Oh My, Oh Land

Oh Land - White Nights (buy the EP)

When I first heard Oh Land's "Sun of a Gun" I was actually more taken by the press photo than the song. I have a penchant for girl-fronted indie bands like everyone else though and wanted to hear more. I tried to see her show at the CMJ pre-party at Rebel, but showed up late. I went to Pure Volume House two days later to be denied at the door, like everyone else who wasn't press. CMJ was half over at that point and I hadn't seen the only band I wanted to see before the week of.

Their four-song set at the Hype Machine party was shorter than the time it took to set up the stage. The lightbox and balloons were easily the most complex stage props of the whole week. With the props, the outfits and good looks, Nanna Øland Fabricius didn't have to be that good; but she was, and I was floored by how great her pretty vocal coo sounded live. In recordings there is some semblance to Joanna Newsom's vocal style, but on stage Øland's voice filled the room as easily as her charm. The pop hooks and dancing grooves, made by bandmate Hans, made it the most fun set of the week. We saw them again for an even better, more complete set at Public Assembly on Friday. It turns out they are also the nicest people in New York.

As explained by Øland on Friday, "White Nights" is a song about New York. It has a hook bright enough to hit even when she's not dancing through it on stage. You will only dislike it if you don't like happy.

The EP is out yesterday, buy it.