Every story has two sides, and that adage is certainly true for Kaleo, the four-piece band from Iceland who now call the U,S. home. Call it a split upbringing: the isolated heritage that results from coming of age in Iceland has paired with the fresh inspiration of moving to America, and the band has built a sound to match the disparate landscapes. A gorgeous and raucous blend of rock, folk and blues, Kaleo's debut LP embodies that very spirit of duality: titled A/B, the album showcases the band's multi-layered dynamics and ability to play different genres with equal skill.

The concept behind A/B comes from Julius Son's love of the split sides of vinyl records and their ability to showcase an artist's different sides. "I write very different songs that many would like to label into different genres," he says. "The idea of A/B is to show the diversity and the two sides of the band." The "A" side is more rock and roll and blues (opener "No Good," "Way Down We Go," "Hot Blood"), while the "B" side is a bit softer with more ballads ("All the Pretty Girls," "Vor I Vaglaskogi," and closer "I Can't Go On Without You"). But no matter which side you're on and which song is playing, the sound can only be that of Kaleo.

A/B was primarily produced and recorded with Jacquire King, the esteemed production icon whose past work with talented artists as varied as Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Buddy Guy, James Bay, and Of Monsters and Men helped Kaleo showcase both their louder and softer sides. In addition to the sessions in Nashville, Kaleo wrote and recorded in various other locales around their new home in the U.S. as well as a few different sessions around the world, from their home of Iceland to Spain and London as well. Additional production contributions to the album in these various sessions came from Mike Crossey, Arnar Guðjónsson and the band.