New album from Vinyl Floor

Coming out of Copenhagen’s rock music sphere, Vinyl Floor have spent the better part of two decades forging a sound that brings together eras from the melodic stylings of the 60s and 70s while constantly reimagining how those influences can exist in the modern day. Founded in 2007 by brothers Daniel Pedersen and Thomas Charlie Pedersen, the band has built a loyal following both at home and abroad, bringing their impactful but heartfelt brand of melodic rock to stages across the UK, Germany and Japan.

With more than 200 shows under their belt and six full-length albums to their name, Vinyl Floor have long been an under-the-radar act for listeners seeking timeless songwriting wrapped in engaging arrangements. Their latest offering, the brand new record titled Balancing Act, captures the Danish duo at their most reflective and musically assured thus far, presenting an LP that manages to feel at once grand in scope and intimate. Recorded at Studio Möllan in Malmö, Sweden, with producer Emil Isaksson, Balancing Act is an album that, as its title suggests, grapples with equilibrium, between order and disarray, light and shadow, despair and hope.

Key collaborators helped bring the album to life; Swedish multi-instrumentalist Bebe Risenfors, whose credits includes work with Tom Waits and Elvis Costello, lends horns and upright bass to four tracks, infusing them with a subtle jazz-like vibes. On five other songs, Christian Ellegaard of the Danish Symphony Orchestra provides string arrangements that swell with emotion, while guitarist Daniel Hecht, known for his work with Franklin Zoo and The Breakers brings flashes of electric energy to select tracks. Together, these guests help transform Vinyl Floor’s melodic songwriting into something expansive and texturally immersive, resulting in a thoroughly engrossing musical experience.

The brothers’ interplay remains the beating heart of it all, sharing lead vocal duties and handling most of the instrumentation themselves, Daniel and Thomas write with a synergy that only comes from years of collaboration. Lyrically, their writing wrestles with the turbulence of the modern world, but there’s an context of optimism that ripples through the release to prevent a sense of overwhelming cynicism. Even when they sing about disillusionment, there’s always the glimmer of something human, some small victory in the search for meaning.

The thirteen-track release starts with the chanted vocal leads, lilting bass notes and clean guitar backing on opening track “All This and More,” before the lightly gritty punch of fuzzy guitar chords and patter of drums sets the track in motion. Flowing with smooth melodic leads and elegant flashes of backing vocals, it’s a slick showcase of the band’s highly original songwriting and performance flair.

“I’m on the Upside” jumps into a bouncy rock groove that rolls with grooving energy capped by infectious vocal hooks to deliver an upbeat jam that’s energising and memorable from start to finish. “The Helping Hand” arrives with the pulse of electronic percussion, contrasted by delicate piano notes and airy vocal performance to form a charming art rock outing tinged with power pop appeal and graceful vocal layers. Lead single “Mr. Rubinstein” blooms with dazzling strings and steady rhythmic energy to craft a breezy retro pop rock jam brimming with delightful melodies and poignant lyricism.

Other highlights on record include tracks like “Tell the World it Happened” with its eerie soundscape of running piano lines and intricate drums as subtly haunting vocals stretch out above to form an absorbing musical experience that progresses through an orchestral finale. “The Swan of Eileen Lake” shimmers with warm key tones and downtempo rhythm as expressive vocals hover above the light crunch of guitars to form a dreamy pop rock scene.

Closing the album with the title track “Balancing Act,” the buzz of synth pulses and bright piano notes are met by theatrical vocals to cast an enthralling prog-rock inflected soundscape. Developing with the shuffle of rustling drums and surging instrumentation, the track swells to a thrilling crescendo of rolling percussion and gritty guitars to serve up an epic conclusion to the band’s superb new record. From start to finish, Balancing Act feels like a summation of everything Vinyl Floor have learned since their 2009 debut, captured via a record made by musicians who’ve stood the test of time and come out more deliberate and more melodic than ever.

Listen to Balancing Act below