Album Review/ Alternative : Simeon Kirkegaard’s ‘*’

Simeon Kirkegaard is an alt rock artist and songwriter from Norway, now based in Dublin. His work spans spectacularly across the alternative spectrum, burning with stylistic evolutions and ready progressions. Infused with orchestral pop and immersive lyricism that will awaken your poetic spirit, his work stands out. In the best way. His work definitely has a high technical value, but is best described by the way it makes you feel. The spaces that it creates and occupies and flows out of is remarkable and unique. And the artist readily takes us along. His latest release is ‘*’, an album that is molded by his life experiences, personality, and a new sense of self. 

‘Fever’ opens the collection with its driving, dispersing, and divergent soundscape. The textures, momentum, rhythmic exploration, and vocal presentations form so intuitively, like something immutable that is insightfully perceived and claimed. And it casts that feverish frenzy and delirium. 

‘Wave After Wave’ follows. A contemplative alt folk song that takes you back to artists like The Beatles, Nick Drake, and Simon and Garfunkel. It is a feel-good song that makes you ache. And it’s beautiful to flow through its ethereal plane. ‘Here I Stand’ brings an indie rock flavor to the album. It acts as an opening for other tracks like it. It has a pop pulse, a youthful feeling, and a fleeting sentiment. ‘Dogeared Boy’, ‘Catch and Release’. Both these tracks grow out of this stem. With a confessional intimacy and contemplative flows, the artist forges his indie/pop/rock vision. 

‘Ocean Life Living’ swings us back to the alternative headspace. Its edgy elements : slapping beats, performative riffs, and fuzzy bass lines, all of them transport you to a semi alienic space, vivid but dazing, expansive but grounding. ‘Taken By You’ has that dreamy retro 80s vibe. The folk fades to warm rock fringes. It is elating and aching and lands close to the heart. Feels like falling in love. ‘Timeless’ ties into this feeling. With dreamy vocals and instrumental sensibilities, the song stretches the experience. 

‘If Only’ concludes the album on a contemplative note. With intimate vocals that make you feel soft, you can feel life form, simmer, flow and fade. All of it, every part of the cycle seems to happen simultaneously, so honestly, so beautifully, and so full of that raw energy that forms connections. Listen Now! 

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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music! 

You can listen to ‘*’ by Simeon Kirkegaard here -