For Sleepyheads Only (2002)

With the Scandinavian punk/new-wave revival booming, I guess Norway's Flunk--who could've stepped out of trip-hop's class of 1996--thought it was time to diversify. Sure, it's formulaic. Two guys making down-tempo beats under a diva with phone-sex phrasing? Check. Sample of elderly male waxing spiritual about his love of music? Check. Dubby reverb on everything? Check-eck-eck. But like all good retro acts, Flunk remind you what a good idea the aesthetic was first time round. NOW WE SAY ''AHHH'' On a sweet, neo-acoustic cover of New Order's ''Blue Monday,'' ice-hot singer/medical student Anja Oyen Vister sings the line ''How does it feel?' like she's found her calling.