Kings Of Convenience – Peace Or Love

I was 16 in 2004, a newcomer in high school, in a class of 4 guys and 28 girls. Being both a serious music nerd as well as a serious athlete (ice hockey) my taste in music was generally very masculine. Shpongle, Pink Floyd, 90's Goa Trance, experimental Radiohead, and generally anything "complex" and "psychedelic".
But all of a sudden I found myself in a generally feminine company, with plenty of serious music lovers coming from a completely different angle. My new best friend Kajsa had already been to indie-festivals like Hultsfredfestivalen and Emmabodafestivalen, and I happily allowed her to influence my approach to music, film and politics, for good and bad.

I'm certain that she was the one who introduced me to Kings Of Convenience around that time. I have vivid memories of listening to "The Weight Of My Words" on my mp3-player, on the bus to and from school on the winter of 2004-05. Memories of chatting on MSN with her while studying for exams late at night, of how we skipped school to smoke sheesha, of rolling down the snowy hills with her and other friends on a random weekday, and not being sure if I was in love with her or if she was just a really great friend.

Anyways, back to KoC. I loved them from the first moment, and they never really left me since. They've been with me, as a little bit older companions throughout life for more than 20 years now. Although I'm a "music first"-guy, who seldom care for lyrics, my deep relation to KoC has forced me to actually listen to their poetry. The first two albums QITNL and ROAES were my teenage and youth albums, that soundtracked countless love stories when being a carefree party boy. "Declaration Of Dependence", on the other hand, arrived at 21, when "adult choices" started to shape my life, some for the better, some for the worse, and I'd say that this is my favorite album by them. I moved abroad, to the Norwegian west coast (not Bergen, their hometown, but Stavanger) for 6 years, and traveled most corners of the world, with this album always in my "iPod Classic". DoD was somehow always the right album to put on - happy, sad, playful, philosophical, in love, or broken love. While the first two albums really feel like "youth"-albums, DoD felt, and feels, more mature and timeless, and I have no problem identifying with it even today.

When I heard that KoC were about to release a new album I couldn't be happier. I knew they would never "sell out": they make music together because they love doing it and have found a way to channel their life journey's reflections in such a beautiful way. Funnily enough, this album arrived just two weeks before my first son arrived, personally symbolizing the next stage on the path of life. Although it will be hard to ever top "Declaration Of Dependence", I love "Peace Or Love" wholeheartedly. It's everything I could wish for, and has been adorning my "hifi-shelf" for 1-2 months straight now. Such beautiful music, always. Comforting, deep and uplifting, always.

I sincerely hope Erlend and Eirik will continue meeting up every 5-7 years or so to release new albums for many decades to come. They've become my life companions, and I have no intention in changing that. Thank you Erlend and Eirik for everything!

Great album that replaced the vinyl pressing that was/ is covered in oil. Not sure the dynamic range is as good as the vinyl pressing though. But the worst noise and oil vs a little over clinical is a good trade.