If you’re optimistic, you will regard life as a kind of make-your-own-adventure experience. That, in turn, will mean that you’ll trust that possibilities are endless, roads are always open, adventures are plentiful, and always feature a happy ending.
If you’re more of a realist, however, you’ll need to blend the idealism with the fact that most people’s lives are pretty busy. Most folks are struggling to get by. Many of the others have their time taken up by vital but unimpressive tasks related to work and house cleaning. There’s simply not enough time and energy left to spend on creating your own adventure. Unless…
Maybe there’s a way. In art and imagination, the author gets to create a world as they want it to be. In this world, every creature, blade of grass and a gust of wind must bend to their will.
This is precisely what Påls butikk, a Norwegian band getting ready to celebrate its tenth anniversary does. The band’s latest project, “Utakkens sønn” blends worldbuilding with rock music once again, but allows itself to become even more ambitious. The music is accompanied by a separate book release. The story is written by Mats Mikael Larsen and developed by Påls butikk’s musician.
If the name is not a direct giveaway and if you haven’t interacted with the band, know that Påls butikk continue to be influenced by the more adventurous, experimental of alternative bands. Faith No More, Queen of the Stone Age and, of course, The Beastie Boys are points of reference. But besides the love of musical risk-taking and the sense of humor, Påls butikk take something else from their influences – a willingness to let themselves drift to wherever the story needs to go.
Album opener, “Utakkens sønn”, sounds like being delivered to a hell that’s being looked after by a devil possessing a vicious sense of humor. The vocal performance is great as it moves from maniacally shouted verses to breezy, melodic choruses.
Remember this dynamic. If there’s anything Påls butikk are against you doing while listening to the album, it’s getting too comfortable. That’s quite the threat and one that is hard to pull off when determined to tell a whole story through song.
But the band keeps at it. “Plagiat” opens with beautifully finger-picked folk guitars, but moves into a 90s-styled alternative-rock sound. “Slipp oss ut” is constructed almost like a 1980s prog-pop radio hit. And, “Molly’s Revenge” blends the band’s calling card dissonant riffs and screams to vocal harmonies, acoustic guitar passages and catchy melodies.
“Taylor” shows that the Norwegians aren’t fighting against pop, but using it as another weapon in their arsenal. “Eg vonar du meinar med steiner” will please and large contingent of Swedish heavy-metal fans. And, the groove for album closer “Venter” sounds like it could’ve been inspired by a menacing beat crouching slowly toward its prey
There are more twists and turns to nearly every song than a Gröna Lund ride that works properly. In fact, that’s when you understand why the Norwegian band opted to double its efforts on a book and accompanying album. Without the story, Påls butikk are an ambitious, over-the-top, rambunctious rock band. With a story to tell, the songs take on a whole new power.
If you really want life to be a choose-your-own-adventure, you’d better start writing your own. Påls butikk found a story worth telling and, by the likes of it, have invested heavily in getting every note, every word to fit just right.
The vinyl and book are out now; they are sold as one and can be bought here: tigernet.no/releases/984349-utakkens-sonn
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