One of the exciting new, featured artists in this month’s blog addition, Parker Millsap, sings about being Quite Contrary, just like Mary in the nursery rhyme. And perhaps the music in the blog does prove that being contrary to contemporary musical trends is still possible. Sometimes it pays off in terms of huge, worldwide success, but most of the time it leads to a smaller, but mature and appreciative audience. In no way is there a direct correlation between huge success and quality in today’s music business, but the opposite is equally untrue.

 

Let’s start with the quoted artist, Parker Millsap. His album, simply named Parker Millsap, was released this summer. 21-year old Parker grew up in small-town, old-time religion Oklahoma, and brings this experience into his songs. He went to California to learn the recording business, but when he wanted to create real music he went back home again, and there is a lot of Oklahoma in these songs. I have added 7 of them, so you will have ample opportunity to get to know Mr Millsap and his musical world. Taster: Parker Millsap – Quite Contrary

On to Northeast USA and to Bishop Allen, an indie band mostly consisting of two musicians, Justin Rice and Christian Rudder, but with a lot of session musicians helping to create the happy west coast sound of the band. Bishop Allen has, as have many other artists, used soundtracks of television series as stepping stones to (moderate) success. It seems like a lot of TV viewers are using Shazam to help identify good music heard in the background of their favourite TV series. I am one of them. Taster: Bishop Allen – Hammer and Nail

And while we are in North America, let’s get acquainted with Canadian band Bahamas – or rather, like the title of the album suggests: Bahamas is Alfie. Alfie, in this case, is Alfie Jurvanen from Toronto. The music is slightly influenced by country and Americana and you’ll find six of the songs from the album in the updated list, because I hope you will enjoy Bahamas as much as I do. Taster: Bahamas – Can’t Take You With Me

Thea & The Wild and Bahamas has one thing in common: as Alfie is hiding behind Bahamas, Thea Glenton Raknes has made up an imaginary band, The Wild, that performs with her on her debut album, Strangers and Lovers. As with Alfie, Thea does most of the work herself. Her voice is her best feature, creating a sound that is unmistakably hers. With more imaginative song writing this album would be even better. I have picked three tracks that showcase Thea at her very best. Taster: Thea & The Wild – Heartattack

Team Me is a real band, it it really sounds like one. The vocals are performed as if a mid size choir is on stage, the result being a broad and festive sound. The songwriting and the production is like good champagne, bubbly and tantalizing. Blind as Light is their second album, and if you like this, you are bound to enjoy their first as well. Taster: Team Me – The All Time High

We travel across the North Sea to New Malden in London and to Luke Sital-Singh. He released a few promising EPs in 2012 and 2013. This year his first full-length album came, The Fire Inside. I find the tracks considerably more mature than what you would expect from a debut album, great songwriting and self-confident vocals from Sital-Singh. I have added five beautiful tracks, and if you like it, go back to his EPs as well, a lot of gold is to be found there as well. Taster: Luke Sital-Singh – Nothing Stays The Same

Let’s cross one more sea, to Ireland and to a seasoned traveller, Sinead O’Connor. Few artists have created more controversy than she has. Still, she has weathered every storm, with a considerable penalty to pay, I am sure. A lot of her hurt is found both in her lyrics and her music. It is hard to agree with everything O’Connor has said or done, and I don’t think she expects that of her fans. However, the music speaks for itself, also on her new album I’m not Bossy, I am the Boss. Give it a listen. This is good pop music with deeply felt lyrics. Taster: Sinead O’Connor – How About I Be Me

A last ocean trip, this time back to Scandinavia and Denmark, brings us to Tina Dico. Although she may be a new acquaintance to most of my blog listeners, she is in no way new to the Danes. Tina’s full alto voice has pleased her home country fans since the early 2000s, and they have consequently awarded her with both prizes and praise. Her album, Whispers, is out internationally now; she now lives in Iceland and performs all over Europe. I have listened to Whispers a lot lately, and I give you the same opportunity by adding 7 wonderful tracks. Although she has her own unique sound, if you have enjoyed Laura Mvula or Sade, you might be particularly satisfied with what you hear from Tina Dico. Taster: Tina Dico – Whispers

To make room, we will have to excuse Carl Espen, Dean Wareham, Elbow, House of Cards soundtrack, Kari Rueslåtten, Linda Perhacs, Lisbee Stainton, Temples and The War on Drugs. Thank you for six months of blog list service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of the comments I get back from you blog listeners (and I value all of them), deal with the diversity of music and artists alike you find among the tracks. You seem to be particularly happy with exploring music across a number of genres and from every corner of the world, discovering music you would otherwise have missed. I hope today’s blog additions don’t disappoint in that respect; we will travel from Ethiopia to Scotland, from classical music with an African twist to Americana with a dash of musicals.

Let’s start with a singer gone solo, Jenny Lewis, better knows as lead singer in Rilo Kiley, a favourite band of mine. She recently released The Voyager, with a sound that is unmistakably Rilo Kiley, happy pop music with a twist of lemon in the lyrics. The album was five years in the making, but she also managed to get a duo album with her boyfriend Jonathan Rice during that time. Jenny also has an acting career to manage, she has appeared in a number of TV series, including Pleasantville and American Dad.

