Eden

Description

The Norwegian indie rock duo Tape Trash wrote their new album, Eden, after losing their faith. They reflect on the years spent within Christianity and the disorienting ambivalence that follows when one immerses themselves in the secular world outside of Eden. The songs oscillate between freedom and sorrow, where moments of beauty and ecstasy are closely tied to confusion. Across ten songs written by the band and recorded in Oslo with co-producer Jørgen Smådal Larsen (drummer for the Norwegian indie legends Lukestar), Eden embraces emo as an instinct rather than a genre. If something felt true, they didn't worry too much. The process was quick and intuitive, with some songs coming together in a single day. Musically, the album explores the tension between the two members' origins. Singer Anders Magnor Killerud comes from a singer-songwriter tradition shaped by Elliott Smith, Judee Sill, and Sufjan Stevens. Kristofer Staxrud brings the intensity and urgency of his teenage years in hardcore bands, grounding the songs in sharp rhythms and heavy guitars. The album opens with RAPTURE BOY, a restless indie-punk track reminiscent of early 2000s albums like Frengers and Silent Alarm. SINCE 94, the lead single, is an explosion of very fuzzy shoegaze-punk, while WE WILL COLLIDE ventures into the dreamy fuzz-pop of the 90s. Although they are a duo, Tape Trash wanted Eden to carry a sense of community. Inspired by how they initially connected through the musical collective Broken Social Scene, Anders and Kristofer invited friends into their rehearsal space to record group vocals after nights out in Oslo. Tape Trash set out to create something sincere and heartfelt in a musical landscape often shaped by cynicism and ironic distance. They preferred openness and emotional risk. With Eden, they arrived at something more focused, bolder, and more true to themselves.