The Quiet North – Stillness Of A Sound

In today’s music world, when mass production puts a lot of pressure on singer-songwriters and bands, it has become nearly impossible to stumble upon a music outlet whose music resonates with true sincerity, confidence, and emotion. The trends imposed by renowned tastemakers, social media platforms, and streaming services definitely dictate the direction of music, and by just taking a brief look at it, the future of music does not look so bright. Thankfully, every once in a while, we get the chance of stumbling upon artists who take their craft so seriously, to the point where even their debut albums resonate with the greater quality then fifth or tenth albums crafted by renowned artists. That’s the case of Fredrik Kristiansen, a Norwegian songwriter and producer whose music goes beyond comprehension. He invests all his experience, knowledge, skills, talent, and creativity into his music, proving that even longtime music genres can still sound fresh, unique, innovative, unpredictable, and exciting, like the first time you’ve heard them on the radio. Today marks the release date of “Stillness Of A Sound,” a debut full-length album of his music project, The Quiet North. And let me tell you, if you’re in for a treat, this album will immediately transport you to an entirely new dimension in the blink of an eye. Inspired by Nordic tradition and folk music yet heavily drenched in contemporary music production, this material includes collaborations with Ukrainian arranger and multi-instrumentalist Vitaliy Kozubenko, Norwegian artist Thom Hell, California vocalist VÂN SCOTT, UK singer-songwriter Ollie Wade, and Austrian duo Fitz Brothers. They immensely contribute to this material, yet you cannot deny the fact that Fredrik Kristiansen’s songwriting, composing, producing, and musicianship play a major role. His love for Nordic folk is vividly hearable here, as each composition carries only the finest properties of this longstanding genre. You’ll notice all the fundamental elements included within particular segments of the songs or into the core of the entire songs, depending on the sonic direction, mood, and ambiance. But, as is usually the case, you’ll hear other styles included along the way. Americana, country, and traditional American folk are also included here, and they play a significant role during the particular songs. Yet, you’ll hear how the eighties synthwave, synth pop, new wave, and indie inspired the artist, as he decorated particular compositions with all those sonic ingredients that define these genres. Still, it would be a mistake to forget how cinematic the ambient works here. Each song, in one way or another, carries those echoic, reverby, cinematic layers, creating such a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, captivating atmosphere that immediately wraps around the listening apparatus and refuses to let go long after the last note and beat fade away.

It’s fascinating how this material evolves with each composition. Starting with dominant cinematic folk vibes, it showcases all the effort, dedication, and time invested into crafting those compositions. During the introductory piece, you’ll hear how vocals, keys, string instruments, and pads merge together harmoniously, gradually introducting listening apparatus to all those calm, soothing, relaxing sounds. This tradition continues with songs such as “Tremble,” “Borrowed Light,” and “Fading Daylight,” the first batch of songs that levitate more towards the mixture of Nordic and American folk music, cinematic ambiance, and all those pulsing rhythmic patterns. For example, “Tremble” is a modern take on that Nording and American folk tradition, with pedal steel guitars, acoustic guitars, and synths lurking all around while the delicate beats serve more as percussions that keep everything in line. “Borrowed Light” goes way more into the modern acoustic rock, country, and folk music with dominant chord progressions and soulful, passionate, emotive vocal lines. Here, the basslines are more warm, deep, groovy, and the beats are more commanding, powerful, and percussive, steering the listener through this lush composition. “Fading Daylight” slows down the face by delivering all those reverby pedal steel themes while the banjo delivers arpeggiated sonic maneuvers. The vocal harmonies are also more reverby, echoic, sometimes even in delay effect, yet still vividly hearable and recognizable in the mix. This composiiton expands with every segment, bringing more layers of sound, and making everything so complex yet easy-listening. Now, The Quiet North showcases versatility with “Somewhere In The Static, such a beautiful composition that perfectly delivers a mixture of modern and retro synth music. You’ll hear how synthwave and synthpop elements resonate through each synth theme, melody, harmony, sequence, and pad while the electronic rhythmic patterns and powerful basslines deliver groove and pace. The vocals are more high-pitched and melodic, yet they suit this style so good. “Stillness Is A Sound” exemplifies Nordic cinematic modern folk sound with those beautiful acoustic chord progressions, harmonies, and melodies. The entire composition resonates as a colossal theme that guides the listener through the expansive sonic universe. “Southbound” and “Northbound” are somewhat connected, not only by the similar title, but also sonically. Both compositions share nearly the same aesthetics, as The Quiet North poured many modern indie rock sonic maneuvers into it. You’ll notice how reverby vocal, guitar, and synth maneuvers merge together while the rhythm section emphasizes every riff, chord progression, and melody. Both songs are so anthemic, cinematic, and ear-appealing.

“Frozen For A While,” “I Create In A Color Now,” “Family Of The Northern Hemisphere,” “Drift Away,” and “Stille” explore traditional and modern Nordic and American folk in one way or another. These songs’ dynamics, groove, energy, melody, and ambiance differs yet they’re connected with that folk thread that makes them such perfect closing tunes of this marvelous material. Depending of what you like in Nordic and American folk music, they will certainly appeal to you altogether or separately when your mood changes. For example, “Frozen For A While” carries that modern pop vibe, yet it is fully stacked with everything you dearly love about modern folk music. “I Create In A Color Now” exemplifies how the vocals in folk music should be performed and recorded nowadays. It might be a modern folk rock song, but it is packed with all those traditional sonic moves that fans love. “Family Of The Northern Hemisphere” carries all those Americana, country, and traditional folk moves, especially considering pedal steel, acoustic, and slide guitars. The percussions perfectly follow those sonic maneuvers while the soulful vocals add more depth, detail, and emotion to the song. “Drift Away” expertly blends cinematic ambient and modern folk together, offering more ambient layers to shine through the mix, alongside marvelous vocal harmonies. This epic sonic journey comes to an end with “Stille,” an exceptional, closing song that might sound stripped down to some listeners, yet it evolves sonically with every segment. It’s a perfect closure of this fascinating album. “Stillness Of A Sound” is a comprehensive collection of beautiful cinematic folk songs that will immediately wrap around your listening apparatus and refuse to let go long after the last note and beat fade away. The Quiet North poured heart and soul into this material, and his dedication to the craft, musicianship, songwriting, and passion behind each vocal, sonic, and rhyhtmic maneuver go beyond comprehension. If you love your folk music modern yet rooted in tradition, cinematic, melodic, powerful, and emotive, you should immediately place “Stillness Of A Sound” on your music radar. Do not miss it!