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:

Old geezers like Dave Edmunds, Bruce Springsteen and Glen Campbell (without Glen Campbell) are added for your listening pleasure this week. But the music is new, at least newly recorded.

Dave Edmunds is a bit like Zelig, portrayed by Woody Allen, a man that was there in the background with all the major stars throughout the sixties and seventies. His one really massive hit was I Hear You Knocking, but he has made great rock’n’roll since the sixties, and he just doesn’t accept that rock music has moved on. He was naturally a part of Ringo Starr’s All Star Band for a while. Again, his surprise album from last year, featured both new and old songs, but it is hard to tell which is which. Well, some are obvious, like Your Song, but you get my drift. Needless to say, I love this album, its irreverence and its passion for rock’n’roll.

Perhaps when an artist gets older he or she can let go of pretences. That goes for Bruce Springsteen as well. His new album is more likeable than many of his previous ones. I have always enjoyed The Boss’ music, but never been an really avid fan. I was thoroughly entertained when the crew of Lilyhammer was invited by Little Steven last year to see the E Street Band in concert., but I felt like an outsider next to true fans. The new single High Hopes is one of his best ever, in my opinion, full of energy, great and surprising orchestration and with an ability to stick in your ear. I have added three other songs from the album with the same name.

Boy & Bear is described as an Australian sensation. The indie band with the soft sound has issued two albums, and I have added four songs from their latest, Harlequin Dreams.  There is something old fashioned about their new songs, reminding me of both bands like Oasis at their softest, but also true Americana. Their sense of melodies is brilliant; this is hummable and still sophisticated.

The remaining new songs are all Norwegian. Torun Eriksen is a jazz singer, who has been compared to Joni Mitchell and other great singers. I don’t think they are doing her any favours by making comparisons like that, because Torun Eriksen can stand on her own two feet. Her new album, Visits, is just that: visits to other people’s material. Some of her covers bother me more than they please me, others bring new and interesting life to established material. Three examples of the latter are added: a Glen Campbell tune, A Pink Floyd tune and Randy Newman’s Feels Like Home.  I hope you like them. I do.

Another great Norwegian singer-songwriter is Susanne Sundfør. She has produced an album with the Norwegian-Canadian duo Bow to Each Other. The album, The Urge Drums,  has a much more modern, electronica sound than any of the other tracks added this week, but the girls still write and perform classic songs. There’s a sadness and an elegance in these songs that grow on you. Try it. And if you haven’t listened to the producer, Susanne Sundfør, you’re in for a pleasant surprise if you do.

I have reluctantly added the last artist, Sigurd Julius, this year’s winner of the Norwegian Urørt (Untouched) Awards, celebrating new talent, reluctantly because I don’t normally fancy this Norwegian folk rock expression and particularly when it is performed by a light tenor male voice. Still I have to admit that Sigurd’s songs are small gems, even for those who cannot understand what he is singing about. The main reason for adding three tracks from the album called Sigurd Julius, is to celebrate that music with distinct roots in previous generations can actually win a new music contest in 2014, proving again that contemporary music, if you look hard enough (and that’s exactly what I am doing on your and my behalf), permeates all trends and decades and times.

To make room, Elton John, Hekla Stålstrenga, Laura Veirs, Smith Westerns, Sting, Surfer Blood and Tedechi Trucks Band will have to go.

Here is the renewed list, with 25 new tracks:

And some who have lived long enough to be wise from life itself – (and a maniacal musical for dessert)

One of my aims with this blog is to distribute music that have a bit of heritage in it, heritage from the music many of us grew up with in the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.  There is nostalgia in listening to albums released 30-40 years ago, but I argue that many artists keep producing fabulous music, and new artists learn from the previous generations, replicating the musical values from that period.  It is this music I try to bring to you in the revolving list Pewalla Blog, and it pleases me that so many tell me of their listening pleasure after having explored the music referred to in the blog.

An Irish group belonging to younger generation creates the music that I am looking for. All The Luck In The World is based in Brighton, England, where they all go to the same music institute.  The group managed to build a reputation through YouTube, and a German record company gave them a record deal.  I would describe the music as folk-inspired, but the boys have added both string and brass sections to the tracks, creating a style of their own. I have added three songs from their debut album, also titled All The Luck In The World.

One of my favourite artists is Ed Harcourt, and he was prominently placed in my Top 10 last year with his previous album. He has just released a new EP, Time of Dust, another collection of gems that should make you prick up your ears.  Ed Harcourt uses the instruments that a track needs, whether it is guitar- or keyboard based, turning the tacks into small symphonies. I have added four of the six tracks from the album, but could of course have added all of them. But a sample is a sample.

Martin Stephenson has been around for a while, and his new brilliant album is in fact his 40^th. I now see I have to set aside a week to listen to his back catalogue, if I only can get past the great songs of California Star. It was “The Ship” that first got my attention, with reminiscences of Dire Straits’ heydays, but the rest of the album is as dreamy and endearing as the first track.  Martin Stephenson and his group The Daintees originate from Sunderland, England. I have served up fours tracks.

Paul Armfield from Isle of Whight sounds and looks to have been around from awhile, too. He must have spent some of that time listening to artists like Leonard Cohen and watched the movies of David Lynch, because the slightly spooky, yet honeycoated voice, stirs some of the same feelings in me as Cohen and Lynch soundtracks do. Armfield started out as a punk artist, but there is not much of that left. Up-Here was released late last year and I have added half the album to the blog list.

Finally something completely different, three tracks from a musical,The Book of Mormons , written by the guys behind South Park TV Series and smash musical Avenue Q, Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. I can’t wait to see the musical in London or on Broadway. Many already have and report a hilarious two hours with great music and a beyond belief story of two young Mormons sent to a remote village in Northern Uganda to share the Book of Mormons – which only one of them has read. As a teaser both for myself or for others who haven’t seen it yet, enjoy Baptize Me and two other great tracks.

To make room, some songs need to go. Goodbye to my old friend Bill Cantos, to Eliza Doolittle’s single from 2013 (her new album is still in the list), Frightened Rabbit, Iron &Wine, Julie Feeney, Sharon Jones,  The Polyphonic Spree and Young Galaxy.

Here is the new list: (you can also subscribe, but few seems to choose this option. Hmm. You can also add www.petterwallace.com to your smartphone homescreen, which will always give you the latest blog and bloglist)

Throughout the year I have introduced Norwegian readers to more than 50 great new releases in my blog: PEWALLA BLOG – MUSIKK FOR MODNE (music for mature). As some of you may have noticed, it is now the end of 2013, and as any magazine or newspaper will tell you: it’s time for Lists, and of course I had to make one, too.

I have listened again to all recommended albums, resulting in my own Top 10 Album list of 2013. It was a much harder job than I anticipated, so hard that when I was done with the list, there were still a further 25 albums I couldn’t leave alone. Consequently, I had to make two lists, or rather, one is a countdown list, the other is listed alphabetically.

Friends, colleagues and acquaintances all over the world who are unfamiliar with the Norwegian language have been left in the dark for too long (yes, there has been complaints); so for the first time, here is my blog in English. Who knows, maybe not for the last time… Music is a universal language, so it shouldn’t matter, but somehow it does.

Below you will find what I consider the best albums reviewed this year, followed by a Spotify link to all ten albums.

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10. The Last Ship – Sting

Some of Sting’s new songs are breathtakingly beautiful, classics in their own right. Personally I am not that fond of the shanties on the album, although I do understand why he chosen this genre of songs to create this concept album. The rest of the album is terrific, though.

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9. Old Sock – