Philadelphia freak folk duo Norwegian Arms ready the release of their first full length record. Wolf Like A Stray Dog, a collection of 11 songs, showcases the group’s signature minimalist, yet melodically dense sound, and their deep, introspective lyrics.
Spending a year in any foreign city will make a person’s mind wonder to new depths. On his Fulbright fellowship to a chilly Siberian town named Tomsk, singer/mandolinist Brendan Mulvihill channeled his thoughts into music. The songs are a collection of deep self-reflections that span homesickness to questioning one’s self identity.
Upon returning to Philadelphia, Mulvihill met up with good friend and Dr. Dog drummer, Eric Slick to flesh out the penned ideas. After shaping and crafting everything into 11 tunes, the two entered Dr. Dog’s Meth Beach studios in October 2011 to record what would become Wolf Like A Stray Dog. The album will be available January 15th and is available for pre-order starting today!
Despite the minimalist approach Norwegian Arms take in their instrumentation. Wolf Like A Stray Dog is full of lush, beautifully layered songs. Each one is bright and upbeat, with playful, driving beats centered around a single floor tom are the anchors of each tune. They create a solid foundation for the colorful arrangements with mandolin and synthesizers and Mulvihill’s singing shares a similar tone to Fleet Foxes, with a more uptempo energy. Despite being created in the depths of the frozen Russian north, the songs are warm and uplifting.
Norwegian Arms will be celebrating the release of Wolf Like A Stray Dog on December 21st at Johnny Brenda’s. Joining them for the occasion will be Laser Background and Night Panther. Tickets are only $10 and can be picked up here.
