We The North – Love + Death (Digital/CD/Vinyl – Nadanna)
Besides his earlier projects like Cyanide and Unitary, Johan Hansson has in recent years focused primarily on We The North. Two albums were released on EK Product, followed by a self-released album in 2020. It’s been some time since the project unveiled new material, but now we are treated to this opus containing ten tracks plus five remixes.
We The North remains faithful to the familiar elements that defined its earlier releases. This is Electro-Pop that I would place somewhere between Erasure and The Northern Territories — on one hand sweet and warm, yet on the other, ethereal and slightly melancholic. Some pieces would fit perfectly within a Cinematic-Pop framework. The songs are meticulously crafted, with great attention to detail and refined arrangements. The remixes bring additional variety, with the most unexpected and original contribution coming from the Dark-Ambient project Desiderii Marginis.
All in all, this is a highly enjoyable and perfectly polished album — though I do find myself missing a true climax or standout hit. (Rating:7).
Listen to “To The End”:
About We The North
We The North is the solo project of Swedish musician Johan Hansson, also active as Unitary and Cyanide. Its debut album, “Dayblind”, arrived in 2016 on Space Race Records and included a remix by Mr. Kitty. Two later albums appeared through EK Product, followed by a self-released album in 2020 and a 2018 split EP with TourdeForce. “Love + Death”, issued on Nadanna, presents ten tracks and five remixes and marks the project’s return after several years.
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