Kyss På Halsen - “Vesper”
Norwegian band Kyss På Halsen have just released the retro-toned dream pop track “Vesper.” The song is infectiously melodic and upbeat as it effortlessly blurs genres, lifting elements from disco and ambient music.
“Vesper” opens with synth layers that feel comparable to futuristic cinematic soundtracks from the 1980s. Pulsating otherworldly layers create a sense of movement, while darker tones richly punctuate the groove. The percussion is strikingly tinged with retro vibes, from the hi-hat toppers to snares pushed into expansive hall reverbs, and the lush heartbeat of the kick/snare groove. Over the main sections, the kick gains a sense of depth and weight, helping to bring impact and a wonderful sense of growth in dynamics.
The vocal performance is breathy, dreamy, atmospheric, and ethereal. The harmonising layers beautifully enrich the performance, making the track truly captivating. As the track progresses towards its climax, the atmospherics become exquisitely immersive. The song strips back to almost ambient shoegaze atmospherics, reminiscent of the early years of The Verve. As the layers are reintroduced, they are submerged into reverb. Electric guitar layers shimmer hazily as ethereal backing vocal layers support in a fashion evocative of Grimes.
The band offers that “Vesper” can be interpreted: “as both an evening prayer and evening star… looking to the winter skies for answers. What is true and real in this world can be hard to tell, but either way we always hope for the good to find us, leading us on the right path in spite of all our bad decisions.”
“Vesper” is taken from Kyss På Halsen’s forthcoming EP, Night Wanderer, slated for release in April 2024.