"Waiting for the Thunder" finds Norwegian duo Apothek in a full-on existential brood

"Waiting for the Thunder", Morten Myklebust and Nils Marten Larsen's second effort as Apothek, finds the pair exploring empty spaces, grace notes and the transitory nature of the physical and emotional places we occupy - and almost always leave behind - in our lives.

The song begins with the line "there's a gap somewhere that used to be us" sung by Myklebust over an ominous bassline and percussion that's little more than a ticking clock, appropriate for a song pondering the passing of things. Synth lines are pitch-bent out of shape, space and time creating a woozy atmosphere which, if not quite icy, signals a creeping fog at the corners of the track.

Yet the chorus glistens with arpeggiated runs and Myklebust's double-and-triple tracked heavenly chorus of a voice, suggesting that while Apothek might be waiting for the thunder, there's often a clear sky just the other side of the clouds. It's the hugeness of this moment which points to Apothek's ambition being backed up with priceless goods, and whets the appetite for the debut album later this year.

While Apothek's show with fellow Norwegians Highasakite at London's Hoxton Hall on Tuesday 9 February is long sold out, "Waiting for the Thunder" will be released on 12 February through Propeller Recordings and you can listen to the track below.