The hardest thing about writing a review, is to find the right words that’ll do justice to the music. In case of Pål Moddi Knutsen‘s debut FLORIOGRAPHY, I’m completely reaching my limits. I haven’t heard such a mature debut with music that’s so full of extremes in a very long time. You can’t just listen to the music, you have to experience this record in its overall intensity. The way he interlaces his voice with the accordion creates an atmosphere which is as much oppressive as liberating and as much powerful as fragile. It’s maybe the kind of music you’re just capable of doing when you come from a small Norwegian island. When you grow up with the natural boundaries of an island and the vastness of the sea around you. At least that’s my explanation…

Moddi himself calls his songs his children, which in my opinion hits the nail on its head. If you give your work the chance to grow and to develop, you give yourself the opportunity to create something really unique. And I’m pretty sure that Moddi is on the best way to create a sound like this.

Primarily I believe this, because I’ve seen him live. He does not perform his songs, he gives them to the audience as a present. And no one that night would have thought of refusing a present like this, we took it and were grateful.

So please do yourself the favour and buy Floriography. Moddi is touring Norway in June and July and is coming to the UK, Germany and Switzerland in August and September. Grab the chance and go!

Download a free compilation containing band, side and main projects from all of Moddiband 2010. Eight tracks from Norwegian up and coming bands, artists and composers. You can also download live material and the song Rubbles. Click right here.

Tags: Floriography, Moddi, Moddimiks, Norway, Pål Moddi Knutsen, Rubbles