Customer Reviews

Morning Star

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"All I wanna do/Is sit here on my balcony/And think about you and me/And how happy we could be..."

Norwegian band Flunk achieve near perfection in "Morning Star," their second "folktronic" album. Languid, mellow and charmingly catchy, this is also graced with angelic vocals and a sense of romantic realism. It's an album for people drunk on love, but with a taste for heartbreak.

It opens with a slow sweep of electronica and sweet vocals: "Everyone/Every singer and every song/Everyone/And every lover whose lover's gone..." Soon Flunk has slipped into a blurry, ethereal groove, which is grounded by the folky melodies of their wispy electronic music.

From there on, the band kicks off into a series of enchantingly sweet folktronic songs: dreamy pop melodies, electronic swirls, folksy guitar balladry, and chirrupy little dancey numbers. And Flunk explores emotions too, starting with the warm rush of early love, but slowly descending as trust is lost.

The album ends on a poignant note, with the speaker announcing, "After all I have no more to say/To you." After being lied to, she ends up wandering in the rain, dazed by the breakup and asking, "Who would dare to bring me love?"

What exactly makes Flunk such a good band? First and foremost, it's obviously the music. This quartet blends folk melodies and electronic wizardry together, producing both dreamy ambience and bouncy pop. Jo Bakke's gently folky guitar and Erik Rudd's solid drumming serve to highlight Ulf Nygaard's smooth programming.

And Anja Oyen Vister is the icing on this enchanting musical cake. Vocally, she's a dead ringer for Icelandic chanteuse Emiliana Torrini, with the same breathy fragility and sweetness. Even better, she sounds like she actually means every word of the songs she sings.

Which is the perfect voice to wisp out lines about how "you know that a love affair/is a lot like the rainbow... you should know that the beauty of life/is the beauty of falling in love..." A few songs like "Morning Star" have too-simplistic lyrics, but fortunately Vister's vocals are enough to overcome whatever boredom they might inspire.

Few bands can create such a perfect, enchantingly sweet music. But Flunk's "Morning Star" is one of those rare little collections, which is pure beauty from start to finish.

When I started searching for something to buy I was looking for that Zero 7, Lemon Jelly, or Air sound... mellow, groovy, something that you could rock or just chill out to... I spent the better part of listening to a whole bunch of groups which were recommended by others... not finding anything that struck me immediately. I knew the sound I wanted... and I was not going give up. Well, surprisingly, just as I was about to give up.. I got pointed back to the beginning of my search.

Flunk was on a list of customer recommendations from the first couple of things I took a listen to starting at Zero 7. And after many listens to both albums I am not disappointed.

Naming off the bands that I think I would place in the same general category... old Sneaker Pimps with that wonderful child like voice cooning in front of the slow subdued electronic bussle ... Mazzy Star for that smoky club atmosphere slowly revolving just out of a slow dance rythym.... Sia and Zero 7 for the beginning of my quest and the similarities of mixing smooth female vocals with acoustic guitar....and for helping me understand exactly what I was looking for.... at least this time. Flunk definitely has that Zero 7 sound I appreciate.

While after many listens I think I prefer For Sleepyheads Only, Morning Star is definitely growing on me. Buy either, I think you will find they do stay in your CD player...

I absolutely loved Flunk's first album, "For Sleepyheads Only," and so I preordered this album hoping it would be just as good. When the CD arrived, it had a sticker on the plastic wrap that said something to the effect of, "Featuring Anja's smooth, silky vocals on the following tracks..." I immediately got worried that the focus had turned to her voice, rather than having it just be another part of the Flunk sound like it was on the first album.

Well, I was right. Many of the songs (like "On My Balcony") are pop songs at their core, with Anja's voice the clear focus of the song. There are some songs that remind me of their first album (like "Probably" and "Morning Star"), but for the most part the group seems to have moved away from the full on dreamy soundscapes and more toward pop.

That said, I was extraordinarily happy to find that this is GOOD pop. It is pop music done in Flunk style, and they do it very, very well indeed. I am very happy I bought this CD.

If you liked the first album, realize that this is not going to be the same thing. But if you love music, this is an album you want.

"All I wanna do/Is sit here on my balcony/And think about you and me/And how happy we could be..."

Norwegian band Flunk achieve near perfection in "Morning Star," their second "folktronic" album. Languid, mellow and charmingly catchy, this is also graced with angelic vocals and a sense of romantic realism. It's an album for people drunk on love, but with a taste for heartbreak.

It opens with a slow sweep of electronica and sweet vocals: "Everyone/Every singer and every song/Everyone/And every lover whose lover's gone..." Soon Flunk has slipped into a blurry, ethereal groove, which is grounded by the folky melodies of their wispy electronic music.

