Uncle’s Institution – 'Walkie Talk To Me' (I Know What You Did Last Records) Released 29/08/05

 

Hailing from Norway, Uncle's Institution (AKA Egil Olsen - though not that one, football fans) is an eccentric solo performer of which relatively little is known. A series of limited release albums on small Norwegian independents amount to the sum of his career so far, but with this record his maverick talent could soon develop quite a following.

Eccentric is certainly the right word to describe 'Walkie Talk To Me'. Beginning with 'Hey You', which recalls Beck at his funkiest, Olsen varies his style and sound, from white-boy soul such as 'Babe' to the sort of dread-filled gloom you associate with E of Eels, 'I Feel Like A Girl' being a prime example.

However, these are not the only tricks that Olsen can play. 'Good Time' sounds so much like Turin Brakes that even Gale and Oli would be fooled, while 'Take The Ache' could pass as a great lost Portishead track. The album closes with 'I Believe In Magic', which is blessed with the ‘60s-tinged soul sound so beloved of Beach Boys-obsessed bands such as HAL and The Thrills.

There is the suspicion that with his strange background - check his website for more - and indie label cred, Olsen may be all style and little substance, a pastiche, a jack of all trades and master of none. But when your music is this much fun, who really cares?