Kings of Convenience’s third album, Declaration of Dependence, is a wonderful record for a lot of reasons. For one, Eirik Bøe is equally comfortable talking about the record’s “serious ideas” and laughing about its’ “hi-brow Bossa Nova” moments while his partner Erlend Øye is clearly thrilled by making, “the most rhythmical pop record ever that features no percussion or drums.” For another, there is no one who makes records like they do. “When we started out we were afraid... (more) of sounding like other artists,” Erlend says. “But now we feel pretty much alone.” But the most striking thing about this album is how powerfully it reminds you that making music together is not a game, it’s not something to be undertaken lightly, this record is part of a much larger picture, a long and involved relationship that has had its good and bad times.