Rural Tapes review, Rural Tapes: Norwegian artist makes you delight in the unexpected

Norwegian artist Arne Kjelsrud-Mathisen has created an odyssey in eight songs

Roisin O'Connor
Friday 23 April 2021 09:12 BST
Comments
Norwegian artist Rural Tapes
Norwegian artist Rural Tapes (Press image)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Plenty of musicians use albums to carve new soundscapes. They are less preoccupied by the journey it takes to get there. Rural Tapes, the self-titled project of producer and multi-instrumentalist Arne Kjelsrud-Mathisen, is an odyssey in eight wonderful songs.

Stifled by the traffic and distractions of Olso, Kjelsrud-Mathisen decamped to the Norwegian countryside, where he immediately began experimenting. The cosmic sounds of Krautrock inform songs such as “Harmony”, in which a lone synth glides through space debris surrounded by fizzing percussion and strange, alien calls.

The piano composition “Opus 13” opens with the ghost of grandeur: an out-of-tune grand piano played in (what sounds like) an empty ballroom. Then, slowly, it seems to return to its former glory: a stately, poetic étude warmed by Italianate romance.

Rural Tapes delights in the unexpected. At every turn, you encounter something new, something to be marvelled over. Kjelsrud-Mathisen has said he wants this music to stand the test of time. It will.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in