A contrasting mix of blues and rap that constantly flits between rhythmic club tracks and tripped/blissed out downtempo musings, ‘Hoohahs & Cat Calls’ is a beguiling collaboration between the successful Norwegian musicians Odin and Bjørn Berge. It sees the duo explore both their musicality and masculinity on a record that deals with universal themes such as sex, solitude and climate change.
Both state that the record came about because of their love of ‘pop’ in all its forms, while the juxtaposition of its myriad musical styles created a friction that became the driving force of the album from the very first minute they set foot in the studio. It’s a bit like Tom Waits and Kendrick Lamar trying to make new records at the same time.
The song ‘Bullet Dance’ – think Arcade Fire meets 10cc for a ‘murder’ on the dancefloor….no, really – has just been released as a single, the video for which Odin choreographed a series of dance moves for various scenarios. These develop after his hand is seen shaped into a pistol shooting downwards towards somebody’s feet while being filmed on TikTok. However, he explains that “my hand shoots bullets that actually compel all the protagonists to dance. I liked the duality of using a potentially problematic image to portray something positive, but that also leaves an open space for viewers to have their own thoughts and associations. Ultimately, I just want them up on their feet, dancing and thinking!”
