With ‘Herzsprung’, Copenhagen songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist GB (Gus Berntsen) delivers the kind of artistic leap that reshapes expectations rather than merely exceeding them. His debut hinted at an intriguing musical imagination concealed beneath downtempo atmospherics, but this second record tears away those muted surfaces in favor of something far more dynamic, emotionally exposed and compositionally adventurous. Written during a period in London, where fragments of language were literally assembled from cuttings taken from copies of the city’s free Metro newspaper, the album embraces chance without surrendering purpose. Those found words become catalysts rather than constraints, transformed into songs that examine memory, identity and aspiration through a vivid collage of images. Recorded in the isolation of the Swedish wilderness alongside a trusted band and captured largely live to 24-track tape, ‘Herzsprung’ possesses the rare quality of sounding meticulously conceived while preserving the exhilaration of musicians discovering possibilities together in real time.
The opening “Adrenaline” immediately establishes that this is a record fueled by movement. The pulse is urgent but never frantic, propelled by a rhythm section that understands momentum as something elastic rather than mechanical. GB’s vocal has gained remarkable authority, carrying melodies that rise confidently above guitars whose textures constantly shift between shimmering clarity and controlled abrasion. The live recording process is evident from the opening bars; every instrument responds instinctively to the others, creating an atmosphere where precision and spontaneity coexist naturally.
“If Only You’re Still Around” turns inward without sacrificing the album’s expanding sonic ambitions. The fragmented lyrical method proves especially effective here, as seemingly disconnected phrases accumulate emotional significance through juxtaposition rather than narrative continuity. GB refuses to over-explain, trusting listeners to discover coherence within ambiguity. The band’s collective performance mirrors this approach, with subtle instrumental details emerging organically instead of competing for attention. “The Next Day” captures the record’s fascination with transition. It explores the uncertain territory between endings and beginnings without presenting either as definitive states. The arrangement shifts fluidly, drawing from alternative rock, art-pop and understated jazz influences while refusing to settle into predictable structures. Rather than sounding eclectic for its own sake, the composition reflects an artist whose influences have been thoroughly absorbed into a singular musical language.
One of the album’s most compelling moments arrives with “Starsound,” where melodic immediacy and experimental instinct achieve remarkable equilibrium. Echoes of 1970s fusion can be heard within the rhythmic interplay, yet these influences are filtered through a contemporary sensibility shaped equally by independent rock and adventurous pop. The musicians perform with extraordinary attentiveness, every subtle change in dynamics appearing to emerge through mutual intuition rather than rigid arrangement. The song demonstrates how expansive musical ideas become most persuasive when rooted in memorable songwriting.
“Belly” introduces an earthier emotional register. GB’s vocals carry both vulnerability and quiet determination, while the instrumental backdrop continually shifts beneath him, suggesting instability without descending into chaos. The live ensemble thrives here, allowing imperfections to become expressive details rather than flaws requiring correction. That willingness to embrace unpredictability gives the recording its distinctive vitality. The appearance of Alba Akvama on “Pipe Dream” broadens the album’s emotional and sonic vocabulary. Her contribution enriches the composition rather than functioning as a decorative guest appearance, creating a dialogue that deepens the song’s central themes of aspiration and uncertainty. The contrast between the two voices introduces new perspectives within the same emotional landscape, while the surrounding instrumentation balances melodic accessibility with adventurous harmonic movement. The chemistry between GB and Akvama reflects the collaborative spirit that defines the entire project.
“Era” serves as one of the album’s conceptual anchors. The title suggests historical change, yet the song resists simplistic commentary about progress or decline. Instead, GB assembles lyrical fragments into a meditation on cultural memory, where personal experience and collective history become inseparable. The arrangement mirrors this complexity, drawing together distorted guitars, fluid bass lines and rhythmic patterns that subtly shift beneath the melody without disrupting its coherence. “Small Gods” examines the quiet idols that shape everyday existence, exploring the human impulse to seek meaning within ordinary rituals and fleeting obsessions. GB avoids cynicism, grasping both the comfort and limitations of these private mythologies. The band’s performance is especially nuanced here, allowing instrumental conversations to develop naturally around the vocal without overwhelming it.
The emotional summit of ‘Herzsprung’ arrives with “Shit River,” a composition that gathers every thread introduced across the album into an extraordinary climax. Backed by a full choir, GB delivers one of the record’s most compelling vocal performances, his plea for someplace carrying both desperation and defiance. The choral arrangement transforms the song from personal confession into communal expression, amplifying its emotional reach without sacrificing intimacy. When he declares that everything in between collapsed into rushing floods of insignificance, the line lands not as theatrical exaggeration but as the culmination of the album’s restless search for renewal. The supporting musicians respond magnificently, building a sonic landscape that expands steadily while preserving remarkable emotional focus.
Following such intensity, “Katie Magic True” closes the album with thoughtful restraint. Rather than seeking an even larger finale, GB allows reflection to replace catharsis. The composition gathers many of the record’s recurring musical ideas, presenting them with greater openness and calm. It suggests that clarity is never absolute, only momentarily glimpsed before experience continues its constant movement. Much of the album’s success rests upon the musicians who accompanied GB into the Swedish studio. Their collective instinct shapes every performance, demonstrating the advantages of recording songs live rather than assembling them piece by piece. Individual virtuosity consistently serves the ensemble, creating arrangements that feel alive, responsive and richly conversational.
The decision to capture these performances on 24-track tape further enhances that sense of immediacy, preserving subtle interactions that might easily have disappeared within more heavily constructed productions. Mastering engineer Noel Summerville deserves recognition for preserving the remarkable dynamic character of these recordings. The album accommodates moments of explosive intensity and near-whispered intimacy without flattening either extreme, allowing every emotional shift to retain its full expressive force.
‘Herzsprung’ embraces contradiction without attempting to resolve it. It is meticulously assembled from fragments yet communicates with striking emotional directness. It celebrates collective musicianship while remaining deeply personal. It acknowledges familiar traditions ranging from fusion jazz and grunge to outsider pop and experimental rock without becoming derivative of any of them. GB has created an album that invites curiosity rather than passive consumption, trusting listeners to engage with music that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant. Far from representing a simple progression from his debut, ‘Herzsprung’ announces the arrival of an artist whose imagination has expanded dramatically, producing a record that is fearless in its ambitions and remarkably generous in its emotional reach.
Releases August 21, 2026
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