16.03.2016 //
Norwegian Band of Gold´s self-titled album Band of Gold was awarded the Phonofile Nordic Music Prize during an award ceremony at by:Larm Thursday night.
The jury consisting of Jeannette Lee – Rough Trade Records (UK), Jonathan Galkin – DFA Records (US), Jude Rogers – Journalist The Guardian (UK) and Stuart Maconie (UK) – journalist BBC said the album united the judges in praise.
The jury´s statement:
Band of Gold’s debut album united all the judges in praise for its skillful, fascinating melding of varied styles and tropes. It is an album steeped in the traditions of classic pop rock from Abba to Fleetwood Mac; dazzling arrangements and harmonies, great tunes, terrific playing. But there is something more unusual at work here too, a sense of experimentalism and the maverick. These tensions and juxtapositions are what makes this such a rich and nuanced record, one that sticks in your head after just one listen and where you fill find more on each listen.
Band of Gold takes home the trophy and a money prize of 30.000 NOK.
This year’s honorable mentions were Anna von Hausswolff (SE) –The Miraculous, and Jaakko Eino Kalevi (FI) – Jaakko Eino Kalevi.
The winner and runners up were selected from a shortlist of 12 albums hand picked by a jury consisting of music experts and journalists from the five Nordic countries. The nominated albums were (in alphabetical order):
Björk (IS) –Vulnicura, Frisk Frugt (DK) –Den Europæiske Spejlbue, Jenny Hval: Apocalypse, girl (NO), Pekko Käppi KHHL (FI) –Sanguis meus, mama!, Teitur Magnússon (IS) –27, Myrkur (DK) –M, Ost Kjex (NO)-Freedom Wig, Seinabo Sey (SE) –Pretend, and Danni Toma (DK) –Grå.
This marks the first time a Norwegian album receives the award. Previous winners of the prize include Jónsi (2010), Goran Kajfeš (2011), First Aid Kit (2012), The Knife (2013), and Mirel Wagner (2014).
This article was originally published on Music Norway.
