It’s been a while since we’ve talked about Mats Davidsen’s band, Painted Romans, as these last few months have been a little crazy for the couple who run El Garaje. For its part, the Norwegian post-punk band has released new material during this time: a remix of “Formation” by Antipole, an EP and a single that we are now going to comment here now.
On “Sing to The Child”, Mats becomes a modern troubadour, like a darker Paul Roland. We also find that, now characteristic, Painted Romans guitar playing, undoubtedly one of the most distinguishable characteristics of their sound. In these years that we have been following Mats’ project, we have seen how he has reinvented himself repeatedly, and this track is another example of that, this time moving in a more dark folk style.
Let’s finish with some short reviews of the past material: “Formation” was one of the tracks from the magnificent EP Heart that we liked so much back in the day. Antipole‘s remix is darker than the original, with a stronger beat and the beautiful guitar a bit hidden in the mix. Instead, on the EP, entitled Beyond Gates of Reckoning, we find a slow-paced title track, with a great atmosphere to enjoy the superb guitar. Another proof of the thousand faces of Painted Romans. Next, we have a demo of Mats recorded in 2020 entitled “Dreamland”. We also find here the first version of “The Begging Experience”, the last single we reviewed in the Garage when it was released. The EP ends with “There is Somebody”, a first, more dramatic version of “Memento Mori”.