From there on, the band kicks off into a series of enchantingly sweet folktronic songs: dreamy pop melodies, electronic swirls, folksy guitar balladry, and chirrupy little dancey numbers. And Flunk explores emotions too, starting with the warm rush of early love, but slowly descending as trust is lost.

The album ends on a poignant note, with the speaker announcing, "After all I have no more to say/To you." After being lied to, she ends up wandering in the rain, dazed by the breakup and asking, "Who would dare to bring me love?"

What exactly makes Flunk such a good band? First and foremost, it's obviously the music. This quartet blends folk melodies and electronic wizardry together, producing both dreamy ambience and bouncy pop. Jo Bakke's gently folky guitar and Erik Rudd's solid drumming serve to highlight Ulf Nygaard's smooth programming.

And Anja Oyen Vister is the icing on this enchanting musical cake. Vocally, she's a dead ringer for Icelandic chanteuse Emiliana Torrini, with the same breathy fragility and sweetness. Even better, she sounds like she actually means every word of the songs she sings.

Which is the perfect voice to wisp out lines about how "you know that a love affair/is a lot like the rainbow... you should know that the beauty of life/is the beauty of falling in love..." A few songs like "Morning Star" have too-simplistic lyrics, but fortunately Vister's vocals are enough to overcome whatever boredom they might inspire.

Few bands can create such a perfect, enchantingly sweet music. But Flunk's "Morning Star" is one of those rare little collections, which is pure beauty from start to finish.

this album definitely has a pop sound to it but i love it. i wasn't sure i would ever hear from flunk again but when i found their new album at a record store i bought it without hesitation. i noticed right away that the band moved in a different direction but still kept their ethereal-like sound. i recommend both albums but buyer beware that they are not similar in style but in sound.

I'd say the style of this album is like an upbeat Portishead. This is one of those albums where there are no "bad songs". I've already become addicted to "Play", "Morning Star", "On My Balcony", and "Blind my Mind". Buy it, you won't regret it.

This is a bit of a departure from the trip-hop stylings of "For Sleepyheads Only", but it works quite well . . . and certainly couldn't be confused with "70s folk" as another reviewer claimed.

Very mellow, relaxing tunes. One reviewer complained that the track "Morning Star" was lyrically simplistic -- and it is -- but it's also one of my favorite tracks on the disc. That track resonates on multiple levels, and the sparse lyrics are deliberate.

"Spring to Kingdom Come" is probably my favorite track, and their cover of New Order's "True Faith" is also quite good.

While "Sleepyheads" had a few outstanding tracks, they didn't flow together as well as "Morning Star" -- I'm actually thinking I like this CD better than "Sleepyheads". Great disk.

For Sleepyheads Only is easily my favorite down-tempo/chill recording of all time. For me nothing says tranquility like that album. I had been informed that Morning Star was much less (for lack of a better word) 'electronic' than Flunk's debut, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I was expecting a less-than-For-Sleepyheads-Only album. After months of waiting for it to hit America and more months waiting for the price to go down I finally got it. I must say I am very impressed with Morning Star, just as much so as their previous album, only it often feels like I am comparing two different bands (groups? projects?).

The general vibe I receive from this album is that its a more organic and light-hearted Flunk. Many of the tracks, such as 'Play' and 'On My Balcony' are downright poppy. With more focus on guitar the songs have a slightly more rock feel to them. There is also more focus on songwriting and melody on Morning Star. You won't get lost in the ambience as on For Sleepyheads Only, however you will float on a cloud of easy-going melodies. My personal favorite track is 'Blind My Mind', which is a fortunate combination of moody atmosphere and melodic hooks.

Also apparent is another New Order cover, this time its True Faith, and though I like it, its very remaniscent of Frente's cover of the New Order song 'Bizarre Love Triangle' from somewhere in the mid-ninties(you remember that, right?). Actually, this entire album feels like it could of come out in 1994 and been an MTV buzz clip.

Bottom line, Flunk should have very bright future.

A haunting voice, catchy drifting riffs, Flunk's Morning Star is an album that can be enjoyed playing in the background on Sunday morning or turned up in your earphones. It fills every available space with a tight and boundless sound, a clear voice, and impressive song writing. I try not to sing along, because I don't want to taint her beautiful voice with my own sounds, but it's hard to resist.

I would give it 6 stars - exceptional work, my vote for best album of 2004. Anja's introspective, dreamy voice draws you in to the music - resistance is futile. Blind My Mind is one of the best songs I have ever heard, period - Flunk absolutely nailed that one. There are many other outstanding songs on the album (e.g. Play, Morning Star, Balcony, and Skysong), and not a weak song in the bunch.

For those who were hoping for a repeat of Sleepyhead, my advice would be to approach this album on its own merits, otherwise you risk missing out on a gem of an album.

Flunk, if you read these messages, please come and play in San Francisco some day, maybe at a club like Bimbo's - you have many fans here! And I hope you are getting the recognition you deserve.