It seems like the premieres I’m gravitating towards these days conjure visions of the apocalypse. That sounds bleak, and maybe it is, but the music is great. Today’s premiere, from the Oslo-based Spurv, is no exception. “Å vente er å endre” meshes haunting, minimalist guitars and eerie vocals alongside absolutely crushing walls of guitars and atonal string dissonance for a concise, devastating, and memorable track that leaves me wanting much more.
Thankfully, more is coming soon. “Å vente er å endre” is a track off of Spurv’s upcoming record, Brefjære, which will be released on the never-disappointing Pelagic Records. Spurv has been releasing their brand of post-rock/metal since 2012, and Brefjære is the sextet’s follow-up to 2018’s Myra.
The vocals on “Å vente er å endre” offer a through-line in a song that meshes atmospheric, sustained guitar melodies, synths, and off-kilter strings. While much of the track is calm, I was absolutely caught off guard by what happens about 20 seconds into the song. Spurv pit dissonant string crescendos against stacks of guitars for a brief but intense early climax in the already less than three minute track. This symphonic direction is one that Spurv will take even further on their upcoming record, describing it as:
‘A music piece for orchestra, choir, and band, Brefjære combines the orchestral grandeur of MONO, with the wistful textures of This Will Destroy You and the Scandinavian mysticism of Sigur Rós.’
All of this beauty and brutality is furthered by an accompanying video that follows the vocalist through a foggy forest bathed in a blue twilight. The occasional out-of-focus camera work and jarring handheld motion gives the video a found-footage horror feel that, combined with the fantastical forest imagery, complements the musical juxtaposition and intensity of Spurv’s new song. This theme of nature is very intentional, as primary songwriter Gustav Jørgen Pedersen explains:
‘I recently moved to Tromsøya, which is an island to the far north above the polar circle. One day I looked out the window where I see the mountains and the birch trees and I found myself wondering, if they could speak, what would they be telling each other?’
Answering this question through music resulted in the creation of Brefjære. I am absolutely enthralled by this concept, excellently conveyed by “Å vente er å endre”. This is quite the accomplishment, considering the song’s brevity. I can’t wait to hear more from Spurv on the upcoming Brefjære. If you feel the same, follow Spurv on Facebook and Instagram, and stream them on Bandcamp.