In the past two decades Scandinavia has accrued a reputation as a breeding ground for excellent indie pop music. Finnish band Husky Rescue have kept up this trend with their latest album, Ship of Light, a pleasing mix of ambient pop tunes. True to its Nordic roots, Ship of Light’s playlist invokes the peaceful but often gloomy feelings of a wintry northern environment. Says founder Maroko Nyberg, “All moments from life become part of the music. Husky Rescue reflects our background in Helsinki where winter nights are so cold and long while the summer is hot and short, but oh so sweet. It’s melancholic but there is always hope.”
Ship of Light is a set of catchy tracks that kicks off with “First Call,” a bassy piece with a good ambient sound. “First Call” isn’t really a song; rather, it’s a fifty-seven second introductory track that sets the tone and mood for the rest of the album. This track segues into “Sound of Love,” a wispy song with a bell-like tonal quality that invokes the relaxed yet hopeful spirit of the rest of the album. It’s also the album’s first glimpse of Reeta-Leena Korhola’s haunting, yet beautiful vocals. “Sound of Love” begins in a reserved manner, but the tempo increases into a toe-tapping beat and pleasurably tense instrumental track that pulls the album towards its inevitably optimistic climax. Listening to this track at the beginning of March is apt, as the album itself yanks one out of wintry doldrums towards the new life of spring.
“Sound of Love” drops neatly into “Fast Lane,” a poppy song with a 70s feel. This distinctly retro pop sound has influenced a lot recent of indie pop albums. It’s a trend I can get behind. I’m a big fan of The Bird and the Bee’s blend of retro pop and jazz, although the influence of decades-old pop music on Husky Rescue’s tracks results in a dramatically different sound. Still, listening to Ship of Rescue hearkens one back to an earlier, perhaps purer time for pop music. In fact, as I listened to the album, I felt like I should be banging this review out on an IBM Selectric, instead of my MacBook Pro. Times change, but Husky Rescue emphasizes that what goes around comes around.
While Ship of Light progresses harmoniously, a majority of the track list is not very attention grabbing. There are good songs, and I’d definitely listen to the album again from time to time, but there isn’t anything novel for fans of this genre. The music isn’t bad, but it’s not groundbreaking or breathtaking in any significant way—it’s just a decent take on a conventional style. I look forward to future offerings from Husky Rescue, especially if they continue the retro influence. However, Ship of Light is nothing to get overly excited about.
Track List:
1. First Call
2. Sound of Love
3. Fast Lane
4. Wolf Trap Motel
5. Man of Stone
6. When Time Was on Their Side
7. Grey Pastures, Still Waters
8. We Shall Burn Bright
9. They Are Coming
10. Beautiful My Monster
