After releasing a record that used a prism of psychedelic trip-beats and a foray of washed out melodies to talk about the designs of the sentient mind, Oslo three-piece Gold Celeste have cooled things down with new track ‘The Wonder Of Love’. Walking through a hazy maze of psych-rock goodness, ‘The Wonder Of Love’ is a turn in a sweeter direction from the band’s debut album The Glow.
Slow and steady, the track opens with a blush of organs and sporadic guitar. Arguably the Norwegian band’s most tender, emotional track yet, the off-beat jazz rhythms and warm harmonies are the perfect winter pick-me-up. While The Glow battled with a mix of emotions, ‘The Wonder Of Love’ is shimmeringly positive to its very core; it’s a song that’s sugar-coated in the dream-pop weirdness of The Flaming Lips, but with the modern dance relish of Tame Impala. Lyrically, the song is open and heartfelt, as the soothing soprano of frontman Simen Hallset swoons “the wonder of love is quite alright / go for a ride / no need to hide / a friendly face of warm embrace”. In a musical environment that’s hell bent on producing hard-hitting, forthright love songs that are tightlipped and angsty, it is refreshing to see a band be so direct with their feelings.
“Their sound is curious, captivating, and deliciously catchy. Without question, Gold Celeste’s ‘The Wonder Of Love’ is one of the year’s most convincing love songs”
Hidden behind the thicket of psychedelic effects and production techniques, Gold Celeste’s talent for producing floaty, ripe pop songs is staggeringly apparent in ‘The Wonder Of Love’s’ groovy chorus. Whether it’s the swirl of the organ, the punch of the snare drum, or Hallset’s candid lyrics, the positive overtones that Gold Celeste produce are impossibly addictive. The song beats along like a dream sequence, and wouldn’t sound out of place soundtracking an alternative indie hit, like some adaption of The Wizard Of Oz (don’t get any ideas, Tim Burton).
Possibly one of the best kept secrets of 2015, Gold Celeste emit music that is both elegant and powerful. Splicing together the dreamy hooks of a pantheon of artists with the nostalgic weirdness of The Doors and The Velvet Underground, Gold Celeste continue to go from strength to strength. Their sound is curious, captivating, and deliciously catchy. Without question, Gold Celeste’s ‘The Wonder Of Love’ is one of the year’s most convincing love songs.