Dylan Mondegreen

Dylan Mondegreen is the moniker for Norwegian singer and songwriter Børge Sildnes, whose produced two albums since 2007 but is making his UK debut with this collection of nine sublime and delicately manicured pop songs. The album builds on the sound of 2007’s While I Walk You Home and 2009’s The World Spins On and is produced by Ian Catt, who has previously produced records for St Etienne.

He has overseen a record with a similar feel here, dreamy pop in the mold of Prefab Sprout; whimsical without being too twee. There is a very polished feel but the sheen does not destroy the essence of quality songs, with the likes of The Heart Is A Muscle, with its Neil Tennant style vocals and silky guitar and strings, a standout moment.

There is also a touch of Stephen Duffy about Mondegreen’s vocals as he sings over steel drums in the lead single It Takes Two and also when he reflects on becoming a dad on Life As A Father, which is a poignant reflection of parenthood; “My life as father is just about to start, I promise to spoil her, that won’t be hard”.

At nine songs and thirty three minutes, the album stays lean and mean and in doing so avoids becoming too saccharine. There is not much around like this and it is great to hear some quality pop music. It is just a surprise it comes from ‘nil point’ Norway!