I Was A King - Norman Bleik (Sonic Cathedral)

November 07 2009

In the meantime, the sort of clean-cut harmonies and cute angular guitar produced here by Norwegians I Was A King will more than suffice. With more than an air of self-deprecation, new single Norman Bleik could have been lifted straight off Teenage Fanclub’s 1995 Grand Prix album and nobody would assume it was the work of somebody other than the Fannies. Indeed even the song title recalls Grand Prix's wordplay on its track Neil Jung.

On seven-inch and download, this UK debut single is an attention-grabbing slice of jangly guitar pop ahead of the release of the band’s eponymous second album on February 1. The b-side is a cover of Lou Reed's She's My Best Friend.