Taster:

We’ll remain in the US, but musically we are on our way to France and to French pop in the sixties. Who can forget Jane Birkin and Je t’aime Moi Non Plus. Got a Girl couldn’t either, and the duo have now released an album with the catching name I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now. Mary Elizabeth Winstead copies Ms Birkin in many ways, but the Got A Girls songs are more interesting in 2014 than the French tracks from 1960s. Mary Elizabeth Winstead also copies Jenny Lewis, by the way, as she is also making a career as an actress in TV and films. Taster: Got A Girl – Everywhere I Go

We find a similar duo on the other side of the Atlantic, in Sheffield, England. Slow Club also digs its roots into music of the recent past, but with less humour and pizazz than Got A Girl, but their new album Complete Surrender, their third so far, is beautiful and with a rich sound. The two members of the group Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor handle most of the instruments themselves on the album. Taster: Slow Club – Dependable People And Things That I’m Sure Of

I have added two English male artists that both have made an impression on my ear drums and beyond. Dan Clews was taken under the wings of George Martin, which isn’t the worst start an artist can have. He has gone on to be a darling of BBC’s Radio Two, performing live there a number of times, and this summer he made an appearance on the Glastonbury Festival in connection with the release of his album Tourist in My Own Back Yard. Taster: Dan Clews – Pixie Poem

Benjamin Clementine is an amazing new artist; with a voice it is hard to forget once you have heard it, which may be why he has been compared to Nina Simone and Anthony Hagerty. He doesn’t sound like any of them, but if you listen to his songs you will soon understand why the comparisons are made. Benjamin’s parents are from Ghana and he himself is born in North London. I really look forward to seeing him perform live in Oslo this coming Sunday. Taster: Benjamin Clementine – London

Tiken Jah Fakoly from Ivory Coast has also impressed music journalists and audiences alike. He is a political activist as well, and has been on the barricades for the people of his country and performed a number of charity concerts. I have to admit that I find a lot of world music from Africa on the tedious side, but Tiken Jah Fakoly’s music is different. Firstly it must be considered reggae with a definite African twist, both in the instrumentation and slightly different reggae rhythms. It is also refreshing to hear reggae being sung in French. His newest album out now is called Dernier Appel.  Taster: Tiken Jah Fakoly – Tata

As alien as African reggae may sound, classical pianist and composer Girma Yifrashewa’s African touch to classical music isn’t less surprising. The Ethiopian pianist is clearly fond of European composers like Chopin, but if you listen to the two lovely tracks I have added, you may definitely hear chords and music lines that are inspired under a different sun. I have played Love & Peace a lot the last month, so I hope you will give it a chance as well, even if classical music isn’t your thing. Taster: Girma Yifrashewa – Chewata

On to another artist I have listened a lot to lately, Loudon Wainwright III. His latest album, I Haven’t Got the Blues (Yet), is filled to the brim with strong, well-written, powerful songs. I urge to listen to the whole album, and I dare you to find one track that isn’t well crafted. Talent runs in the Wainwright family, and I am a great admirer of many members of the clan. This album proves that the best of the all may in fact be Loundon senior. Taster: Loudon Wainwright III – Harmless

Continuing with men in hats: One of the most copied American artists is John Hiatt. His 23^rd studio album is called Terms of My Surrender, and having listed to these brilliant bluesy songs released in his 62^nd year alive, I am sure that artists will line up covering a number of them in the future as well. Blues can ealily be repetitive, not so with John Hiatt’s blues tracks. Enjoy! Taster: John Hiatt – Old People

Kodaline is a rock band from Ireland, instantly reminding me of Coldplay and similar groups. In Ireland the group’s popularity has grown with every album, and listening to their latest album, In a Perfect World, one can easily understand why. The song writing is impressive, many songs stick in your mind. The group has fought hard for their home spun success. I see no reason why their popularity shouldn’t expand to other countries. Taster: Kodaline – All I Want

We end our trip around the world and through a number of genres with King Creosote from Scotland and his album From Scotland With Love. The album is in fact a soundtrack to a film, released this summer to coincide with the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow. King Creosote is also a genre hopper, he is hard to pin down, delving into everything from gypsy music to songs clearly being inspired by his lovely home country.

Taster: King Creosote – Bluebell, Cockleshell, 123

Henry Priestman, Making Marks, Roseanne Cash, San Fermin, Suzanne Vega and Switchfoot are all leaving us now, so if you have a particular fondness for one or more of them, you are on your own in Spotify-land. Sorry.

..says the rapper opening Oye 2014 on Carlos Santana’s new album. And of course he is right, in more ways than one. This week I have added songs from historical figures like Leon Russell and Georgie Fame in addition to Santana, but I have also added artists who are clearly and unashamedly being inspired by musical roots from the 60s to the 80s.

 

 

Let’s start with Santana. He has irreverently updated both his unmistakeable sound and his songs from the seventies on his latest album Corazon. At times it is more awkward than fun, but if you decide to let go and just accept that it is better to repeat what is brilliant than try to squeeze creative juices out of a dried up lemon, you may just end up enjoying this. I have.   TASTER:Santana – Oye 2014

 

 

Another brilliant artist from yesteryear, Georgie Fame, merging jazz and pop better than most, has released a live album together with Madeline Bell. Many of you may remember her from the one the most underrated groups ever, Blue Mink. Come to think of it, Georgie Fame is also among the underrated of the music world – if you would like to find out why, listen to his amazing back catalogue. Georgie was a pop icon in the sixties and seventies, but in my view he matured as an artist when he embraced jazz. The new album, Singer, was recorded in Tilburg, Holland. All songs are written for Madeline by Steve Gray and Georgie Fame. TASTER: Georgie Fame – That’s How Hit Records Are Made (The Crap Song)

 

Leon Russell had a surprising but well deserved comeback a few years ago with Elton John. He was really forgotten for many years, although his songs lived on and were performed by scores of other artists. Now he has released an album of 12 cover songs, Life Journey, and I must unfortunately say I am a bit disappointed. His voice is of course as piercing and vulnerable as before, but Russell doesn’t add much to most of these songs, and it becomes too much of a karaoke collection. Still, I have added three of the best tracks, perhaps it will inspire you to listen to other wonderful stuff this unique artists has previously created TASTER: Leon Russell – That Lucky Old Sun

