The Dahlmanns "Life In Reverse" CD
Life in Reverse is Norway’s The Dahlmanns’ second full length album in their 15+ year tenure. There was the American Heartbeat six-track thing but otherwise, a trail of sought after singles and Eps have led us to this point. The band reanimated in 2024 with an EP on Snap Records from Madrid. The first fruit of this new lease of life came via the Netherlands’ Plato Utrecht label last November when “Leatherboys” was released as a single with their version of Prince’s “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” on the flip. Here we are in 2026 and eleven more songs added to the canon. A broader church of potential appeal awaits those that make the effort who enter.
Few purveyors of popular music in these times distil their influences with this lever of sonic alchemy. The result is definitely analogue with no dealing in modular recipe favoured by acts that seek to prefer plotting their activity by spreadsheet. The Dahlmanns are pursuing a lost art for themselves first and foremost, the only reason to do anything anymore.
Bandleader Andre Dahlmann reckons “the album is a reflection of what we’ve listened to since we were teenagers right up until now, hence the title. Those expecting more of the same as our previous records may turn up their noses because we’ve drawn inspiration from music that doesn't broadly conform to being power pop”.
Anthemic tuneage such as this is pretty rare right about now. The way “new” music is discovered often relies on algorithms but nothing beats the bush telegraph. Searching for something to believe in when you can seldom trust anything you see or hear anymore, if you profess a fondness for timeless pop then give ‘em a whirl. “Spin” them using whatever portal or method you favour. The recommended vehicle is of course via vinyl but Life In Reverse exists in whatever format best suits your mode of consuming. Not tape but never say never. Whatever fate is in store for this record, the songs resonate. We’re all living a dark side so follow them down if you want. The mood has changed but the power of the songs in more than intact, deeper, richer, a different shade of infectious.
“Leatherboys” finds Moss, Norway’s premier popular music combo summons the spirit of Detroit, casting a TV eye down on Devil Gate Drive and sneaking in a nod to Motor City son of a preacher man, Vincent Furnier into the bargain. Singer Line Dahlmann says “the lyrics are inspired by the images of Finland’s Touko Laaksonen. It's about a ‘Tom of Finland’ type character meeting up with his gang to attend shows at Max’s Kansas City in New York.” “Dark Side With You” presents shades of Aliens-era Roky Erickson.
Time is your most precious commodity so how do we convince you that listening to Life In Reverse is good use of yours? You’re bombarded, cajoled constantly. All we can do is urge you to check it out and be transported. Ideally, you’ll get what I get. If you don’t then I can’t help you. If there was such a thing as radio anymore, something of this stature should be all over it. Life In Reverse indicates a maturing without losing one iota of what made The Dahlmanns instantly distinctive in the first place. Line Dahlmann’s voice is even better after the hiatus and by the time you get to the last song “Old Ghosts” you’ll wonder where they’ve been all your life. A fjord twist on Laurel Canyon, The Dahlmanns practice a style of pop that’s as inspiring as the landscape that it’s made in. Life In Reverse might be the title but they’re going full tilt forward.
“Nothing more to feel, to say, to do.” Except listen.
--Lindsay Hutton,
Editor, Next Big Thing