Weaving Nordic Melancholy with Brazilian Art Rock: An Ode to a World Reimagined
listen to the article
In the heart of São Lourenço, Brazil, tucked away in the immersive walls of Mato Records Studio, Elephant Run embarked on an artistic voyage guided by curiosity and kinship. Their sophomore album, Leftover Land, unravels as an aural landscape—a terrain crafted from the rich soils of Nordic melancholy and eternal Brazilian sunshine. Each track, meticulously pieced together in a haze of psychedelic jazz and art rock influences, invites listeners into a world that is both hauntingly familiar yet refreshingly foreign.
The Brazilian-Swedish ensemble—Amanda Wahlström Plantin on vocals and piano, Ladislau Kardos on drums, Fernando Coelho on guitar, and Renato Cortez on bass—illustrates a sonic tale of revival. “This album felt like a rebirth,” says Amanda. “Despite the years apart and countless miles between us, our music became the bridge to our collective soul.”
Inspired by the introspective cerebral arrangements of Björk, the innovative bravado of Os Mutantes, and Radiohead’s avant-garde canvas, Leftover Land dances gracefully between the traditional and the surreal. The seductive allure lies in its textured layers—Fernando’s guitar channels psychedelic riffs reminiscent of Pink Floyd, while the rhythm section nods to Massive Attack’s hypnotic pulse.
Tracks like “We Are Heroes” showcase this fusion seamlessly. The song begins with an atmospheric build, gradually unfurling into a poignant narrative that reflects the beauty and horror of humanity. “It’s a reflection on the duality we experience,” shares Ladislau. “Every note, every beat is us trying to capture that raw, chaotic essence.”
Recorded over an intense five-day session at Mato Records Studio, the album embraced the studio’s tranquil isolation. “The misty valleys surrounding us added an otherworldly vibe. It was serene yet powerful—a perfect setting to birth Leftover Land,” Fernando remarks. This environment demanded an almost monastic dedication, with band members fully immersing themselves in each other’s company and creativity for the first time in years.
With Leftover Land, Elephant Run crafts a sound that oscillates between jagged and smooth, integrating jazz’s spontaneous depth with the calculated haze of art rock. Each track stands as a testament to their perseverance, capturing the essence of both a personal and universal journey.
As the band sets the stage for their Brazilian tour, with breathtaking performances at iconic venues like Bar Alto in São Paulo, Leftover Land serves not just as an album, but as an evocative exploration—a psychescape where cross-continental echoes converge.
In a realm where beauty meets complexity, where Nordic tales intertwine with tropical rhythms, Elephant Run invites us into a land both reborn and familiar. It’s a call to explore—an invitation to linger, to reflect, and most importantly, to savor the sound that is uniquely their own.
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or feature consideration, please submit here via our partnership with MusoSoup.
