When Norwegian trip-hop outfit Flunk first gained recognition with a cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday” (from 2002’s For Sleepyheads Only), it was easy to wonder whether they would be around long. Recently playing to a bursting-at-the-seams Chop Suey, however, it was evident that they’ve stumbled onto a winning formula. Led by frontwoman Anja Øyen Vister, the band produced a breathy, atmospheric mix of tunes spanning their three studio albums.
Though they still haven’t generated s significant U.S. presence, Flunk smoothly follows trip hop convention, with drums and electronically-generated soundwaves comparable to those of more well-known trip hoppers such as Massive Attack or Portishead. However, Vister’s voice imbues the music with a unique sense of passion, her haunting voice a poignant reminder of other female Nordic vocalists, such as Emiliana Torrini and Björk, who have a way of sounding simultaneously innocent and seductive. Overall, they did what they were there to do: provided the soundtrack to a down-tempo party, rarely bringing up the mood but serving a steady stream of chilled melodic ambience.
Opening act Mercir, a Seattle foursome liberally combining indie rock with various electronic genres, readily warmed up the crowd, generating an enthusiasm far too rarely seen in opening acts. The club was justifiably near full by the end of Mercir’s set, a testament to their local popularity – and perhaps a sign of things to come.
