REVIEW: Euroboys, Long Day's Flight 'Till Tomorrow (Man's Ruin)
- Wilson Neate When you think of notable Norwegians, names like Solskjaer, Amundsen, Quisling, Heyerdahl, Eriksson, Ibsen, Grieg and Munch may come to mind. But now you can add Oslo's Euroboys to the list. Don't let the moniker fool you -- they have nothing in common with 'N Sync or 98 Degrees (think Euroboyz). Neither are they a French one-hit-summer-disco-novelty act (think Les Euroboys). No, Euroboys are the purveyors of crafted, contemporary rock that points the listener in varied musical directions. Long Day's Flight may well evoke Love, Deep Purple, the Jefferson Airplane, Santana, and the Charlatans, among others, yet it does so with a greater purpose than simple citation. Each track is a constantly evolving treasure-trove that, although suggesting numerous coordinates, ultimately offers up a synthesis that is far more than the sum of its parts.
While this largely instrumental album transports listeners to other musical places and times -- particularly by reproducing familiar guitar, keyboard and bass sounds -- it doesn't get bogged down in retro-land. Crucial in this regard is the clean production that magically foregrounds each instrument while blending them together in a democratic sonic whole. A fondness for big late-'60s West Coast rock is brilliantly rendered in "Down the Road of Golden Dust," "Rock 'n' Roll Farmacia" and "Invisible Horse" while "Transatlantic Phone Call" has more of a '70s feel -- enhanced by a nod to Beck's "The New Pollution." "Sex Kabin" starts like "Paint it Black," but transforms itself into Hendrix and the Doors before defining its own, driving identity. "Gallery Oslo" is a more delicate number with flute and "Black Fez" incorporates some great sitar. Although "Electric Dandruff" begins with a worrying touch of the Rick Wakemans (think the bearded one's seminal The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table and then go directly to jail for knowing that reference), it soon sweeps itself up into a mini anthemic bash. And there's even room for a potentially big single in "Filadelfia," an unexpectedly catchy summer singalong.
Until now, the two most famous Norwegian groups to tour have been A-ha and The Vikings. While only one of them definitely made it to the US, the Euro Boys will be coming to your town in June. Lock up your progressive rock albums.
