Orango Announce New Album Mohican Due Oct. 7; Premiere “Running Out of Reason”
Often-harmonized Norwegian classic heavy rockers Orango will release their new album, Mohican, on Oct. 7 through Stickman Records. The long-running trio have a reputation that precedes them as they follow-up the one-two punch of 2017’s The Mules of Nana (review here) and 2018’s Evergreens (review here), but it’s worth noting that four years between records, even with the pandemic, is the longest break they’ve had since 2004-2010. Extenuating circumstances, blah blah.
Certainly the years, lost or otherwise, will dissipate as you make your way through the premiere of first single “Running Out of Reason” below, with its sharply layered acoustic and electric guitar, memorable verses and organ there just to reinforce the point of the ’70s-style proto-heavy to be found modernized throughout the entire offering amid the deep-running vocal arrangements, be it the mellower arena-ism of “Cold Wind” and the folkish-till-it-rocks “Hawkeye” or the outright boogie rock of “Fryin'” or “Dust & Dirt” and the sway and strut of “Wild River Song” before the three-part heroics cap with the acoustic “Ain’t No Road” at the end. It’s lush, varied in mood and feel, organic without being retro, retro without being vintage, and brightly listenable. A record you would put on for company if you wanted to keep people having a good time.
Think of it as a proven concept proved all over again, but know that with Orango‘s work, the band are masters of the form and they sound precisely like it.
Premiere of “Running Out of Reason” is below, followed by the album announcement.
Enjoy:
Orango, Norway’s melodic classic rock powerhouse, has returned with a new studio album. On Mohican, the trio of Helge Bredeli Kanck, Trond Slåke and Hallvard Gaardløs – along with some special guests – dish up ten tracks that prove they’re far from running out of steam, no matter what the world throws at them.
If one didn’t know they were hiding out in the mountains of Norway, one might think Orango to be at home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee or the shores of Southern California; between the band’s southern-tinged, soulful riffs and sun-soaked three-part vocal harmonies, the band always provides a masterclass in classic rock. As far as Orango records go, Mohican feels especially heartfelt, a thread of yearning running through the album’s ten cuts.
Perhaps this is due to the period of transition and strangeness the band were in during songwriting, as guitarist/singer Helge Kanck explains:
“Mohican wasn’t always the plan. I had written enough songs for three more albums, but during the pandemic, the band saw little to none of one another, played no gigs, and the tour to support our Battles reissue was cancelled, as its release date coincided with Norway closing down. It felt like very dark and boring times. Trond was even considering taking a break from the band, until he luckily changed his mind. After some good times reunited in Haalvard’s rehearsal room, running through some songs and working on arrangements together, the band felt ready to pick up the reins again. Mohican is an album full of good spirit, and the recording sessions were great times all the way with all band members giving it all and working hard to make it our best album yet. True band harmony!”
Adding a further personal note, two songs were originally entirely recorded by Kanck (with drummer Kai Christoffersen) with the intention of landing on a solo album. With the decision made to get back in the saddle with the full band, Slåke and Gaardløs joined in to add more vocal work and work them into the Orango sound.
As with the band’s 5 preceding albums, Mohican was recorded at Ocean Sound Recordings on the coastline of Norway and sounds frankly amazing. Available on 180gr. vinyl, CD and digitally.
Orango is:
Helge Bredeli Kanck: guitar and vocals
Hallvard Gaardløs: bass and vocals
Trond Slåke: drums and vocals
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