Listen: Young Dreams - "First Days of Something"

Since the announcement of Norwegian orchestral pop outfit Young Dreams went live, I've been eagerly awaiting this moment. When we'd get another taste of their delight multi-layered jams and with their brand new single "First Days of Something", Young Dreams certainly don't disappoint. It's bouncy with a bright, sunny guitar licks that make you righteously pumped for warmer days.

With a dancier pulse, "First Days of Something" skirts more on the line of rock than their normal orchestral leanings and that's a-ok. Good to change up the formula every now and again. It also establishes Young Dreams as band full of anthems. Indie-pop's answer to the old school punk band; filled with their fair share of important things to say about youth just dressed up in crisp, clean pop rock suit and tie instead of fiery vitriol, breakneck speeds, and guitar pyrotechnics.



"First Days of Something" definitely accomplishes it's job of making you even more excited for the album than you thought possible. Luckily Young Dreams full length debut Between Places will be out  March 5th on Modular Records. Just 30 days away. Completely doable, right?

Watch: Young Dreams - Fog of War (Modular Session)

If you're anything like me, you dream about being able to see Norway orchestral pop maestros Young Dreams live. Since being tipped off their existence by Sondre Lerche's Best of 2011 Spotify playlist, I've been following the young band pretty closely hoping upon hope that they'd be some sort of announcement that they're leaving the comforts of Norway and Europe for a good old fashioned US tour. No news on that front yet but with their debut full length Between Places about to drop and a good friend in Sondre Lerche, it's highly possible that might be a good thing they have on the horizon. Or at least I'm certainly hoping so.

Until the day when I can see them without having to skip the continent, videos like these will always be a treat. Shot on a rooftop in Berlin, you get to see the core six members of Young Dreams rocking out to "Fog of War". The video is in this cool, panning circle that shows each member at a specific point in time so you can see just what they contribute to the whole. In case you were curious just how many instruments were at play on the most basic level of Young Dreams you have your answer. This and other videos like this just might tide me over until Young Dreams arrive on US shores. Maybe. Either way it's a pretty incredible live video of a pretty incredible live band. Check it out:


Young Dreams' Between Places will be out March 5th in the US on Modular Recordings.

Listen: Young Dreams - "Fog of War"

It's hard to believe it's almost coming up on a year since I first was introduced to Young Dreams via Sondre Lerche's Best of 2011 Spotify playlist but what an almost year it's been. I fell utterly and completely in love with their "Dream alone, wake together" from one of the two singles they released last year and I've been waiting patiently for their full length debut and it seems like we're getting close.

"Fog of War" is the first official single from the forthcoming debut and simply put: it's an absolute dream. From it's percussive start to it's string flourishes, "Fog of War" is no doubt set to become much more beloved than "Dream alone, wake together" and for good reason. It's far more fast-paced and dancier but filled with lovely frills and multiple remarkable parts. The string arrangements alone enough to further prove my theory that all of the best music arrangers are from somewhere in Scandinavia.

There's also the issue of Matias Tellez and his practically overwhelming charm as he takes lead of the jubilant, dreamy track. It's a track more or less about youthful rebellion but there's no aggressiveness in it, rather of hopes and dreams delivered with a pleasant charisma that makes you nod your head quickly in agreement. It's mobilizing and the fact that its surrounded by most endearing, most engaging, and most ear-catching musicianship does it all the more justice.

Young Dreams' "Fog of War" is pretty much perfect, a unquestionable favorite that actually make me fear for the upcoming full length because if all the tracks are this caliber, I won't want to listen to anything else. Listen to "Fog of War":


Young Dreams "Fog of War" single is out in the US on October 16th with remixes by Baio, Koralleven, and Lemonade on Modular. They also have a cover of Tame Impala's "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" off Lonerism titled "Feels Like We Only Go Bachwards" that'll be featured on Tame Impala's single out November 20th, also on Modular.

Pitstop: Young Dreams

(Photo by Eirik Lande)

It's kind of a given now that almost everyone who opens for Sondre Lerche in concert, I will grow to love. I'd like to think that it's not just because my love for the Norwegian singer/songwriter extraordinaire spills over on to them but that it's due mostly in part to the fact that Lerche has an exception talent for picking skilled musicians to open for him. And yet, Young Dreams is a band that I didn't have a chance to see live because they only accompanied him on this European tour dates. So my introduction happened mostly in the form of Lerche talking about how they were killing it every night of tour and by earning a slot on his favorite tracks of 2011 playlist.

The Norwegian outfit is positively stacked with members, one of whom I actually recognized from my obsession with Norwegian music I had a few years back - Matias Tellez. But this massive quantity of hands helps to create a sort of orchestrally big take on tropical pop much in the vein of Lord Huron. But it's not just a rehashing of what some other guy and his band have done before. No, there's swooping, swerving, craning melodies just aching to be heard alongside sunny, jubilant dancey beats.

So while the band's only released two 7" singles (with b-sides), they're definitely worthy of some year-end lists so kudos on that to Sondre Lerche. And there's an album coming in 2012 so there's always that to look forward to.

Get a taste of Young Dreams with the debut video their track "Young Dreams":

Young Dreams from Young Dreams on Vimeo.