Riot on an Empty Street (Source)
Three years ago, the Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience found themselves at the forefront of the so-called New Acoustic Movement. Not plugging their guitars in has proved to be surprisingly lucrative, but repeating the feat may be tricky.
Riot on an Empty Street is an equally pretty album, packed with melodic Simon and Garfunkel-style songs and lyrics about other people’s relationships. The New Acoustic Movement, however, has since died a death, and the band could suffer by association.
On the other hand, there is now the potential to tap in to a less trend- conscious, older audience. The songs here wouldn’t distress Norah Jones fans, while the bossa nova feel to the first single, Misread, should help it to find a place on the Radio 2 playlist. Don’t think that Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Boe have come over all middle of the road; Riot . . . is simply a lighter, less melancholic album than its predecessor, with smarter production and stronger song structures. There are subtle cellos, catchy piano parts, what sounds like a strummed banjo and, mid-album, a trio of comparatively upbeat numbers — well, you can tap your toes to them.
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Tucked away at the end there is the wonderfully dreamy The Build Up, with guest vocals from the Canadian singer Feist (a fan of the band sent them a tape), who sounds like a fragile Björk. More of Feist on the album would have been nice, but the Norwegian pair do a fine job all on their own.
Lisa Verrico