Opium Cartel Ardor Black Vinyl Edition

Limited to 300 copies on black vinyl. Taking inspiration from '80s art pop à la Japan, Prefab Sprout, Roxy Music and The Blue Nile, as well as progressive rock and electronica, The Opium Cartel offer a sophisticated, sleek and emotionally engaging sophomore album. The line-up features musicians like No-Man, Henry Fool's Tim Bowness and Stephen J. Bennett, as well as White Willow/Anglagard drummer Mattias Olsson, Wobbler's synth wizard Lars Fredrik Froislie, indie jazz sensations Pixel's Ellen Andrea Wang and Harald Lassen, and finally Norway's pop icons Venke Knutson and Alexander Stenerud. The project is helmed by White Willow guitarist/songwriter Jacob Holm-Lupo, well known for his meticulate and atmospheric productions. Whereas the first album featured prominent vocalists like Rachel Haden (Todd Rundgren, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World), this current album gathers even more bespoke vocal talent. Main singer is Venke Knutson, one of Norway's most successful pop vocalists. Another prominently featured singer is Alexander Stenerud, who is by many regarded as the true heir to A-Ha's Morten Harket, Norway's King of Pop. The cover is by world-renowned photographer Bruno Dayan.