Danish indie purists Northern Portrait are back in action January 8th with a fantastic new single entitled ‘Pretty Decent Swimmers’ (matinée 086) available on 10” color vinyl and digital formats.
The single features the first new recordings from the band in over two years, including exclusive new tracks ‘Happy Nice Day’, ‘Greetings From Paris’, ‘Bon Voyage!’ and ‘I Feel Even Better’.
As most of you know, Northern Portrait debuted on the indie scene in 2008 with two very well received EPs— ‘The Fallen Aristocracy’ (matinée 068) and ‘Napoleon Sweetheart’ (matinée 070) —both of which sold out almost instantly upon release. The band’s highly anticipated debut album ‘Criminal Art Lovers’ (matcd054) in 2010 enjoyed widespread international acclaim including numerous appearances on year-end favorite lists. Later that year, the band released the ‘Life Returns To Normal’ 7” single (matinée 076) on elegant clear vinyl, and contributed tracks to two Matinée label compilations. Two years on, the anticipation for new Northern Portrait songs has reached a fever pitch but the wait is nearly over…
Lead track ‘Happy Nice Day’ is three and a half minutes of straightforward power pop inspired by Swedish pop idols The Wannadies. It is an ode to the joys of traveling and casual meetings in hotels, airports and pen friend sections from Tokyo to Stockholm to Hamburg to Nice and beyond. You can preview it here:
‘Pretty Decent Swimmers’ is limited to 1000 hand-numbered copies in a deluxe sleeve featuring fashionable Los Angeles water ballet troupe Aqualillies on the cover and pressed on transparent swimming pool blue vinyl (naturally).
Preorders begin next month in the Matinée shop. Until then, have a happy nice day!