Review: Highasakite – ‘Indian Summer’ EP

Norwegian musical exports aren’t shipped across to Britain and the rest of the world along with crates of Jarlesberg cheese on a very regular basis. A-ha, Ida Maria and Röyksopp have all arguably had their time and maybe it is time for the country to fling us some new bait. Highasakite (yes that is ‘high-as-a-kite’ for pronunciation assistance) release EP ‘Indian Summer’ next week are on the bill for several home festivals. Pitchfork has branded them one of the best Norwegian bands discovered at this year’s Øya festival. They can’t be that bad then.

And they’re not. The indiepop trio don feathers, dream catchers and warpaint for their mystical appearances, but don’t let those eyes roll in a cynical tone; a feather here and there never hurt anyone. But as heard in ‘Indian Summer’, frontwoman Ingrid Helene Håvik has got her reasons, ‘I wear my feathers so I am Robin Hood.’ Nice role model. She even plays the traditional zither. How cool is that! This title track contains foot stomping and some popping beats under her endlessly strung out voice.

The super beat that surrounds ‘I Roll My Eyes’ is like a community bin orchestra complete with a xylophone and fluttering synths to bring a bit of glitz to the occasion. The vocal quality is especially good in ‘My Soldier’ an atmospheric number; it has some goodness to it. ‘My Heron’ sounds as bizarre as its name. The monotone synth acts as a boring filler and the repetition of the phrase, ‘She doesn’t walk with high heels’ is a bit chilling, and that’s not in a good chills-down-the-spine way. It’s more in a creepy stalker way.

‘Indian Summer’ is out 20th August via Riot Factory.