Tag: Tom Ian Klungland

Dim Gray – ‘Ashes’ (live), new single out 24.07.24

In August and September 2023, Norwegian rock quintet Dim Gray undertook their first extensive tour of the UK and Europe, playing 15 dates across nine countries with Big Big Train. The band recorded each show and have picked out a selection of songs and performances that will form a live digital EP to be released in the autumn.

The EP will contain live versions of songs from both Dim Gray albums to date, as well as their recent single, ‘Murals’. Each performance was recorded by front of house engineer Rob Aubrey at shows in England, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Norway and mixed by him to create a document that captures the band’s live sound in authentic fashion.

The second track to be issued from it is ‘Ashes’, the original version of which can be found on the band’s second album, ‘Firmament’ (2022). Drummer Tom Ian Klungland states that “with ‘Ashes’, I feel we really showed that we could evolve and expand our sound yet still sound like Dim Gray.”

This live version of the song was recorded at a hometown show in Oslo on 29th August 2023. Vocalist/keyboardist Oskar Holldorff explains: “‘Ashes’ is a dramatic piece that relies more on electronic sounds than many of our other songs, so we had to approach playing it live a little differently.” Guitarist Milad Amouzegar adds: “I think we managed to do the song justice live. We played it a few more times on this tour, but the energy on stage in Oslo was amazing. I don’t think it sounded any better than on that night.”

Stream the single here:

Ashes (Live in Oslo, 2023) by Dim Gray – DistroKid

Dim Gray was formed in Oslo by the original core trio of Oskar Holldorff (keyboards, vocals), Håkon Høiberg (guitar, vocals) and Tom Ian Klungland (drums), issuing debut album ‘Flown’ in 2020 to rave reviews. Subsequently signing to English Electric Recordings, they released ‘Firmament’ in 2022 to similar acclaim. The group have promoted both records in both the UK and mainland Europe via guest slots with Marillion as well as Big Big Train. Milad Amouzegar (guitar, keyboards) and Kristian Kvaksrud (bass) joined as permanent group members in 2023.

‘Ashes’ follows the late June release of ‘The Wave We Thought We’d Ride Forever’

Stream here:

The Wave We Thought We’d Ride Forever (Live in London, 2023) by Dim Gray – DistroKid

DIM GRAY
Oskar Holldorff – keyboards, vocals
Håkon Høiberg – guitar, vocals
Milad Amouzegar – guitar, keyboards
Kristian Kvaksrud – bass
Tom Ian Klungland – drums, vocals

All band pictures by Anne-Marie Forker.

Dim Gray – Murals – New Single Out 15.3.24 – mixed by Bruce Soord of The Pineapple Thief

Having returned triumphant from their European tour as guests of prog behemoths Big Big Train in late 2023, Norwegian art rock/pop act Dim Gray immediately began work on what will become their third album. The first result of their latest recordings is their new single, ‘Murals’, a song that packs plenty of punch with the distinctive sounds coaxed out of his instrument by guitarist and co-vocalist Håkon Høiberg that have become his trademark.

‘Murals’ has been written and is sung by Høiberg, with Bruce Soord of The Pineapple Thief behind the mixing desk. “I wanted to delve deeper into the Norwegian folk music heritage and was inspired by the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle and its unique melodic sound,” explains Høiberg. “Combining it with a primal, upbeat soundscape to craft the various parts of the song, it resulted in a sound that you rarely hear played by an electric guitar.”

The song’s lyric centres around the fact that whenever somebody finds themselves at a crossroads in their life, someone else has already been in the exact same situation. It is an important perspective to have, especially for those running the risk of losing themselves in their thoughts.

Having recruited Milad Amouzegar (guitars and keyboards) and Kristian Kvaksrud (bass) as permanent group members in the late summer of 2023, ‘Murals’ marks the first release by Dim Gray as a quintet, kicking off what promises to be an exciting year with further singles followed eventually by their third album.

