Album Review: Casiokids, “Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen”

Feel-good Norwegian electro-pop groove-meisters, Casiokids release their 3rd full studio album.

Having first come to more global prominence with their 2007 album ‘Fuck Midi’ – they’ve been quietly building a reputation as purveyors of polished electro/synth-pop (although they have been known to describe themselves as Afrobeat…) as a result of having produced remarkably consistently good music, there is rarely a duff track on their albums.

Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen continues this rich vein of form, with the right mix of chill-out synth-pop and groove-laden dance-along tracks.

Opening with the eponymous track, an instrumental beauty with bird song in the background, and a peaceful pace, the band quickly move into funkier places with ‘Det Haster!’, a subtle floor-mover of a song with a plodding, but driving bass-line and a constant beat. In fact, this track is a great analogy for the rest of the album – maintaining pace and control, and round every corner is exactly what you’d expect, and you welcome it.

This album is a treat, airy and atmospheric, mixing in many elements of their contemporaries (Royksopp and Whitest Boy Alive) but with the added distinction of singing nearly exclusively in Norwegian.

It’s not necessarily the most exciting piece of music you’re likely to hear any time soon, but it is a fantastic piece of synth-tronica, which begs to be listened to again. Tidy, well formed and showing great potential Casio Kids Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen is well worth a listen.

By Robin Lewis

@justarobin