Vancouver’s The Shilohs, has released its second album, So Wild. They may serve as a great bridge from the truly historical icons to contemporary artists with history in their veins. The Shilos sounds like a band of the sixties both in the orchestrations, harmonies and compositions. At the same time this doesn’t sound dated to me. The production is modern and there is a lot of humour in both the lyrics and in the music. This is what music could sound like if time (but not music) stood still and we skipped punk, rap and all that followed pop. TASTER: The Shilohs – TV Action Jazz

I have friends who worship the ground David Gray walks on. Of course I respect that, but he has never appealed to me, basically because I don’t enjoy his voice very much. It is a personal thing, but that’s the way it is. I haven’t changed my mind, but I willingly admit that on his latest album, Mutineers, his songwriting is so brilliant that it overshadows any other problems I might have. The title track is so well performed that I question why I had a problem with Gray in the first place. Some reviewers have called this his best album for more than a decade. I agree. This is brilliant and powerful, nothing less. TASTER: David Gray – Girl Like You

Lana Del Rey is another artist proving that history indeed does repeat itself. She is truly a contemporary artist, but there is no doubt she gets her inspiration from music and artists from previous decades. Her third album, Ultraviolence, is a collection you probably would have run into even without this blog; it debuted at the number one spot on Billboard’s top 100; but a blog with focus on great music with roots needs to add well-known artists as well. So there. TASTER: Lana Del Rey – Old Money

I credit Peter Andre as an Australian, although he was six when he moved there from the UK with his family. His fame base is also in the UK still. He became a true celebrity when he participated in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. How ironic is that? His newest album is called Big Night. His inspiration must truly be Robbie Williams. Williams did a similar move in his career, from pop to swing, very successfully. Some of the tracks on Big Night is quite uninteresting, but I have boiled it down to four songs that really make the room swing. And hopefully proves Peter Andre is a bit more than just another pretty boy. TASTER: Peter Andre – Preach

I don’t really know how to describe Priscilla Ahn. Some of the music she produces is lofty and, frankly, not striking. But then she presents tracks that are breathtakingly beautiful – like Remember How I Broke Your Heart – from her new album This Is Where We Are. I also love her alternative Wedding March. Both of these tracks, plus two more, are added to the bloglist as of today. TASTER: Priscilla Ahn – Remember How I Broke Your Heart

I am more familiar with Australian Sarah Blasko. Her previous album I concluded was my favourite album of 2013. Now she has released an EP with cover songs from musicals, Cinema Songs. Her song choices and her remarkable, vulnerable rendition prove again what a great singer she is. Hopefully the world outside of Australia will embrace her eventually. In Australia all her albums have sold to platinum… TASTER: Sarah Blasko – Something Good – The Sound Of Music

Sharon van Etten doesn’t need my or other bloggers’ help to become world famous. Her latest album, Are We There, has been received to universal acclaim – I haven’t yet seen a bad review. To a great extent I can see why, because this is pop music of the highest quality, although it at time becomes a bit introvert and melancholic for my taste. Still, there is much to enjoy, and I have added four tasters in the blog list. TASTER: Sharon Van Etten – Every Time the Sun Comes Up

On to four newcomers:

Teleman, a London band, has just released its debut album. Many of the band members played together in Pete & The Pirates, and when the band was dissolved in 2012 it soon reemerged as Teleman. The album is called Breakfast and has a distinct, naïve sound, perhaps best represented by what one reviewer called the yelping of frontman Thomas Sanders. There are some excellent tracks on the album; both Christina and 23 Floors Up are composing workmanship anyone should be proud of.TASTER: Teleman – 23 Floors Up

Tellef Raabe is a Norwegian deep-voiced pop artist who has just released his first EP, of Smith’s friends. My daughter has worked with him and brought him to my attention. There is a freshness and sound richness here that bode well for future releases from Raabe. I have added two of the tracks from the EP, the rest are remixes of Heaven Knows. TASTER; Tellef Raabe – of Smith’s friends

Douglas Dare from Southwest England released his debut album, Whelm,  in May, and reviewers were ecstatic, a lot of them polishing their crystal ball and heralding Dare as the next big thing in pop music.He may very well be, although his music is a bit too elitist and a bit depressive to excite the masses. I have picked three beautiful tracks, though, that grow with every listen. TASTER:  Douglas Dare – Caroline

Don’t Fall In Love is Norwegian soul singer Sisi’s first proper album. She participated in NRK’s hit series Stjernekamp (The Ultimate Entertainer) in 2012 and won a lot of hearts then. She has a distinct and deep soul voice that she knows how to use to the greatest benefit for the songs. Unfortunately too many of the tracks on the album are unremarkable, but there is enough there to be fond of. I have added five tracks to give you a proper opportunity to fall in love. TASTER: Sisi – Nothing New

To make room and avoid making you weary of great artists, we say goodbye to The Autumn Defense, Eddi Reader, The Gloaming, Highasakite, James Vincent McMorrow, Sassybeat, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Thom Hell.

Two major new albums from Cherry Ghost and First Aid Kit, among the best released anywhere this year, are out – and tracks are added to an already dazzling blog list. Get your headphones out, press play and listen to releases from these two supergroups – and from a dozen other artists from all over the world and of all ages. Really all ages.

This is quite a story: Eron Falbo is Brazilian, hooked on the 70s, not the samba. Instead he loves Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. In fact, he loves them so much that he tracks down their producer Bob Johnston, and the two of them produce an album, 73, of inspirational songs, in the wrong sense of the word. Unfortunately, not all tracks are of the same quality as Eron’s heroes produced, but quite a few of them are really worth listening to, with a production quality that reminds me more of the 70s than the 2010s.

Another group of musicians inspired by predecessors is Arc Iris from Massachusetts. I have previously added songs by The Low Anthem, and the same woman, Jocie Adams, masterminds Arc Iris. The music from the self titled album, Arc Iris, is crossing into a lot of genres, making it truly genuine, even if it easy to recognize everything from musicals to Beatles to classical to country, surprising and familiar at the same time.

