West Coast Americana from Norway’s Mississippi.
The Østfold county is dubbed by some as Norway’s Mississippi, as the country’s longest river, the Glomma, flows through its densely populated lowland area on its way to the Oslo Fjord. A fitting backdrop for americana four-piece Norma, whose debut album Country Catering pays reference to older legends like Poco and the Grateful Dead, as well as combining influences from more recent bands like Wilco. Produced by Simen Følstad Nilsen, who also contributes pedal steel, it’s a melodic meander down a path of floating melodies and chiming guitars.
The opener, Rabbit Feet, is typical of Norma’s approach: an understated driving beat accompanied by dreamy vocals that burst into life in the mid-section. The band was raised on honest pints of lager at the local pub and study trips across the water to Sweden. That experience has given an ease to the 11 tracks that gives you the feeling these songs are well-loved friends who’ve been around forever. That’s particularly evident on the hook-filled Train Track, where lead vocalist Jørgen Nilsen sings “I don’t know where I want to get to, but I want to get there fast.”
Lyrically, Country Catering has a subtle way of dealing with subjects like social struggles and personal conflicts, but still maintains a light feel. ‘The End Run’ with its carefree beat and soaring organ belies lyrics which see a relationship deteriorating to the extent that “I’m just a coffee stain on your shirt”.
The closing Left Hand Work of Art signs things off with an acoustic piece of psychedelia that wouldn’t have looked out of place amongst the best of the late 1960’s. The band’s debut EP was given a Fjording Award in their homeland, Country Catering should spread that reputation to a wider stage.
