A few weeks ago, I premiered a new single from Denmark's Northern Portrait. A taster of The Swiss Army, the group's new record on Matinée Recordings, that single was just a hint of what was coming, because this is a super record, folks!
"At Attention" opens things with a sharp hook, part Gene, part Smiths, while "Long Live Tonight" and "Nineties Survivor" are smartly observed ruminations on love and life, with a dash of Marr and his peers. The slow-burn of "Sisters" was one of my favorite things on The Swiss Army, a track with a hint of C86 efforts, but there's also a quick sprinkling of Britpop melodic heft propelling this one, even as "World History Part I and II" adds in a beefy, near-shoegaze vibe to the jangle-pop of the other tracks.
There are flashes here that recall bands from The Bluetones to The Divine Comedy, and even Belle & Sebastian, but Northern Portrait make this all sound unique. There are certainly lots of portions of The Swiss Army that are going to appeal to a wide swath of indie fans, and that speaks to the breadth of this band's sound. This is robust stuff, deftly played, with a lot of heart, and nearly every selection on this album is catchy and reminiscent of the best things you grew up listening to. Plug this into whatever genre or sub-genre you want, but it's fantastic pop at its core.
The Swiss Army is out on Matinée Recordings on Friday.
[Photo: Matinée Recordings]