So what is all the Miley Cyrus hype about? This is music normally not sought out by anyone above 25, but the former Disney starlet is an amazing singer, performer and, I guess, songwriter. You may not choose to go see one of her shows, but have a listen to the four tracks I have added from her latest album Bangerz , I guarantee your toes won’t stay rested.

Listen to the amazing voice of Hamilton Leithauser, powerful edgy but with a vulnerability. Hamilton may be the next crooner, it all depends on what material he will choose to perform. His album, Black Hours, is supposedly inspired by Frank Sinatra, but now all songs delivers for Frank’s core audience. The three tracks I have added are nothing less than magnificent, though, and they grow on you with every li

From the strongest to the most fragile voice of this blog list addition:   Tiny Ruins is a trio from New Zealand, playing acoustic music in a folk tradition. I am not thrilled by everything on their album Brightly Painted One, but some of the songs are really gems, particularly their opening track Me at the Museum, You at the Wintergarden.

On to an album that either annoys or pleases. The Chicago group Sleeping at Last has recorded a number of covers and have called the collection… Covers Vol 1. I have added songs formerly performed by Police, Nena, The Proclaimers and Cindi Lauper. I find their renditions interesting, although the slightly whining vocals may drive you to tears.

Cherry Ghost is an amazing new discovery for me. Their new album, Herd Runners, is among the best of new releases this year. The group from Bolton, England plays pop music shamelessly, borrowing from the best, creating silky arrangements around strong melodies and great performances.

On to two Norwegian-born artists who have left their home country and developed their music in other countries. Bernhoft’s new album, Islander, is very much in the vein of his previous brilliant album, Solitary Breaks. He is an amazing r&b singer, ranking among the best in the world, and as an instrumentalist he also excels. I have picked a bunch of great tracks, with the ballad Don’t Let Me Go, as my favourite.

Kate Havnevik moved to London years ago, and she is fairly unknown in her native Norway. She has made a career for herself, however, both in California and in England, with her recognizable voice, genre bending music and sophisticated songwriting. Her latest album, Residue, is just that: experiments and remixes and new songs in a lovely mix. I have picked a bouquet of seven songs, including the Norwegian lullaby, Trollmor, that I grew up with.

Classic country, blues and jazz are all merged together in Texan Amy LaVere’s music. I really love the subtly husky voice of hers, and the music is full of twists and surprises. Amy also plays the bass, and there are clear concepts behind both the album, Runaway’s Diary, and the individual songs.

Let’s move on the 80s, this time not the decade but, amazingly enough, the age. Yes, blues player John Mayall, is now a very old man, but who would believe it listening to he latest album, A Special Life. Sure it is a retrospective album in many ways, but if I ever live to be 80 and can do anything remotely close to what John Mayall is doing here, I will also conclude I have a special life.

 

The two Swedish sisters in First Aid Kit are about 60 years younger than Mayall. If we are to philosophize over this, it must be to conclude that the audience have 60 years of wonderful music to look forward to. Because First Aid Kit just gets better and better. Their new album, Stay Gold, is nothing short of amazing, both the song writing and the performances. I am normally not fond of harmony singing like this, but Johanna and Klara’s voices are as moulded together. This is just so incredibly beautiful to listen to.

Conor Oberst has been around on the indie scene since the late 1990s, both as a solo artist and as member of bands like Bright Eyes. His quivering voice is instantly recognizable, and although I love the tracks from Upside Down Mountain that I have added to the list, there are limits to how much I can take of the sound of this sad sounding voice.

We end this week’s additions to the list with two veterans, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott,  who met when they were members of supergroup Beautiful South. Now they have reunited and have recorded a duo album, What Have We Become. It’s a good question, obviously for two artists with a string of hits behind them, but they may certainly draw a breath of relief, for the songs on the album are confident and spirited, and they can certainly rejoin the music business.

 

This time we have to say goodbye to Bow to Each Other, Boy & Bear, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Edmonds, Sigurd Julius and Torun Eriksen. Welcome back with new material soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am going to do my best to ruin the credibility I may have later in the blog, but first a darling of at least most of the reviewers, Glen Tilbrook, former member of cred band Squeeze.

 

Glen Tilbrook 

Happy Ending is the name of his latest album, and I hope it is not meant as an ending, because Glen Tilbrook is to Squeeze as Paul McCartney is to Beatles: when you can’t get the real thing anymore, this is the closest you’ll get. (For those of you not familiar with Squeeze, stop reading right now, and go listen to their catalogue. )

Tilbrook is a storyteller, and he has brought with him the whimsical style of his former band, both in melodies and in lyrics. I like his harsh but soft voice and I like the irreverence in which he writes his songs.

 Brendan Benson

Critics also love Brendan Benson, and I agree with them. With You Were Right he has created a great pop album, well crafted songs that in fact may have elements of Squeeze-ish music, just listen to She’s Trying to Poison Me. The roots of the 70s and the 80s are obvious, so I am pretty certain blog readers will enjoy the tracks I have added. Benson is from Michigan, USA, and has had reasonable success both as a solo artist and as part of Raconteurs together with Jack White of White Stripes.

 Dina Misund

Local credibility has also fallen upon Norwegian singer-songwriter Dina Misund and her album Nice Distractions. It is her second album and her most mature one to date. I have picked the best tracks, good songs that fill the description in the title.

Dina Misund is also a bridge to my next topic, Eurovision Song Contest – she participated in the Norwegian final but didn’t make it to the top.

 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2014

More rock and pop music aficionados ESC is hate object number one. Still I would argue that every year a number of songs comes out of the contest that are good, if not very good. These songs rarely make it to the top, either. In fact, one of the songs, the Albanian entry, didn’t even make it to the final. Perhaps there’s a connection here? I have added the entries from Albania, Italy, Spain, Holland, Azerbadjan and the Ukraine. Please feel free to disagree that these are good songs, but give them the benefit of the doubt first.

