Hot from the streets of…Norway? That’s right — there’s been a big Nordicana push lately, and I&I is one of my favorites of the bunch so far. They lean into a vintage, sun-drenched sound that, by all rights, should be coming out of a college bar somewhere in the Midwest ca. 1998. There’s a happy kiss-off energy to “Tonight” that promises a party from the opening chords.
I&I is a trio consisting of Aleksander Austad Wiig, Anne Mette Hårdnes and David Solberg. In this EP, the trio has brought the best Norway has to offer from the rock scene to the table: Henning Solvang (Thulsa Doom, Brut Boogaloo) and Peter Olofsson (Brut Boogaloo) have produced the EP and provide the vintage Californa sounds. Christer Engen (formerly Turbonegro) has left a big mark on the songs with his percussion. This can be heard especially well in the song “Tonight” where Engen went to town and made sure to draw the soundscape into the world of rock.
The EP I&I due to be released April 23.