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Ai Phoenix — The Driver Is Dead
(Apollon Records APR026LP, 1999/2024, LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2024-08-31

Ai Phoenix was a Norwegian band active from 1998 to 2014. Today they give rare live performances that draw fans from across oceans. Ai Phoenix brought something new to the Norwegian music scene: shoegazer dream pop driven by Patrick Lundberg (vocals, guitar, and keyboards), Robert Jønnum (bass, guitar, drums, and keyboards), Mona Mørk (vocals and violin), Espen Mellingen (guitar), and Boss Litsheim (drums). They recorded their sophomore album, The Driver Is Dead, mostly live in a room in November 1999 and released it on CD in August 2000. 24 years later, Apollon Records has reissued it on vinyl as their introverted, highly suggestive but shimmering slow pop deserves a vinyl release. Mona Mørk's mostly dark, whispering vocals embedded in the slow reserved songs, develop their own charm. The dream-pop sadness of the songs is depressing much in the same way as Leonard Cohen’s early work. The droning harmonium on many of the tracks only contributes to the overall sadness and soft cushiony vibe. Not as sterile and eerie as David Lynch’s Twin Peaks soundtrack, The Driver Is Dead does evoke some of the same emotions. It became Ai Phoenix’ most defining and influential release and now it is available on the usual black vinyl, transparent red vinyl, and a “Rejected” red vinyl where the pressing plant printed the wrong A/B tracklist on the labels and cover. If you are in the mood for some tasty dream pop music, The Driver Is Dead may just be what you need.

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Filed under: Reissues, 2024 releases, 1999 recordings

Related artist(s): Ai Phoenix

More info
http://aiphoenix.bandcamp.com/album/the-driver-is-dead-2024-vinyl-reissue

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