 Lily Allen

It is hard to say whether Lily Allen, the naughtiness of pop herself, has credibility or not. I would argue that at least she deserves it, because she has created her own pop genre with her mix of toughness and moistness both in lyrics, orchestration and melodies. Her pop persona would scare any insecure man away, and perhaps it is this straight-from-the-guts style that both attracts and pushes away. Her latest album Sheezus, is as good as her previous albums, but there is little new her. Thank god for that.

 Violet Road

The last entry this week is Violet Road from Tromsø, Norway, who has turned happypop into an art form, no pretences, just pure joy. Their latest album, Back to the Roadshow, has deservedly become a favourite with the reviewers, and songs from the album have already become minor hits at home. Give it a spin and see what you think. The band has also created an app to go with album, with small games that add to the total feel of fun.

 

This week we say goodbye to All the Luck in the World, Ed Harcourt, The Book of Mormons, Martin Stephenson and Paul Armfield. I am sure we will reconnect with some of them when we sum up 2014 later in the year…

So, here is 17 hours and 16 seconds of great music for grown-ups, updated for you pleasure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are in May, and it was about time to find what may be Album of the Year, from an artist I previously haven’t been too excited about.

 

 

Joan as Police Woman

Her name is Joan Wasser, but she is performing as Joan as Police Woman. She is from Maine and had a tough start in life. One of the many results of American teen pregnancies, she was adopted as an infant. She coped well and prospered, took up the violin and started on a classical eduction. Perhaps this is why she called her new album The Classic – or maybe because she knows it may just turn out to be just that – a classic album. Time will tell. Her songs grow on me every time I listen to them, and she never gives the listener a chance to be bored, as this is happy, varied and high accomplished set of songs.

Marte Wulff

Marte Wulff has recorded an album, Utlengsel (Longing to get out), together with her local symphony orchestra in Kristiansand, Norway. The ambitions must have been to create a classic album, just like Joan Wasser, but the tracks are not varied enough with a sombre mood permeating too many of them. Still, some of the best tracks are very good and profound, and the full sound of an orchestra adds to the grandness. “Denne vinden” (“This Wind”) is like a regional anthem to Southern Norway.

Morten Harket

 

Fellow Norwegian Morten Harket, formerly of a-ha, has released his fifth solo album, Brother, and it is by far his best. Again an aging artist shows us that aging means maturing. In some of the songs Harket keeps his voice low for once, with an astonishing effect (for a-ha aficionados there are more than enough falsetto tracks in there). The song writing is great, catchy and heartfelt songs that stay with me.

Ayo

German-Nigerian singer Ayo is like Morten Harket singing in English, but her command of the language leaves something to be desired. The lyrics are often juvenile and clichéd , but her voice and the melodies still make Ticket to the World worth listening to. This is classic pop music with a dash of soul. Ayo is a great star in both Germany and France, and was honoured with a documentary about her life a few years ago. She is also an actress.

Peter Mulvey

 

Former street musician Peter Mulvey has been recording for three decades, but most people, including me, will not have heard much about him, despite his 19 album releases. I immediately took a fancy both to his confident, quality pop songs and to his wry lyrics on his 20^th album, Silver Ladder. It pays to keep going, obviously. That may be sound advice to some of the debut artists that I have added to the blog list.

Jeremy Hunter

Australian Jeremy Hunter has only released an EP, simply called Jeremy Hunter, but may have a future both as a singer and songwriter. He is playing all the instruments on the EP, rarely a good a choice, but I think Hunter pulls it off. Perhaps we will hear more from this quiet folk pop artist. I’ll keep an air to the ground.

 

Lucius

Brooklyn quintet Lucius is also out with their debut album, Wildewoman. The band’s front women are Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig and it is these two women that are responsible for much of the spunky, feminine sound of Lucius. This is summer music, full of energy and creativity of song writing. The band has gotten a lot of attention in the music press in the United States, so let’s see if this is the start of a long music career.

The Belle Brigade

 

The Belle Brigade is brother and sister duo Barbara and Ethan Gruska from Los Angeles. I am beginning to lose interest in this kind of Southern California harmony pop music, but Just Because from The Belle Brigade manages to keep me interest for a wee longer, basically because the orchestrations are much richer than on similar albums, making the songs more lasting and surprising. Just Because is their second album.

This week we have to let go of Caro Emerald, Club des Belugas, Eliza Doolittle, Emelie Nicolas, Jonathan Wilson, Kacey Musgreaves, Rhye, Sumie and Tess Henley,

The updated blog list is here, for your enjoyment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me start this Easter blog with a confession:  Lyrics are rarely making much of a difference when choosing music. Yes, I accept the value of lyrics and that these are an integral part of the total musical picture, but the sound, the atmosphere, the voices, the instrumentation are more important to me.

So, to repent, today I have added some artists that really prove me wrong. Here are some tracks where the lyrics are equally important as the rest of the building blocks making up great music.

Robert Ellis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Ellis has a voice that at times turns me off, and his music is too often taking me into traditional CW land. But this man knows how to tell a story, and I have added six stories for you to enjoy. Ellis is from Texas, and went from bar performer to feted artist from one day to another when American Songwriter’s Magazine named him one of the top songwriters of the year in 2011. His latest album is called The Lights From the Chemical Plant and for country aficionados it must be nothing less than brilliant. For the less orthodox of us, it is still very good, primarily for the cleverness of the stories he is spinning. And it doesn’t hurt that he is covering well Paul Simon’s Still Crazy After All These Years….

Mary Coughlan

 

Irish singer Mary Coughlan knows how to tell a good musical yarn, too. I have been a fan of her for many years, and is really pleased with her newly released album After the Fall. Six of the 13 songs are now in the bloglist. Some of the songs are taking on the form of small theatrical plays, but then Coughlan can sometimes turn a bit too theatrical. However, she does draw attention to the words in a way that few other artists do.

