Artist: The Little Hands of Asphalt
Title: Half Empty
Format: Vinyl LP | digital
Cat#: Fika080LP
Release date: 3rd April 2020
Bandcamp | Spotify
Half Empty is the new album from The Little Hands of Asphalt; their first output in almost a decade. The album will be released in 5 parts: 5 pairs of singles followed by a full vinyl release at the end of March from Fika Recordings in the UK and Furuberget in Norway. The band picks up the thread where they left off; low-key pearls with hints of indie and Americana, but primarily classic, timeless pop.
Lyseid elaborates on the influences for the album: “I think the usual suspects that always get referred to are still present: Elliot Smith, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Bright Eyes. However, what informed this record stylistically is more my love for other artists and genres: 60's crooning (Scott Walker, Sinatra), European art pop (Serge Gainsbourg, Can), modern Nashville country and 90's (Swedish) power pop.”
The Little Hands of Asphalt is the solo project of Sjur Lyseid, whom released two records and a couple of EPs under the same moniker back in 2009-2012. The name is a play on Elvis Costello’s liner note credits on Kings of America: The Little Hands of Concrete. The name has stuck as the project has evolved; despite once being mistaken for a road building crew on arrival to a Norwegian festival!
The album, Floors, from 2012, received critical acclaim in Lyseid’s home of Norway, and was voted the sixth best record of the year in the Norwegian national newspaper VG. Press praised Lyseid's melodic qualities; and was been frequently highlighted as one of Norway's sharpest songwriters in English. The band toured most major festivals in Norway, and a lot on the continent. Since then, the project has been quiet, and Lyseid has primarily worked as a producer and songwriter for other artists at his Six Feet Over studios in Oslo. Now he's back in front of the glass, with what may be the project's strongest songs ever. There are numerous guest appearances through the record, including Allo Darlin’s Elizabeth Morris on No Reception, and members of Jaga Jazzist, Sunturns, Moddi, Making Marks and Apothek all contribute throughout the LP.
Press for Half Empty
Aftenposten [6/6] [Norwegian]
![Aftenposten [6/6]](/s/Aftenposten.jpg){kind=link}
Klassekampen [Norwegian]
“the record, or really all records, is full of songs that now get a glimpse of something prophetic, even if they were never meant to be. Songs about isolation or oppressive drowsiness, about death, even dystopia, and then we're suddenly in the middle of the same dystopia” Musikknyheter premiere
Musikknyheter album review [9/10] [Norwegian]
“one of the best Norwegian (and international!) releases in 2020!” Poppklikk
“Honestly, both these songs remind me a lot of the Weakerthans (or John K solo stuff). “No Reception” has that upbeat energy, though you can still hear the penchant for pop sensibility. On the flipside, you’ve got “Drinking Song,” which is more of an intimate ballad that is sure to endear itself to any listener. I’m just all about these tunes” Austin Town Hall
“a fine offering that should get the project a little more attention with this UK release than its predecessors” PennyBlack Music
“The fittingly titled, Begin Again, is a winning example of subtle ambition; while it makes no bombastic statement of intent, buried within is a winning complexity. The Mountain Goats-like vocal line, accompanied by a fluctuating backing of guitar, piano, and some delightfully subtle orchestral flourishes.” For The Rabbits
“graceful folk-pop” Fanfare Pop
“It’s pretty great – very much in the Fika style of indie pop” A Song A Day