This week Bardi Johannsson has returned with a brand new album under his Bang Gang moniker, an atmospheric electronic wonder titled The Wolves Are Whispering. While many other albums have been overhyped this summer, not many pack as many instant hooks and delights as Johannsoon does on his new LP. It may be an album better suited for late night listening during a cold winter night, but it’s magic is still plenty welcome in the summer.
Album opener “The Sin Is Near (which features Bloodgroup) and single “Out Of Horizon” set the tone with their upbeat and rather catchy nature, Johannsson captures something more sincere and ballad like on “My Special One.” Three songs in, and he’s demonstrated his diverse and strong range with both electronic-pop and something somewhat folk-minded. He follows that up with the magnetic and rather riveting “Silent Bite,” quickly proving that this album means business, there’s no room for fat of any kind.
Instead, there are sprawling widescreen cuts like “A Lonely Bird” which continue to dazzle and surprise as they stretch out to full formation, making full use of the features vocals of Keren Ann. It’s the sort of song so good, that it’s six-minute run-time feels too brief.
For a year with so many high profile, and overhyped releases, it’s promising to see an artist like Bang Gang confidently unleash an album built purely on merit alone. It’s a highly impressive collection of songs that is very much itself, and shouldn’t be flying under the radar as it is.
The Wolves Are Whispering is currently streaming in its entirety over at Noisey. If you like what you hear, go out and support Bang Gang, and give the album a purchase from iTunes.
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