The Handsome Family

 

The TV series True Detective put the limelight on a CW band based in Albuquerque, The Handsome Family, basically a duo made up of married couple Brett and Rennie Sparks. The opening title, Far From Any Road, was picked by T-Bone Burnett, who produced all music for the series. It is really an old recording, but The Handsome Family released a new album, Wilderness, last year, and I have added a couple of songs from it, together with the title track every drama aficionado has fallen in love with this year. The lyrics of the ballads are all like short TV scripts, so listen up, perhaps you get why T-Bone picked this band to create the eeriness of True Detective.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tribute

 

On to one of the greatest storytellers in rock music, Bernie Taupin. Together with Elton John he created one of the best albums of all time, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The collection was re-released this year, re-mastered, and a number of contemporary artists have performed their versions of some of the tracks. The cover versions are de facto not as great as the originals, but Zac Brown Band, Imelda May, Emili Sandé, John Grant, The Band Perry and Ed Sheeran all do decent and creative versions. At least it brings renewed attention to the album, so go back to original whatever you feel about the copies.

Peter Bruntnell

Welch singer-songwriter Peter Bruntnell is new to me, but he has been performing and recording since the mid-90s,. He just released a retrospective album called – of course – Retrospective, and I have picked three of his Americana-sounding tracks from there, and look forward to listening to his back catalogue. I would guess Peter has listened a bit to Eagles, both his singing style and the genre remind me of Hotel California times.

John Newman

John Newman is a young man with no such back catalogue, but his songs are so heavily inspired by the music he grew up listening to from Motown, that he simply called his album Tribute. John performed his smash hit Love Me Again on the weekly show I am channel executive producer for, Skavlan, (picture above) and our audience loved it. Here are a few of his other great soul tracks from his top-selling album. Mark my words: This is the beginning of a great career.

Amy Stroup

Amy Stroup is also into retro pop, albeit of a slightly different nature. She had made music for a lot of TV series like Grey’s Anatomy, but has now released an album without any such connections. Amy is originally from Boston, but is now living in Nashville, and there is a certain new country feel to some of the tracks of Tunnel. This is sweet, uncomplicated music, perfect for Spring nights and as a prelude to Summer.

Goldfrapp

Sticking with lushness, let’s move on to an old favourite, Goldfrapp. The duo has released an album, Tales of Us, in which most songs are names after friends of theirs. Alison Goldfrapp’s soothing, whispering voice is never better than here, and Will Greogry’s orchestrations are mature and rich. The group has been around since 1981, so if you like this, spend some time on all the great stuff they have released before. You won’t be disappointed.

Bohren & Der Club of Gore

 

 

 

 

 

 

From England to Germany and to a jazz group, Bohren & Der Club of Gore. This all-instrumental group is really not everyone’s cup of tea, but if it is soothing you are looking for, you will be hard pressed to find something more blood pressure lowering than their latest album, Piano Nights. I find it wonderfully rich and surprising in its entire stripped down sound picture.

The Family Crest

At the other end of the scale (don’t complain of the lack of variety in my blog list!) is wonderfully pompous Family Crest from San Francisco, fronted by Liam McCormick with a voice from another world. Comparisons with Freddie Mercury are unfair to both, but I think you know what I mean when you listen his complete lack of moderation and to the symphonic sound of this great band.

Simone Felice

 

Simone Felice is only 38 but has fought with death and illness twice in his life already. He is a remarkably talented artist, both a musician and fiction writer, with success in both. He suffered a brain aneurism at the age of twelve, and a few years ago had to go back into hospital with a serious heart disease. He is now well recovered, and has released two solo albums, following albums recorded with his brother as Felice Brothers. His latest, Strangers, is a great album with some momentous songs, full of pathos and great song writing.

 

I Was a King

We close today’s blog list with Norwegian indie band I Was a King, out with a new album, Isle of Yours. (The picture above is actually shot in our meeting room at NRK) . The list of previous band members are considerably longer than present members, but holding the band together throughout has been Frode Strømstad, so the sound hasn’t changed much since their debut album in 2007. Today the band is one of Norway’s best selling groups abroad as well as at home. I like the contribution of vocalist Anne Lise Frøkedal, she is definitely adding distinctness to the sound of I Was a King, no more distinct than on One of Us, their very best track ever in my opinion.

 

I am removing The Avett Brothers, Beranek, Cass McCombs, The Head and the Heart, Howe Gelb, Lucy Wainwright, Mogwai, Mutual Benefit, Paul McCartney, Sabastien Tellier, The Silver Seas and Woman’s Hour. They have served us well since December. Come back soon.

 

Here is the updated list:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re back to a grand mixture of seasoned and new-born artists in today’s blog for you lovers of mature music.

Carl Espen

Let’s do them in chronological order and start with an artist who a few months back hadn’t performed on any stage.  Ever. Carl Espen will represent Norway in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with the ballad Silent Storm. He reminds me of blog artists Asgeir and James Vincent McMorrow with a high-pitched voice from a rugged body. If Carl Espen can keep his cool he might just surprise everyone in Copenhagen in May, for the song is good and he performs it well, at least in the studio.

The Temples

The Temples sounds as if it has been around for decades, but the band released its first single in 2012. The boys from Kettering in London are obviously fascinated with the music of The Beatles and The Byrds and Kinks, although they do add elements that reveal the music is more recent. I am intrigued by Sun Structures, love the lack of respect The Temples shows for their elders.

Lisbee Stainton

Lisbee Stainton is from Basingstoke, near London, and released her first proper album when she was only 18 years old, having been discovered by Tom Robinson on YouTube. She was the first unsigned artist ever performing at O2 Arena in London, and is now on her fourth album, Word Games.  She is a classic singer/songwriter, and not all the tracks on the album are equally exciting, but I have picked out five songs that appeal to me.

