Matinée Recordings have some very interesting releases this spring, and one of them is from Denmark’s Northern Portrait. This trio is by many called “Denmark’s The Smiths”, and although it may be a cliché, it’s an accurate description of the band (I guess the band themselves aren’t too happy about this constant comparison…). Northern Portrait have so far released to stunning EPs, “The Fallen Aristocracy” and “Napoleon Sweetheart”, and now their debut album “Criminal Art Lovers” is available in the shops.

I have waited for this, – many people have-, but for some reason, I have always seen this trio as an EP band, not an album band. The songs on the EPs have been so strong, – no fillers at all -, so I have feared that it would be difficult to keep this quality-focus throughout an album. But, I have hoped, of course, and after listening and listening and listening, – I still have a smile on my face. My hopes were right, – It IS possible.

When I first started to listen to “Criminal Art Lovers”, the first track “The Munchhausen in me” did disappoint me, and I feared that I was right. As soon as track 2 started, my fear was blown away. “When Goodness Falls” is an amazing popsong with a verse equally catchy as the chorus, and some incredibly melodic guitar-riffs.

After track 2, it’s all victory for the Danes.
Great songs all the way until the end, from the single “Crazy“, which is the only song previously released on the album, via wonderful tracks like the warm and rich “The Operation Worked But The Patient Died“, the upbeat and jangly “What happens next“, to the melancholic and slow “That’s when my headache begins” (amazing song!) and the ending track “New Favourite Moment“, – another super-catchy song that absolutely may be the band’s next single. The cool thing about this last one, is that it doesn’t have a vocal chorus, – only a very catchy guitar riff where the chorus should be, but it works!

I am also impressed by the vocals of Stefan Larsen, who, with his very characteristic and strong voice, manages to keep the vocals and the songs varied and interesting. I never get tired of listening to him singing, and he puts so much into his vocals that I am sometimes very emotionally touched by listening to him.

The album is available to order directly from Matinée Recordings, or you can buy a digital copy from emusic or itunes. It’s also avaialble for streaming on Spotify.

Here are two tracks from the album:

Northern Portrait – My New Favourite Moment
Northern Portrait – Criminal Art Lovers