Norwegian musician Erlend Viken, best known as the vocalist, keyboardist and principal songwriter of acclaimed Progressive Rock outfit Soup, is set to unveil the concluding chapter of his deeply personal and genre-defying solo project Giant Sky.
The final instalment of the trilogy, “Giant Sky III,” will be released on October 2nd, 2026, preceded by the single “Lifting Apples”, which offers the first taste of the new album. A companion postlude album, “The Further We Go The Deeper It Gets,” will follow on October 16th, 2026.
Together, the two records complete an ambitious body of work that has seen Viken explore a broader and more introspective musical landscape than ever before.
“Lifting Apples” offers an evocative introduction to the final chapter of the Giant Sky trilogy. Giant Sky allows Erlend Viken to explore a broader musical palette, drawing on alternative Art Rock, Post-Rock, Electronica, Ambient, Indie, Folk, and Progressive Rock.
The track features Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai as a guest musician, contributing additional guitar.
Purchase and Stream “Lifting Apples” via the Bandcamp player below:
The record features an impressive cast of guest musicians, including Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), Andreas Berg, Myrtoula Røe, and Tuva Halse, creating a rich tapestry of sound that will resonate with fans of artists such as Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, Arcade Fire, Mike Oldfield, and Sigur Rós.
In an era increasingly dominated by algorithms, artificial intelligence and digital perfection, Viken has consciously taken the opposite path. Giant Sky is built around the human element of music-making, embracing imperfections and authenticity as artistic strengths.
“This album has been with me for a long time. Some of the ideas on “Giant Sky III” go back many years, and in a way it feels like a cross section of the last 25 years of my life as a composer.
We live in a time where music is increasingly shaped by algorithms, AI and endless digital possibilities. I suppose this record is my way of walking upstream a little bit — taking the slower route, trusting the human imperfections, and letting the music find its own shape.
It wasn’t a quick album to make, but I’m proud of what it became: ambitious where it needed to be, modest where it should be, and above all, honest.” — Erlend Viken
Digital Pre-Order:
Album “Giant Sky III“: https://frontl.ink/qyjvobo
Album “Giant Sky III: The Further We Go the Deeper It Gets” here: https://frontl.ink/bpb4mpl
Physical Pre-Order: https://giantskyband.bandcamp.com/
Tracklist:
01. Mundane Morning
02. Nothing To Forgive Nothing To Forget
03. Limerence
04. All The Rage
05. Reveries Of Gold
06. Fleeting Glimpse
07. Sun World
08. Lifting Apples