It’s a pleasurable rarity when you discover an artist that can accommodate any mood, occasion or journey. But this is just how Harry’s Gym makes you feel. One of those long drives home in the car; staring out of the window on a train ride through the countryside, or simply an infrequent moment to yourself, this band can quite quickly become the soundtrack to your life. An angelic yet electric beat accompanied by a mysteriously haunting vocal keeps your senses tingling throughout each blissfully enticing track.

 

The Norwegian foursome - featuring Anne Lise Frøkedal on guitar and vocals, Bjarne Stensli on drums, Erlend Ringseth on keyboards and Ole Myrvold on bass - were ranked in the top 5 acts at By:Larm Festival, a huge compliment with it being by far Scandinavia’s largest music conference. Unsurprisingly too, when you listen to the tracks it’s a miracle you’re able to concentrate on anything else. Their album is an iconic debut for such a widely unrecognised band as yet.

 

Comparisons aren’t always necessary, but in this case I can feel such a strong influence from the charm of The Knife’s eerie electronic melodies, crossed with the breathless signature vocals of ‘new wave’ veterans The XX, that it feels only right to intersect the paths of these musical masters.

Lyrically, the emotiveness of Harry’s Gym’s music is staggeringly beautiful. Initially it’s a little difficult to take in the words themselves, as one’s ears are much too distracted by the music, but once you begin to understand the meaning behind the songs, the emotions grasp you and can give you quite a significant lump in the throat.

 

The self titled album is out now. See www.myspace.com/harrysgym