Les Imprimés return with Fading Forward, a beautifully crafted second album from Norwegian songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Morten Martens. Following the acclaim of his 2023 debut Rêverie, Martens dives deeper here into themes of love, loss, escapism and mortality, shaping a record that feels intimate, soulful and quietly expansive.

Drawing from ’60s and ’70s soul, doo-wop, hip-hop rhythms and alternative-pop textures, Martens creates a sound that feels both timeless and personal. His voice may not follow the classic soul blueprint, but that is exactly what gives Les Imprimés its identity. There is warmth, vulnerability and effortless melodic instinct in these songs, with a pop sensibility that draws you in straight away and reveals more with every listen.

Based in Kristiansand, Norway, Martens plays almost every instrument on the album, while also handling the production and arrangements himself. The result is a deeply personal record that carries a strong sense of authorship from beginning to end. Opener You & I sets the tone with punchy drums and sweeping piano, a heartfelt tribute to a partner who stays close through life’s chaos. Again & Again turns inward, reflecting on heartbreak and resilience, while Untainted Love captures the sweetness and optimism of new romance.

Elsewhere, Get Lost drifts into dreamlike territory, inviting the listener to step outside reality for a while, and Only Love builds its message around a raw drum break and mantra-like chorus. With You brings a burst of uplift and motion, turning a fleeting connection into something glowing and memorable. Miss the Days, featuring Ama Li, adds a slow-burning sense of longing, before Paradise closes the record with a moving farewell to a lost friend.

What began as a quietly nurtured talent in a small Norwegian town has grown into something strikingly confident. Signing to Big Crown helped bring Martens’ music to a wider audience, and the response to Rêverie clearly pushed him forward. Fading Forward feels like the sound of an artist fully stepping into his own, delivering a soulful, emotionally rich album with real depth and staying power.