The War on Drugs

The War on Drugs is on its third album and the critics have dug out the full-length collection of superlatives and sprinkled them over most reviews. Lost in the Dream took forever to make, and the band has gone through a number of personnel changes since the start in 2005. All for the best, I would say, because this album has no real weaknesses, modern and classic, mature and fresh at once. Many albums wear with repeat listening, this album just grows and grows.

Dean Wareham

Moving along to the seasoned artists: Dean Wareham was born in New Zealand, but made it in the U.S. He formed bands like Galaxie 500 and Luna, and for a while had success as a husband-and-wife band together with Britta Phillips.  Dean & Britta still have their own web page in which Dean’s new album is marketed, so perhaps his solo career is temporary. The self-titled album Dean Wareham is charming and fun to listen to, a great pop record.

Kari Rueslåtten

Kari Rueslåtten used to be a metal vocalist back in the 90s, a feisty rock’n’roll girl with lots of spunk. In 1995 she quit her Norwegian band and released four solo albums within the folk genre. Her last album was released on 2005, then she disappeared from the limelight for nearly ten years. This year, however, she decided to make a comeback with the album Time to Tell. It is a really lovely album, etheric and rich both production- and performance-wise. Reviewers from across Europe have given the album thumbs-up.

Elbow

One of my favourite bands, Elbow, has released a new album this month, The Take Off and Landing of Everything. I was so relieved listening to it the first time, because their previous album was a grand disappointment to me, and I half feared Elbow never would return to the musical genius of the 2009 album The Seldom Seen Kid, one of the best albums ever made in my view. Elbow’s lead singer is Guy Garvey is back in form, and their irreverent use of strings and symphonic effects add to the total picture. As with The War on Drugs, Elbow’s new songs just grow and grow with each spin.

Linda Perhacs

A record producer with toothache discovered the dental hygienist Linda Perhacs in the sixties.  She recorded one album, Parallelograms, that became a classic within the folk genre, inspiring a number of artists.  The album pushed the borders of folk, with the addition of sophisticated psychedelic effects, and it is still worth listening to. Perhacs stopped recording after 1970 and it was widely regarded that this was a one-hit wonder if there ever was one. This year, however, Linda Perhacs is returning to the word stage with a beautiful new album, The Soul of All Natural Things. It has a certain 60s peace and love feel to it, but it is soothing and positive and with great songwriting.

Jeff Beal

No blog lists should be without bonus tracks. I have added a few tracks from the soundtrack of House of Cards, composed and performed by Jeff Beal. The music of this TV series really plays a major part in painting the eerie picture of the shrewd and malicious characters. Still, some of the tracks of the soundtrack are surprisingly mellow and lovely, great music to fall asleep to.

This week the following great artists are leaving the list: Asgeir, Billie Van, Dave Stewart, Dawn and Marra, Denai Moore, Josephine Foster, King Midas, Laura Cantrell, Lindi Ortega, Lucy Schwartz, Maria Due, Midlake and Psapp. Don’t forget them.

And here is the updated list:

Family counts. But talent helps as well.

Rosanne Cash

If you have both, like Rosanne Cash, there’s a chance you may stretch a career across four decades – and then reach your peak at the end of those four decades. With The River & The Thread Johnny Cash’ oldest daughter may have done just that. Her new album is almost without faults. Nearly every track lingers in my head long after I have listened to it. What is this? Country, soft rock, pop, folk? Or is Rosanne her own genre? I have picked seven tracks to help us reach an answer.

Suzanne Vega’

Suzanne Vega’s latest album has not caused nearly as much stir as Rosanne Cash’, nor is it as brilliant, to be blunt. However, there are a lot of wonderful tracks on Tales from The Realm of the Queen of Pentacles as well, some of them of the same quality as vintage Vega.  I really enjoyed listening to the album, and if you like the five tracks I have picked, try the rest as well. Or go back to Suzanne Vega’s brilliant back catalogue.

Benmont Tench

If you want to be a pop star, and your name is Benmont Tench, I would have suggested changing your name. You don’t have to have dyslexia to have trouble with a name like that. The funny thing is that his real name is Benjamin Montmorency Tench….  Benmont made his career by playing keyboards in Tom Petty’s band, The Heartbreakers. He has toured and recorded with a great number of artists, including coincidentally Rosanne Cash’ father. This year Benmont released his first solo album at the age of 61, proving that it is never too late. A reviewer called the feel of the album, I Should Be so Lucky,  “casual professionalism”. I couldn’t agree more. The music is relaxed and sophisticated, both the standards and the originals he has chosen to perform.

Henry Priestman

Sticking with artists around 60 who have been making a late debut, Henry Priestman is more famous as part of The Christians than as a solo artist. He has called his album The Last Mad Surge of Youth, perhaps pushing the term “youth” a bit too far. This is in no way a collection with a modern sound. Both the songwriting, the vocals and the themes of the songs bring memories of times past. But since this blog is for mature tastes, this album should fit right in.  Four great tracks are added, my favourite being “We used to be You”, about parenthood.

Switchfoot

On to the genuine youth, let’s start with a boy band (or alternative rock band as I have seen it described), Switchfoot, from my favourite Californian city, San Diego. I have myself been part of the music scene there, hundreds of years ago, and know that the city bustles with musical talent.

Most of Switchfoot’s new album, Fading West, reminds me of British and Irish bands of the 90s and 2000s, but some of the tracks are pushing the boundaries of the genre quite a bit, and these tracks are worth listening to.

Switchfoot started out as a Christian rock band, but happily decided to go mainstream after their first albums.I have left a taster of three songs, if you like them try the rest of the album, you might find more.

