Kings Of Convenience Riot On An Empty Street CD

Kings of Convenience: Eirik Glambek Boe, Erlend Oye.
Personnel: Erlend Oye (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, banjo, trumpet, piano, bass guitar, drums); Tobias Hett (viola); Davide Bertolini (double bass, upright bass); Peter Kates (cymbals, hi-hat).
Additional personnel: Feist.
Audio Mixer: Davide Bertolini.
Recording information: Duper Studios (09/2003-03/2004); Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway (09/2003-03/2004).
Arrangers: Tobias Hett; Davide Bertolini.
Riot on an Empty Street ends a long period of inactivity for Kings of Convenience. During their three-year layoff Erlend Oye could be found making solo records and DJing while Eirik Glambek Boe was finishing his psychology degree. Luckily for fans of beautiful vocals and thoughtful indie pop, they decided to get back together. What this band is all about is the sound of Boe and Oye's voices blended together in harmony. Their first album (in both incarnations) erred on the side of consistency. Here the band seems to have learned the all-important lesson of pace and variety. The arrangements are fuller too with pianos, strings, the occasional electric guitar, and lovely guest vocals on two tracks from Broken Social Scene member Leslie Feist. Not to say that they have gone crazy with change. They still stick pretty closely to the acoustic guitars and vocals path, and the tone of the album is autumnal and restrained as before. They have just added more songs like the gently driving "Misread," the lilting waltz "Stay Out of Trouble," and the downright peppy "I'd Rather Dance With You." Oye's side trip into electronica only rears it's head on the non-electronic but modern-sounding "Love Is No Big Truth." No matter what the song, though, when their tender, fragile voices harmonize it can be breathtaking. And heartbreaking. The moment in "Surprise Ice" when Eirik is joined by Erland will raise goose bumps. There are many others like that on Riot, and they are what sells the record. If you sort of liked the first record but wished it was more interesting, that it had more punch of both the sonic and emotional variety, then your wishes have come true. ~ Tim Sendra
When Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience released their appropriately titled Astralwerks debut, QUIET IS THE NEW LOUD in 2001, they were hailed as leaders of a "New Acoustic" movement. Their soft, Simon & Garfunkel-like harmonies and pristine acoustic guitar patterns set them in stark opposition to neo-garage rockers and emo punks. Three years later, their follow-up, RIOT ON AN EMPTY STREET, carries on much in the same vein.
Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe play multiple instruments, but acoustic guitar is still dominant, and the mood is one of fragile beauty, often either melancholy or bittersweet. The amazing thing is that the Kings managed the considerable task of living up to the promise of the hotly tipped QUIET IS THE NEW LOUD, releasing another batch of songs just as expertly conceived and executed. Nick Drake-esque art-folk gently rubs shoulders with Joao Gilberto-inspired bossa nova guitar rhythms, as lyrics mixing pure, heartfelt emotion and cerebral detachment float by on entrancing wisps of harmony. Oye and Boe continue to create whispers that are louder and more arresting than any scream.Rolling Stone (p.80) - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 - "[The album] shimmers with melancholy beauty..."
Rolling Stone (p.146) - Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records Of 2004 - "[T]his Norwegian folk duo proves that quiet is the new loud."
Entertainment Weekly (p.80) - "RIOT's tales of lost loves and existential confusion shimmer with precise harmonies, memorably melancholy melodies, and rich but restrained arrangements." - Grade: B+
Q (p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[S]weet, nostalgic and relishing the strength of words softly spoken."
Uncut (p.101) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[A]nother bittersweet, finger-picked confection that shows their chemistry is still there."
CMJ (p.5) - "[The] pastoral indie-pop is sharpened by horns, banjos and the occasional female vocal. The result is an album that brims with understated surprises."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.114) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Amid the album's fuzzy, halo'd mood, doe-eyed songs pop out like sweetbreads."