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Apr 08, 2014 Issue #49 - February/March 2014 - Portlandia By Frank Valish

Silent Treatment is the international debut full-length from Oslo five-piece Highasakite. It follows a couple of Norwegian releases and 2012’s excellent In and Out of Weeks EP, the latter of which includes the band’s majestic, soaring pop song “Indian Summer.” Rather than being a letdown after the spectacular promise of In and Out of Weeks, Silent Treatment capitalizes and enchants through 10 songs and almost 45 minutes. Frontwoman Ingrid Helene Håvik sings like an angel, carrying melody with unmatched grace, yet the instrumental backdrops to the songs are as interesting and magical as the vocals. “Lover, Where Do You Live?” is ethereal and floating. “Leaving No Traces” pulsates with driving drums, and “Hiroshima” slowly builds through six minutes, featuring breathtaking vocals sung over shimmering beats. “Iran” features a multi-voice chorus, quasi-yodeling, and pounding drums.

Occasionally, the lyrics seem to lose a bit in the translation. On the excellently melodic “Since Last Wednesday,” Håvik’s sings, “He would never do graffiti or vandalize that house,” and in “Darth Vader,” she questions, “Am I the real Darth Vader?” Yet, these lyrical curiosities don’t detract, and sometimes even add allure to the mysterious beauty of the songs on Silent Treatment. (www.highasakite.no)

Author rating: 7.5/10