Dim Gray came together in Oslo in 2013 while studying music. Spending years perfecting their sound, the trio of Oskar Holldorff (vocals and keyboards), Håkon Høiberg (guitar and vocals) and Tom Ian Klungland (drums) issued their debut album ‘Flown’ in 2020 to rave reviews. They were subsequently picked up by Big Big Train’s own label English Electric Recordings, who released ‘Firmament’ in 2022 to similar acclaim. The group have promoted both records around the UK and in mainland Europe with a number of shows guesting with Marillion and Big Big Train.

Review – Dim Gray – Firmament

“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest of times, and to the latest.” – Henry David Thoreau.

Norwegian art-rock trio Dim Gray burst onto the scene with their debut release ‘Flown’ in 2020. Described as “Elegiac and beautifully dense post-prog from Norway” by Prog Magazine, it earned them many plaudits.

‘Firmament’ is that difficult sophomore album that hasn’t proved at all difficult to the three band members, Oskar Holldorff (vocals, keyboards), Håkon Høiberg (guitars, vocals) and Tom Ian Klungland (drums, vocals). All three have contrasting musical backgrounds in genres as diverse as black metal, rock, blues, folk and film music and it’s the fusion of all these influences that has created their own distinctive sound.

Having issued ‘Flown’ via their own Dim Gray label, ‘Firmament’ will be released on Big Big Train’s ‘English Electric Recordings’ label with Gregory Spawton of BBT commenting: “Until now, the label has just been a vehicle for Big Big Train and BBT band members’ outside projects. We’ve been interested in expanding the label’s activities for some time but only wanted to do so when we came across a truly exciting band that we felt had something new to offer musically. When we were introduced to Dim Gray, we saw that the band had enormous potential and were very keen to sign them.”

‘Firmament’ is twelve tracks of captivating, wide screen music featuring lush electronics, hauntingly beautiful vocals, string-infused chamber pop and indie-folk, all delivered in a grandiose fashion.

From the first notes and the enthralling charm of opening track Mare, you cannot help but be immersed in this utterly spellbinding and vivid musical world that the band have created. The elegant chiming notes that emanate from Høiberg’s guitar and the uplifting seduction of Oskar Holldorff’s voice immediately grab your attention and this just carries on through the whole album. The hypnotic Ashes with its strident beat and outpouring of emotion makes way for the equally impressive Undertow, a wonderful, slow burning, piece of music with the ethereal, wistful power of the strings at its heart, it is just exquisite.

There’s confidence and power to Avalon | The Tide, an irresistible force bursting with life that lifts you up and takes you on a musical thrill ride and it’s totally addictive. A calm and somber aura falls as you hear the opening strains of 52~, a mesmerising and hypnotic song that is also at times completely inspiring. Abalus | In Time has a breathless innocence to it that is beguiling. When the song blooms it becomes something more powerful and dynamic, almost becoming alive.

There’s a raw simplicity to Long Ago, the piano and vocals having a plaintive feel before the song waxes and wanes with a stylish guitar and elegant drums occasionally breaking the calm, a very moving piece of music. A hush descends as Oskar’s wistful vocal opens My Barren Road. Such an emotive song, it invokes feelings of longing, a yearning for the wilderness and the open road, close your eyes and you could be there. Cannons seamlessly blends art rock with indie folk, delivering a piece of music that just seems to dance across your soul with elfin-like wonder, something that exists on a higher plane and is always just out of reach.

The intro to Iron Henry is ghostly and introduces another exquisite slice of art rock, the piano and strings adding an air of authority but, despite the occasional moments of majesty, you never get away from that feeling of plucking at thin air, like its substance is almost intangible. Title track Firmament carries on that nostalgic feel, a graceful piece of music that tugs at the heartstrings with its wistful longing. Meridian takes its position as album closer extremely seriously, the elegant strings, hushed piano and thoughtful vocal adding serious gravitas to its otherworldly sophistication.

