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Exposé print issues (1993-2011)

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Ex Norwegian — Sketch (2024 Remaster)
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK1181, 2010/2024, CD / LP / DL)

Ex Norwegian — House Music (2024 Remaster)
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK1182, 2012/2024, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2024-09-23

We’ve covered the last few releases by Ex Norwegian on Think Like a Key Records, and with these reissues, we’re jumping back in time to look at a couple of early albums that are newly remastered. Sketch was the band’s second full-length album, originally released in 2010. At this point, the group consisted of leader Roger Houdaille (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Carolina Souto (bass, vocals), and Arturo Garcia (drums, percussion, guitar, vibraphone), along with occasional guests on trumpet and woodwinds. The album features ten charming power pop tunes (with one bonus track on the reissue) hitting on a variety of moods, from trippy ballads to melodic romps, all full of catchy melodies and clever lyrics. The occasional Mellotron adds a touch of psychedelia into the mix, and the album is solid and enjoyable from start to finish. The band’s next album was House Music in 2012, and this time out Houdaille handles guitar, bass, and keyboards; no other musician appears on more than half of the tracks except backing vocalist Michelle Grand. There are three different drummers featured, along with second guitarist Lucas Queiroz on a couple songs. Again, there are ten songs plus one bonus track, and the overall style is intact. The drumming is on average a bit busier, but the core of the music is still a love of the tuneful rock of the late 60s. Houdaille has a knack for interesting chord progressions that stray into unexpected places while allowing the melodies to shine. He also likes to use odd meters in ways that don’t disrupt the rock energy or sound mathy. These are both fine albums, and either is a great place to start investigating Ex Norwegian’s music. Sketch is a bit looser and more organic, while House Music is tighter and more energetic.

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Filed under: Reissues, 2024 releases, 2010 recordings, 2012 recordings

Related artist(s): Ex Norwegian

More info
http://exnorwegian.bandcamp.com/album/sketch-extra-sketch-edition-2024
http://exnorwegian.bandcamp.com/album/house-music-less-ti-sto-edition-2024

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