San Fermin

On to a genre not often heard about these days, baroque rock. Wikipedia describes the term as a pop rock music subgenre, a fusion of pop rock and classical music, particularly of the baroque period. They list Beatles, The Moody Blues and Procul Harum as exponents, not necessarily their complete catalogue, but more of the Eleanor Rigby equivalent. San Fermin might fall into this category, but this new band is hard to pin down, whatever you call the genre.  The band is the brainchild of Ellis Ludwig-Leone from Brooklyn, and their first album is made up of songs that are either on the pretentious side or really interesting and good.  I have picked a few examples of the latter, but if you would like to be known for your daring personality, test out the rest of the album as well.

Making Marks

Considerably more middle-of-the-road is the Norwegian indieband Making Marks. In a way the band name is slightly ironic, because at home the band hasn’t really made much of themselves yet. It took a British record company, Fika, to release their debut album, and I have read next to nothing about them in the Norwegian press. Uncut Magazine, however, reviewed the album favourably, and so do I.  I am really impressed with the soft, melodic touch of the songs on A Thousand Half-Truths, great harmonies and sombre orchestrations. This album is simply mood improving.

Artists leaving the blog list to make room are Boy George, Chip Taylor, David Rotheray, Dent May, Magic Brothers, Polly Paulusma, Prefab Sprout and Steve Harley. Thanks for the memories.

Here is the updated list, if you don’t subscribe:

Two exciting, but boringly named, albums (5th and 6) and the new brilliant release from Highasakite (no, they’re Norwegian, not Japanese) are among this week’s great sounding additions to my blog list.

 The Autumn Defense

Let’s start with the boring bit, titlewise.   John Stirrat is the bass player in Wilco, and he started The Autumn Defense as a side project more than 10 years ago. On their fifth outing (yes, that’s why the album is called Fifth) the group got fabulous reviews from most of the major international music magazines, particularly because of the song writing. And it IS an excellent album, soft and sophisticated, mellow and soothing. It at times brings memories of Paul McCartney’s best in the White Album period.  I have picked fours great songs for you.

Thom Hell

Moving one notch up, the album Six from Norwegian singer Thom Hell, would never have existed either if it hadn’t been for The Beatles during the later years. It is my guess that Hell likes the symphonic, melancholic songs of Abbey Road, perhaps Supertramp as well (listen to the opening of The Smell of Home) For the sixth time he brings us his inspired art rock songs, hauntingly beautiful tracks, where the listener doesn’t know what’s hiding behind the next musical bend.

Eddi Reader

On to a national treasure (yes, Scotland is a nation whatever happens in September), Glaswegian Eddi Reader was the sound of Fairground Attraction, with a voice sweeter than honey and more moving than that of Karen Carpenter. After Fairground Attraction she started on a solo career, and also acted in movies, TV and radio for a bit. The albums she made alone were great, but after the 90s, the albums didn’t sell quite as well as before. This is not linked to the quality of her recordings, but it is never a great career move to move into standards land (unless you are Rod Stewart). For the many who appreciate that genre of pop music, like me, Reader’s new album is a must. It is called Vagabond, and I had a harder time than usual to limit the number of tracks that I would like to offer, but ended up with seven lovely songs for your enjoyment.  I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: Scotland (together with Australia) is really at the top of the food chain when it comes to sophisticated pop and rock. Go tell it on the mountains.

The Gloaming

Maybe I should add Ireland to this shortlist. The output certainly consists of more than boy bands and Johnny Logan.  The Gloaming is among the most exciting new sounds around. The group, consisting of some of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians, has taken traditional Irish music and done something to it that I don’t understand. The result, however, is mesmerizing, haunting songs played on acoustic instruments, mostly with lyrics in Gaelic . The more I listen, the more I am hooked.  The album The Gloaming is just different from most of what I have listened to before, nothing less.

James Vincent McMorrow

So, what more are they listening to in Ireland at the moment? Well, one of the greatest albums in Irish charts so far this year is made by James Vincent McMorrow. McMorrow reminds me of Thomas Dybdahl, obviously because they both sing in a kind of a falsetto.  The new album, Post Tropical, is much heavier orchestrated than his previous album, which adds to the allure.  The singer’s name is a mouthful, but the music is straightforward and calm.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

The next artist’s name is also a mouthful, Sophie Ellis-Bextor sounds like a character in a P.G. Wodehouse novel, and not the name of one England’s most accomplished pop chanteuses. Her new album, Wonderlust, has brought Sophie back to the top of the charts again after a few lean years. Although there are quite a few middle-of-the-road tracks on it, the majority of the songs are brilliant pop tunes that stick in your head. She may not be as danceable as she was at the beginning of her career, but that doesn’t bother me one little bit. A dose of seven tracks are added to the blog list.

Sassybeat

The duo Sassybeat from Asker, Norway made waves in 2011 with the single The Mouse and the Bear. I added it to my blog list then, eagerly awaiting more material from the band. This year their debut album, Snakes and Ladders, was finally released, and few were disappointed. The local reviews were great, so this may be Sassybeat’s big year. There is nothing very complicated about the songs, straight melodies painted with broad strokes, and with the ever-beautiful harmonies of Anna Melkild and Ingrid Rennemo. I have added a taster of three tracks.

Highasakite

Finally, a revisit to another Norwegian band, heavy on the female ingredients. Highasakite, with their new album Silent Treatment. It is already number 1 in the band’s home country, but this is an album that deserves world recognition.  Their sound is so unique, with a lot of echoed percussion and harmonies, and the album has a distinct Eastern influence. I can’t get enough of it.  The song writing and the production are outstanding.  I have added six tracks, if you enjoy them – and don’t already count yourself as a Kite fan, listen to their previous releases as well.

38 songs in, 29 songs out, leaving youwith 18 hours of the best the music world has to offer

This time we say goodbye to Camera Obscura, Elisabeth Shepherd, Lily &Madeleine, Oh Land, She & Him and Sylvie Lewis.

Here is the updated playlist: