Broen are a Norwegian five-piece who are constantly bringing something brand new to the table. Their second album, I <3 Art, is a kaleidoscopic cloud of energy, euphoric sequences and holds the power to send the listener on an overwhelming experience of beautifully executed hybrid sounds.

I <3 Art is no typical record, the eight tracks each add a drastically different feeling to the listen. The opening of ‘(Waters Changing)’ produces a suitably soothing, flowing experience which is littered with tightly packed intricate overlays and almost 8-bit electronics. The backing subtleties soon grow immensely and flood delicately into the following track, ‘Time’. ‘Time’ produces a far more upbeat sound with the first demonstration of a solid pulsing beat with the underlay of some great bass and synthesised goodness. Marianna S. A. Røe’s vocals are eloquent, holding a great deal of delicacy whilst maintaining great power, at points sharing tendencies with the likes of Chvrches crossed with HAIM. The increased level of bounce to the song makes for a terrific opening single to any record, the subtleties behind the track are unfathomable at first, but each adds such a great deal to the song and leaves a really lasting impression.

Broen have mastered the transient feel in their music and it’s incredibly easy to get lost in the listen. The warming retro vibe to Marianna’s voice really adds a great deal and the fluttering synths really carry each song greatly. ‘<3’, from which the album gets its namesake, is an ambient exploration of far more sinister electronics but still bounces off of Marianna’s vocals brilliantly. The almost alien feel to the song is an unmitigated turning point in the record and adds just that extra bit of mysticism to the album. As the vocals really kick in, they’re combined with the daunting pounding of keys and hallowed simplistic drums, making each lyric hit far deeper than expected. The song’s ability to hold a progressively airy feel, yet induce intense ambience, is truly admirable and proves this band’s talents excellently. Six minute songs are always pretty hit or miss, however, Broen have hit the nail on the head with this one.

A surprising addition to this album is ‘Serenade’ and has quickly become the pinnacle for myself. The track breaks the record’s transient feel through old school hip-hop beats which seem to come out of nowhere, at first knocking me for six. Marianna’s vocals soon morph into a far more powerful rap under the walking bassline and snapping drumbeat. The song is so powerful it feels like something straight off Gorillaz’s Demon Days, I’d go as far to say it’s one of the best tracks I’ve heard this year. Nothing is better than a track which generates such a strong level of surprise to the listen whilst still working as a part of the collective effort of the record. Both as a single or midpoint to the record, ‘Serenade’ is a track which you can definitely keep coming back to.

The production behind the album is equally exquisite and definitely hits its mark on its intention to build bridges between jazzy percussion, mellifluous electronics and old school hip-hop. Marcus Forsgren, from Oslo’s Studio Paradiso, has definitely done the band’s sound justice and has captured it beautifully, producing an album which would be best appreciated played in pitch black at max volume.

Broen may not be a name you’re presently familiar with, however I <3 Art definitely has something for everyone and is a fantastic second release from the band. The album’s unconventional feel keeps the listen flowing greatly and for the first few plays you are left in a state of not knowing where the record is going to head next. Broen definitely have a future with their sound and are yet another diamond in the rough in such an oversaturated music scene.

Ben Walker

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