Oslo and a vitally intense and beautiful city it is too and it is therefore no surprise that the bands that it produces have that special magic that makes them stand out from the rest.

So, we have Dim Gray which really is a band that defies categorisation as it is post-rock for sure but incorporates art-rock and prog rock with an ethereal pop music sensibility that ensures that each and every track is easy on the ear yet complex and delightful enough to stay with you forever. In many ways Dim Gray could almost be considered as a distillation of all the genuinely innovative rock bands from the last 50-years or so as they very much trade in territory previously explored by Roxy Music, Eno and the one and only David Bowie. Coming a little more up to date you have Radiohead, Sigur Rós, No-man, Mark Hollis/Talk Talk, Porcupine Tree and Ultravox of both John Foxx and Midge Ure versions. Then add a touch of A-Ha and particularly Morten Harket’s pure and angelic voice and even bands like Keane to give a sound that really is like no other at this moment in time.

I’ve said it before but the words still apply as Dim Gray continues to take you on an eclectic and ethereal voyage of discovery that is both gorgeous and sumptuous and I cannot imagine that there could be a person on the planet who would not be moved by the band’s exquisite delivery and the range of emotions that they take you through. Flown was a masterpiece of immense proportions and certainly announced the band on the world stage and the follow-up has been eagerly anticipated to see if Dim Gray is the real deal or one of those bands that release an earth-shattering album and then implode in the almost impossible task of following it up. In truth, the debut was just so fully formed, developed and delivered to perfection that the critical second album was always going to be another triumph given that it was going to be recorded and released on such a stunning base platform.

The band seems to have the golden knack of writing and performing exquisite multi-layered songs that are intricate, intense and electronically devastating. At moments you pick up Mark Hollis at his most expansive and experimental and then there are passages that are pure moments of Tony Banks inspired class that send a shiver down your spine. Words can never, ever do justice to the world that Dim Gray has conjured up for us with both albums being something that will stay with you forever and the sheer beauty and poetry will surely bring tears to the eyes of even the most cynical of people. Interestingly, the new album is out on the English Electric label which is owned by Big Big Train, a band ever on the path to world domination, and what a great move it is for the expansive Norwegians especially as they are touring with the band in September.

The band remains as Håkon Høiberg on guitar and vocals, Oskar Holldorff on vocals and keyboards with Tom Ian Klungland on drums and vocals and the fact that they all have excellent voices makes this a delightful work with wonderful harmonies which are perfect accompaniment for the life-affirming music that the band serves up for our pleasure. The album has seen three singles released which have truly whetted the appetite for the full album and what a revelation it is being such a stupendous journey of wonder and delight.

Maybe you think I exaggerate but this is simply not the case as I’m just giving praise where it is due; listen to the album and you will surely agree too.