feber - “Hightower”
Photo by Sverre Simonsen
Friends, we have just discovered the captivating sounds of Norwegian folk-pop duo Helle Larsen and Inge Bremnes, aka feber. They have just released the raw and heartfelt single, “Hightower,” and we invite you all to set aside two minutes and fifty seconds in order to gather ‘round its warmth.
The song begins with a full arrangement, utilizing some softly brushed percussion that urges forward the bass and acoustic guitar. The atmosphere is thick, thanks to good dose of vintage compression and it is not at all difficult to cozy up into this stripped-back folk song– the perfect soundtrack to the approaching colder months.
And as enchanting as the music is, “Hightower” won us over with its remarkable vocal performances. Larsen and Bremnes are in constant harmonization, reminiscent of Angus & Julia Stone, as well as most of the cuts we’ve heard from Milo Greene. Together, their voices are a heavenly combo that will make you glad that you pressed the play button.
An ethereal and reverberated guitar briefly appears around midpoint, along with the mystical sounds of distant keys, ensuring that the listener receives a healthy dose of ear candy. These additional elements also offer more width to the sonic space, letting “Hightower” spread its wings and invite you into feber’s world of sound.
We enjoyed losing ourselves inside of “Hightower” so much that we had to dig around through feber’s previous releases. While there, we found the fantastic sounds of “We Settle,” a piano-driven tune that will leave you completely mesmerized. Bremnes lets his vocal glide over the top of the sparse and lo-fi arrangement, effortlessly gliding into his falsetto before Larsen takes the lead. We still cannot get past how perfectly their voices complement each other. And of course, you will receive another glorious earful of their delightful harmonies as “We Settle” begins its tremendous crescendo.
If you have been searching for the perfect soundtrack to your autumn, look no further than the music of feber. Though we have only just discovered their sonic world, rest assured that it will not be the last time that we feature them on the blog.
-HD