The National Bank

In their native Norway, the National Bank coalesced as something of a supergroup during 2003. What started as a solitary commissioned appearance at one of the country's music festivals later solidified into a standing ensemble. Anchored by brothers Lars and Martin Horntveth—the creative core of the singular electronica/jazz/post-rock outfit Jaga Jazzist—the group also includes ex-Jaga keyboardist Morten Qvenild, bassist Nikolai Eilertsen, and singer/songwriter Thomas Dybdahl on vocals and guitar.

Though closely linked to Jaga Jazzist, the National Bank diverges from that band's frenetic, unpredictable instrumental style, sharing only an underlying inventive drive and frequent beauty. Through this project the musicians pursue refined, intricately arranged, mature pop in the spirit of Burt Bacharach, Scott Walker, and Jeff Buckley. Their original aim was a single performance at the 2003 Vestfoldspillene festival, centered on vocal-focused orchestrated pop suited to large stages. The event's success led the musicians assembled by the Horntveth brothers to continue the collaboration. Recording sessions for their debut began in 2004, and the resulting chemistry allowed every track on the self-titled album to be captured in one take. Lead single "Tolerate" became an immediate Norwegian hit and was widely hailed by domestic critics as the country's best song of the year. Issued in summer 2004, the album entered the charts at number one and remained there for 25 weeks, while the band also claimed that year's Spellemansprisen as Norway's leading pop act.

Despite the scale of this breakthrough, members chose not to set aside their primary commitments, maintaining the National Bank strictly as a side project. The group played several well-received domestic concerts before participants returned to their main bands. Occasional songwriting and recording continued, and in 2007 the five members reconvened in the studio. New single "Let Go" reached Norwegian radio in August 2007, with news that a second album would follow in spring 2008. Come on Over to the Other Side appeared in February and again dominated the Norwegian charts for most of the year. Over the next six months the band toured Norway, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands in support of this renewed success.