Highasakite’s latest single, ‘So Cool’, features a contribution from Swedish singer/songwriter Miriam Bryant who, if I understood it correctly, got to know Highasakite’s Ingrid Helene Håvik on the set of the Norwegian TV show Hver gang vi motes where artists sing each other’s songs and where Bryant, who is half English/half Swedish, performed Highasakite’s ‘Samurai Swords’ with Norwegian DJ Matoma.
Not that I think any version of that song will ever better the acoustic one that Ingrid laid down with Marte Eberson back in the day, but that’s by the bye now.
It turned out that Miriam is a fan of Highasakite and, hey presto! before you know it she’s contributing to this song. Or at least to the video. The only voice I hear is Ingrid’s.
Vocally it belongs to Ingrid, as her songs typically do whoever else takes part in them, well at least latterly.
The last time we featured them was last October with another single, ‘Pornography’, one billed as marking the start of a new chapter for Highasakite and featuring another external contributor, namely Emilie Nicolas.
The lyrics were pretty brutal – I described them as Quentin Tarantino directing The Exorcist – and Ingrid has plenty of form in that department already.
As with some of their more recent releases I found it to be a little overproduced for my taste but I’m glad to say that ‘So Cool’ is definitely a return to form for the band.
In fact I’d say it would have fitted nicely onto the first international album, ‘Silent Treatment’, in its composition. And it has the same mysterious flamboyance about it as songs like ‘Leaving no traces’, ‘Since last Wednesday’ and ‘The Man on the Ferry’ – in fact all 10 of them; songs that brought them fans from across the world, including your writer.
I got this weird idea in my mind that the character in the video here is same one in both of ‘Leaving no traces’ and ‘Since last Wednesday’ – a misogynistic thug that suddenly vanished off the face of the earth; one that was loved by but abused two women, and who finally gets his comeuppance.
That might be as far from the reality as it is possible to get but all credit to Highasakite for their ability to write songs that can keep you guessing until the cows come home.
(Incidentally, kudos to both ladies for some highly credible acting).
It has a lovely melody that almost seems too pleasant for the subject matter and whoever did the production this time (I’m assuming it is Trond Bersu), got it just right.
It is what is says on the tin – cool.
I still don’t know where this new chapter is taking them but I’ll buy into this any day.
Find them on:
Website: https://www.highasakite.no/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highasakitemusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highasakiteband/
X: https://x.com/Highasakiteband
