The Norwegian duo crafts a haunting blend of passion, loss, and nostalgia on their bold new EP
By: Robert Solomon
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Mainstreet’s ‘Tracks of Fire’ crackles with raw energy, but at its core, it pulses with a profound emotional depth that goes beyond its fiery rock sound. The title itself hints at the album’s contrast: “fire” represents the relentless energy of their hard-hitting tracks, while “tracks” (as simple as it sounds) alludes to the personal, emotional journeys each song embarks on—exploring themes of longing, loss, and reflection. This balance between fire and vulnerability reflects the Norwegian duo’s complicated relationship with country music, where passion, history, and tenderness collide in their distinctive sound.
The duo—Glenn Kringlebotten and Magne Skålnes—draw inspiration from the experimental spirit of the ‘80s, a time when artists pushed the boundaries of sound. ‘Tracks of Fire’ channels that restless energy, combined with a vintage, lo-fi production that gives the EP a warm, almost nostalgic quality, reminiscent of the hiss of an old cassette tape. Beneath the surface noise, though, lies an authenticity that feels completely natural and unforced.
The EP opens with “Avalon Sunset,” a track drenched in the ache of dreams left unfulfilled. It sets the emotional tone for the record, contemplating the cost of chasing impossible aspirations. The song follows Mama and Jenny Lee, two characters stuck in an endless cycle of yearning and disappointment. Mama, overwhelmed by nostalgia, grieves a lost dream or person, symbolized by fleeting visions of places like Avalon Sunset, the Moon, and Key West—each representing the unreachable. As the track unfolds, the distance between fantasy and reality wears them down, captured in the line: “there’s nothing here to keep that dream alive.”
This sense of melancholy deepens with “The Story of a Broken Heart,” the second track on the EP, where the duo explores the sorrow of a relationship’s end, depicting abandonment and longing with vivid imagery. The metaphor of waiting for someone at a train station speaks volumes about time, distance, and emotional separation. The track leans into soft rock, almost adult contemporary, capturing the quiet devastation of broken promises. Yet, there’s a tenderness that provides a quiet strength, even in the face of heartache.
The sequencing of ‘Tracks of Fire’ feels intentional, with each track flowing seamlessly into the next. “The Gypsy Trail” marks a turning point, exploring the existential struggles of a generation marked by neglect and disillusionment. The song’s somber tone is pierced by sharp, probing lyrics: “How come they’re walking on a dusty road, when there’s nowhere left to go / And how come they’re wishing for a better world if they don’t really know where they belong?” It challenges you to confront a world where survival often trumps emotional well-being.
Mainstreet’s ability to balance raw emotion with nostalgic moments shines on “Access Denied.” This track taps into a deep existential yearning that runs throughout the EP, echoing its troubled, uncertain energy. With evocative lines like “the wind came building from the cold northwest” and “the walls came down,” the song conveys the disorienting sensation of being caught between light and dark. “Access Denied” mirrors a growing sense of alienation, both from the world and from oneself, captured in the haunting question: Who’s gonna keep me alive? And as with the rest of the record, ‘Tracks of Fire’ offers no easy answers, revealing its truths only through time and introspection.
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