Rune Arkiv is a Rune Grammofon sub-label. The Norwegian duo Fra Lippo Lippi was formed by Rune Kristoffersen in 1980. The name is taken from a poem by Robert Browning, dedicated to the Italian renaissance painter Filippo Lippi. A year later their debut album is released by the Norwegian indie label Uniton. In Silence shows a strong influence by groups such as Joy Divison and The Cure. For their next album Small Mercies (1983) they get Per Oystein Sorensen to join as the new singer. The music shows a considerable development towards a more personal style, with the piano as the central instrument. The Early Years includes both In Silence and Small Mercies and 2 instrumental b-sides, all on one CD.