Gustav Berntsen is GB. The Copenhagen-based musician made his new record in London. But the reality is that the bedsit pop of Herzsprung sounds a little rootless in a good way.
"If Only You're Still Around" is like a Sebadoh song redone by The War on Drugs. Tracks like "Adrenaline" have a similar appeal. There's a faint whiff of Steely Dan to "The Next Day", but this material is rooted in DIY indie.
GB favors a down-tempo style that makes these cuts more intimate than they might be in other hands. And a number like "Starsound" works so well because there's a real quiet intensity here. The same goes for the darker "Pipe Dream" which finds GB adding something a little darker to the vibes. Nimble and subtle, the music of GB deserves your attention this week.
Herzsprung by GB is out on Friday via AD 93.
[Photo: Samuel Wilson]