By Adlin Rosli

Norway's Kings Of Convenience makes acoustic guitar music for rockers. ADLIN ROSLI explores why the group, mere folk musicians, has such an appeal.

KINGS Of Convenience have been slowing steering rock fans away from the electric guitar in favour the acoustic guitar. The duo from Norway comprising Erik Glambek Boe and Erlend Oye have been seriously gigging since 1999 and have got a strong worldwide following for the group's easy-listening and introspective acoustic songs.

Don't call the duo's music "folk" though as the group's songs definitely has more in common with mellow Radiohead songs than anything by Bob Dylan. There's even a wry humour about Kings Of Convenience, one of the group's best albums to date is 2001's cheekily titled Quiet Is The New Loud.

Something else you probably won't hear Dylan doing that Kings Of Convenience has done is associate itself with the electronic music scene.

Quiet Is The New Loud was released via Astralwerks, a label typically associated with electronic acts like Massive Attack, Chemical Brothers and Basement Jaxx. Kings of Convenience even had a remix album called Versus with reworking of songs by artistes such as Ladytron and Four Tet.

The group's 2004 follow up album, Riot On An Empty Street, was lauded by music critics and fans for continuing to showcase the group's impeccable ear for sweet melancholic melodies paired with uplifting lyrics.

The group strayed slightly with being entirely acoustic with this album by incorporating slight electronic music elements, no doubt having rubbed off from the duo's association with the electronic scene.

The group will be playing Singapore's Esplanade on March 16 as part of this year's Mosaic Music Festival, an event showcasing a wide array of eclectic musicians.

Kings of Convenience will be performing for an hour and a half. Expect to hear music from both of the duo's critically acclaimed albums.

Don't worry if you can't make it to the show. We're giving away Kings Of Convenience CDs so you can still enjoy the band's music even without the trip across the straits. And EMI Malaysia is even giving Daft Punk CDs How convenient is that?

Source: New Straits Times

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