Fenomenon

With its eponymous fourth studio album, the Norway trio Fenomenon takes its cinematic electronica to previously uncharted territories. “One Step Closer to the Sun” opens with more than seven minutes of astral ambience, launched from a platform built on acoustic six-string guitars. From here, the soft explosion of orchestral accompaniment gradually gains momentum before thrusting upward into a stratosphere where organic rhythms float alongside lilting piano notes and sweeping strings. The following “Ambitious Man” is more upbeat, flirting with Parisian-flavored pop that sounds similar to Phoenix and Air. The spacy “Feel at Home” treads precariously close to New Age sounds until Kjetil Ingebretsen’s delicately layered vocal harmonies hoist sails and carry the tune toward a new dream-pop realm. The beautifully crafted, emotionally urgent “When You’re Gone” is a standout track, sounding like the robots from Daft Punk playing AM-radio soft rock from the not-too-distant future. The '80s-flavored “Song About Dancing” closes with gauzy jazz-disco.