Music, What we're listening to
Perfectly in-tune with this season’s back to grassroots stylings – organic knits, untreated skins and all-in-one coverings – the musical offerings of American-born one man band, Alaska in Winter, have hit the spot with their stripped-down, Scandi-inspired sounds.
Whilst we’ll admit the video isn’t exactly up to much, the synth-laced, far north-inspired sounds of Alaska in Winter’s much lauded debut, Berlin, soar high above what we’ve come to expect of a straight-out-of-college offering.
Produced by Albuquerque art school dropout Brandon Bethancourt, Berlin’s harmony-dolloped, low-fi electronic beats come plucked directly from Alaska in Winter’s much anticipated debut album, Holiday.
With Bethancourt’s alter-ego allegedly inspired by a few cold months spent alone in a cabin in the midst of the Alaskan winter, the sounds on offer – despite the dubious back-story – deftly capture the melodious soul of the north.
And with a little help from Zach Condon (of Beirut fame) the album manages to expertly traverse the ever-narrowing gap between folk, classical and electronica. If Bjork, Royksopp and a bit of Bach are your thing, Alaska in Winter will be right down your ice chute. www.myspace.com/alaskainwinter
Words by Teo van den Broeke
November 5th, 2009
