Exposé Online

What's old

Exposé print issues (1993-2011)

• 1 (October 1993)
• 2 (February 1994)
• 3 (May 1994)
• 4 (August 1994)
• 5 (October 1994)
• 6 (March 1995)
• 7 (July 1995)
• 8 (November 1995)
• 9 (March 1996)
• 10 (August 1996)
• 11 (February 1997)
• 12 (May 1997)
• 13 (October 1997)
• 14 (February 1998)
• 15 (July 1998)
• 16 (January 1999)
• 17 (April 1999)
• 18 (November 1999)
• 19 (May 2000)
• 20 (October 2000)
• 21 (March 2001)
• 22 (July 2001)
• 23 (December 2001)
• 24 (April 2002)
• 25 (September 2002)
• 26 (February 2003)
• 27 (August 2003)
• 28 (December 2003)
• 29 (April 2004)
• 30 (September 2004)
• 31 (March 2005)
• 32 (September 2005)
• 33 (May 2006)
• 34 (March 2007)
• 35 (January 2008)
• 36 (October 2008)
• 37 (July 2009)
• 38 (July 2010)
• 39 (Summer 2011)

Meer — Playing House
(Karisma KAR207, 2021, CD / 2LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2021-11-05

As far as I can tell, this Norwegian band shares no members with any of the other Norwegian bands I’ve heard, which sets it in an exclusive club. Meer is based in Hamar, an inland town north of Oslo with a population a bit over 30,000. The eight-member band consists of Johanne Kippersund (vocals), Knut Kippersund (vocals), Eivind Strømstad (guitar), Åsa Ree (violin), Ingvild Nordstoga Eide (viola), Ole Gjøstøl (keyboards), Morten Strypet (bass), and Mats Lillehaug (drums), and, as might be expected with such a large lineup, has a big sound. Both vocalists are good singers, with Knut providing a pleasant breathy tone and Johanne contributing a strong folky flavor, and they work well together. I’m somewhat reminded of other independent bands like New Pornographers, Hey Marseille,  and Of Montreal, though Meer definitely has their own expansive sound. I wouldn’t want to oversell any connections to progressive rock, but I find a spirit of adventurousness about their music that is quite enjoyable, as well as a willingness to let the art stretch beyond the conventions of pop music. Each of the 12 songs has its own sound, with a great variety of tempo, denseness, and intensity, and I find I enjoy it more every time I listen. Meer should be a bit hit among fans of melodic progressive rock as well as fans of creative art-pop.

---

Filed under: New releases, 2021 releases

Related artist(s): Meer

More info
http://meer.bandcamp.com/album/playing-house

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.

• Review: Jill Fraser - Earthly Pleasures
  Published 2024-12-18
• Review: Erik Wøllo - Solastalgia
  Published 2024-12-18
• Review: Propaganda - Propaganda
  Published 2024-12-17
• Review: Paul Hanson and Raze the Maze - Calliope
  Published 2024-12-16
• Review: Radio Massacre International - Galactic Furnace
  Published 2024-12-16
• Review: The Occasional Quintet - Recording Rites
  Published 2024-12-15
• Review: Thierry Zaboitzeff - Heat (Rough Mix)
  Published 2024-12-15
• Review: Keir Cooper + Eleanor Westbrook - Star Quality - Speculations for Guitar and Voice
  Published 2024-12-14
• Review: Astral Magic - End of Time, Mind Melt Machine, Strange Sensation & Secret Paths
  Published 2024-12-13
• Review: Actionfredag - Lys Fremtid i Mørke
  Published 2024-12-12
• Review: Paul Dunmall - Red Hot Ice
  Published 2024-12-12
• Review: Arild Brøter - A Spectre of Sounds: James Bond Music Reimagined
  Published 2024-12-11
• Review: Rogers & Butler - Studio 3
  Published 2024-12-10
• Release: Lunar Mistake - Lunar Mistake
  Updated 2024-12-09 18:23:21
• Artist: Lunar Mistake
  Updated 2024-12-09 18:22:43
• Review: Tom Salvatori - La Bella Vita & The Nylon String Guitar in Ensemble
  Published 2024-12-09
• Review: Uroboro - As in an Unpicking of Time's Garment
  Published 2024-12-09