Three years on from the release of Vidde, Norwegian quartet Atlanter are ready to drop their second album later this month. Entitled Jewels of Crime, the effort is a conceptual album about diamonds and pearls. “Even though things are shining, it doesn’t mean they’re working”, said the band’s Jens J Carelius Krogsveen. “We wanted to present such an old-fashioned thing like a rock band in a kitschy, glossy and gaudy universe”. Krogsveen explains further how the album was conceived:

“Before the studio recordings, we listened to loads of jams and rehearsals, picking out compositions, intensity and, not least, ensemble playing, which we thought could become songs. I think we had up to 250 recordings which altogether formed the basis of the songs. Because that’s still the key to why this band works so well: People with different approaches and musical tastes who love playing together.”

On Jewels of Crime, Arild Hammerø, Jens J Carelius Krogsveen, Jonas Barsten and Morten Kvam, who make up the band, collaborated with some guests including the group Imarhan from Mali, with Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane a.k.a. Sadam on vocals and Hanne Kolstø.

The album’s first excellent single ‘Jareeze’ has been paired with a short film directed by Frode Fjerdingstad. Watch it below and watch out for the release of Jewels of Crime on January 22nd via Jansen Plateproduksjon.

Norway’s Atlanter started as the duo of Jens Carelius and Arild Hammerø and turned into a quartet with the addition of Jonas Barsten Johnsen and Morten Kvam. The band have announced the release of their debut album entitled Vidde and slated for a August 26th release via Jansen Plateproduksjon.
Here’s what the band’s own Arild Hammerø said about their music and Vidde:

“Atlanter has an open-minded approach to playing music. The songs change from one concert to another, and we try to avoid a polished and rehearsed sound. I think everyone in the band enjoys this openness, that something new can happen on every song. We captured this feeling on the record too, and what brings it all together is that it is mostly based on very distinct rhythms. Playing with Atlanter is like dancing around a fire, there is an intense energy there. Our goal is for the audience to feel this energy too, so they can join in on the dance.”

Ahead of the album’s release, Atlanter are alluring us with ‘Tree Song’, the album’s excellent opening track. We are all in for a treat.