{"id":23672,"date":"2026-01-09T14:26:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T14:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/castthedice.org\/?p=23672"},"modified":"2026-01-09T14:26:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T14:26:43","slug":"joe-harvey-whyte-geir-sundstol-preview-upcoming-album-langeleik-with-new-single-tana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/castthedice.org\/?p=23672","title":{"rendered":"Joe Harvey-Whyte & Geir Sundst\u00f8l preview upcoming album, Langeleik<\/em>, with new single ‘Tana’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Roberto Johnson<\/p><\/div>\n

January 30th will see the release of Langeleik<\/em>, the collaborative album from London-based pedal-steel player Joe Harvey-Whyte<\/a> and multi-instrumentalist Geir Sundst\u00f8l<\/a>, who’s one of Norway\u2019s most esteemed and beloved guitarists. Set for release on January 30 through Hubro<\/a>, the record brings together two musicians who share a fascination with the pedal steel, but approach it from different places and working habits. Harvey-Whyte and Sundst\u00f8l met years ago through a shared curiosity for each other\u2019s work and eventually in August 2024 Harvey-Whyte travelled to Oslo. What was supposed to be “five days to do something with two pedal-steel guitars”, turned into a full-length record. \u201cWe decided almost nothing in advance,\u201d Harvey-Whyte says. \u201cWe just started playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

This open-ended approach became central to the sound of the album. Most of the music was written in the studio, built from improvisation, close listening, and a shared interest in texture and movement. For Sundst\u00f8l, the speed of the process was a contrast to his usual way of working. \u201cJoe works spontaneously. I usually tinker with tiny detail for days,\u201d he says. \u201cThe two different work forms are equally good, I guess. You gain some, and you loose some by spending months on a song.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across Langeleik<\/em>, the pedal steel is joined by synths, field recordings, drum machines and other analogue instruments, with many of the pieces named after rivers and places. \u201cWhen I listen to the album I hear the ocean and rivers,\u201d Harvey-Whyte says. \u201cIt\u2019s not an album of instant gratification \u2014 it\u2019s an album to do nothing with. A companion for reverie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, the pair have released the new single ‘Tana’, a serene and slow-unfolding piece named after one of Norway’s northernmost rivers. Speaking about it, Sundst\u00f8l comments:<\/p>\n

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“Joe and I are both inspired by North Indian classical music. Tana is our take on the raga: It starts out with the alap, a form of improvisation that introduces the melodic framework, and then develops into a raga inspired track. A raga would normally stay in one key, grounded by a drone. Here, we are instead moving between two chords: D and E minor. Both instruments are treated with the vocoder, usually associated with electronic music, creating an unusual soundscape, all grounded by Dalen\u2019s and Engen\u2019s delicate drumming.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

‘Tana’ follows their earlier single ‘The Tyburn’, which if you haven\u2019t yet, it\u2019s also worth spending time with. Here’s both.<\/p>\n