Fantastic Voyage

posted in: Artist Features

Ex Norwegian is one of those wily bands that makes categorization impossible. In the one instant you’ve decided their ethereal melodies sound like The Beatles, they leap into frenzied post-punk that has Pixies written all over it. But that protean approach to songwriting is the root of the Ex Norwegian’s appeal. The Miami-based band unfurls a magic carpet ride for each song. Turn Left begins in a joyful jangle that sounds like Buddy Holly’s Not Fade Away meets Kenny Loggins’ Footloose. Bluesy rock is traded for whirls of keys in Sky Diving, arguably the band’s sweetest and most British melody. Then there’s the outcrop of distorted, jutting guitars in Fujeira In My Dreams that sounds like Black Francis fronting the Shins. Not confused enough? Put on the willfully inane Dance Trance Pants for wah-wah guitars and a cello. The mind melt is unavoidable, and totally fun. Roll with it, baby.