Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave, Minimal-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CDR.

Background/Info: Manus Norr (The Girl And The Robot, Deadbeat, Le Volt) is back on track unleashing a new work as Northern Loner.

The project’s previous release under that name was “Odd Man Out”, a limited cassette album issued by Repartiseraren and Invisible Guy in 2018.

Content: The album features 8 songs and sounds a bit different from what I’ve heard before. The songs are inspired by elements of EBM, Electro-Wave and Minimal-Electro. The sound production is retro-driven featuring icy sound treatments. There still is a poppy touch on top.

+ + + : This new work reveals a little metamorphosis. Northern Loner has improved most facets of the production resulting in a fascinating and vintage-like Electro sound. “Safe Room” is a genius cut which might appeal to lovers of Fad Gadget. Northern Loner never convinced me before but I deeply respect the new work which opens new perspectives. 

– – – : I think the production of the vocals might be a bit ‘harsher’ or ‘colder’.

Conclusion: “The Paper City Conspiracy” is an album to discover if you like retro-Electronics.

Best songs: “Safe Room”, “Transition”, “Tunnel 57”, “A Spy Called Charlene”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019057216619

About Northern Loner

Northern Loner is the solo project of the Swedish musician listed on Discogs as Magnus Norr. The music mixes minimal electro, electro-wave and EBM with a retro-leaning production.

Norr has been a member of the groups Le Volt and The Girl & The Robot, and also records as Deadbeat. Under that name he self-released the CDr album “Reflektioner” in 2017 and the single-sided 7″ single “Under Solen” on Radio Virus in 2019, issued as a numbered and limited clear square record. He appeared under his own name on the 2019 remix collection “Night City Remixes (The Songs Of Secret Service)” on Pbh Media.

The first Northern Loner album, “Odd Man Out”, appeared in 2018 as a limited cassette on Repartiseraren and Invisible Guy. “The Paper City Conspiracy” followed in 2022 as a self-released digital and CDR album holding eight songs.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Cinematographic-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Northern Loner is a Swedish solo-project driven by Magnus Norr who you might know from his involvement with The Girl And The Robot, Deadbeat and his newest project Le Volt.

Content: The EP features 4 sweet sounding cuts, which are somewhere driven through a cinematographic approach. It’s a dreamy sound experience with slow rhythms and Swedish vocals. The last song is a bit more elaborated and reminds me of Pet Shop Boys.

+ + + : I like an old-school EP with 4 songs. The songs are perfect as background music although the last cut entitled “I Skuggan Av En Lind” sounds a bit different; there’s a more explicit melody line while the production is more minimal and yet more elaborated than the other songs.

– – – : I’m not that convinced about the first 3 songs, which are missing substance and catchy elements. I also heard more convincing work from this project, which was less driven by this dreamy, Cinematographic approach.

Conclusion: I’ve been more convinced with the other projects of Magnus Norr although it feels like there’s more potential hiding inside Northern Loner.

Best songs: “I Skuggan Av En Lind”.

Rate: 5½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019057216619

About Northern Loner

Northern Loner is the solo project of Swedish musician Magnus Norr, who also works with The Girl And The Robot, Deadbeat and Le Volt. Discogs holds an entry for the project but lists no profile text.

The earliest release documented on Discogs is the limited cassette album “Odd Man Out”, issued by Repartiseraren and Invisible Guy in 2018. Side-Line reviewed the EP “The Blank Spot” in May 2021.

“Utanför” was released on 24 September 2021 as a digital download through Norr’s own Bandcamp page. The EP holds four tracks: “Inuti men utanför”, “Nostalgi”, “Jag somnar om” and “I skuggan av en lind”.

The album “The Paper City Conspiracy” followed in 2022 and was also reviewed by Side-Line.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Set up by Magnus Norr (also involved with Deadbeat, Le Volt), Northern Loner has already released a full length album and several EP’s. “The Blank Spot” is the newest work featuring five songs.

Content: “The Blank Spot” brings us back in time, awakening somewhere in the midst of the 80s Electro/Wave-Pop. There clearly is a vintage aspect running through the music; it’s all about melody lines and some typical effects from that time. The vocals are a bit androgenic and sometimes remind me of Marc Almond. You here and there also will notice some astral-like tones and atmospheres. The last cut is an instrumental edit.

+ + + : This is retro Wave-Pop music, but with a very own touch on top. The music has a ‘feel-good’ feeling. I like the catchy “The Nobles”, but also the last, instrumental song “Nightflight To Sardinia” revealing irresistible studio effects. The production of the vocals is another essential aspect of this project.

– – – : We get 5 different songs, but I can’t affirm to have heard a potential hit.

Conclusion: Northern Loner brings Wave-Pop to life with a unique approach.

Best songs: “The Nobles”, “Nightflight To Sardinia”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019057216619

About Northern Loner

Northern Loner is the project of Magnus Norr, who has also been involved with Deadbeat and Le Volt. Following an earlier full-length album and several EPs, Northern Loner released “The Blank Spot” EP in 2021, followed by the “Utanför” EP later that year and the album “The Paper City Conspiracy” in 2022.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com