Already a household name in Norway, Berhnoft has caught the attention of U.S. audiences and critics with his highly acclaimed live show. A master of looping, he follows suit on his release with his tasty retro but cutting edge R&B sound and palatable sonic elements. "Freedom," with its Stevie Wonder-like vibe and hooky chorus, has an engaging shuffle feel, but he hits it out of the park with "Wind You Up," which does exactly that. Islander, however, struggles to express the magic he achieves live as a one-man wonder weaving pre-recorded tracks seamlessly into his performances. -Ellen Woloshin
Islander • Bernhoft • Big Picnic Records • Producer: Paul Butler • Score: 6 out of 10