I was seriously impressed with Dim Gray’s debut release ‘Flown’ but the last forty five minutes has shown me that this band have elevated themselves to another level entirely. ‘Firmament’ is a magnificent achievement, twelve songs that ebb and flow superbly and sum up perfectly what music is truly about. These three truly inspiring musicians have created something that is prime and organic, their music can get under your skin and influence your very moods and my life would truly be a much sadder place without it!

Released 2nd September, 2022.

Order from Burning Shed here:

Firmament (burningshed.com)

Norwegian art rock trio Dim Gray release new single “Avalon | The Tide”

The second single to be released from upcoming album Firmament due out on Sept. 2nd, 2022.

“Avalon | The Tide” is the second single to be released from Firmament, the recently announced new album by Norwegian art rock trio Dim Gray set for release in early September. The group themselves state that writing it was “where the album really started, as it became a blueprint for the entire record. The expansiveness in its lydian harmonies and modulations, the prevalence of piano and strings, as well as the lyrical themes, all came to influence the rest of the songs.”

Watch the lyric video for “Avalon | The Tide” here:

Check out the song on digital services here:
dimgray.hearnow.com/avalon-the-tide

As with several other tracks on ‘Firmament’, the music was written by guitarist Håkon Høiberg on piano rather than his main instrument, with singer/keyboardist Oskar Holldorff then adding words. Holldorff explains that “the music felt like it was constructed as a story, so I thought the lyric should depict some sort of journey. Avalon, the mythical island from Arthurian legend, felt like an appropriate metaphor for reaching an impossible goal or destination; like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or, as these particular words mean to me, peace of mind. They are about trauma, wanting to forget, and the futility of fighting against the overwhelming forces and inherent dynamics of the world, hence the reference to King Canute and the tide in the second verse. I couldn’t decide whether the song should be called Avalon or The Tide, but when we later wrote ‘Meridian’, which ends the album and suggests a split globe, the joint title was suddenly justified.”

Consisting of twelve vivid and melody-driven songs, ‘Firmament’ is an ambitious artistic statement bursting with life and colour, making for an engaging and constantly surprising journey as it weaves a route from strings-infused chamber pop, through evocative indie-folk and lush electronics and into grandiose art rock. It will appeal musically to fans of artists such as Radiohead, Agnes Obel, Owen Pallett, Susanne Sundfør, Keane and Tears For Fears.

Thematically, the new record explores further the landscape of melancholy and longing that was introduced on the group’s well received 2020 debut, ‘Flown’, a concept record structured like one continuous story with intimate and spatial moments offset with massive colourful soundscapes. Those sensations are now contextualised in the depressions of the modern world, juxtaposed against romanticised ideas of simpler times through childhood memories interspersed with myths and superstition.

‘Firmament’ will be issued via English Electric Recordings, the label run by UK prog titans Big Big Train, and is the first record on the label that is not either by that band or at least one of its permanent members. Holldorff will however be touring as part of the Big Big Train line-up (deputising for BBT keyboardist Carly Bryant) for a set of European dates in September, while Dim Gray have just been announced as the support act for them. The first show is in Aylesbury on 2nd September, the same day that ‘Firmament’ is released.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play these shows supporting Big Big Train,”enthuses Dim Gray drummer Tom Ian Klungland. “We supported Marillion at a show in Stockholm in May and were delighted by the wonderfully warm reaction we received from their fans. We’re going to try our best to make plenty of new friends amongst the Big Big Train audience and it’s fantastic that the Aylesbury show coincides with the release date of ‘Firmament’. Roll on September!”
 ON TOUR WITH BIG BIG TRAIN
SEPTEMBER 202202.09.22  AYLESBURY (UK) Waterside Theatre
05.09.22  ZOETERMEER (NL) Cultuurpodium Boerderij
06.09.22  BONN (DE) Harmonie
07.09.22  MAINZ (DE) Kuz
08.09.22  BERLIN (DE) Frannz Club
10.09.22  BASEL (CH) Z7, Pratteln
11.09.22  PARIS (FR) Café de la Danse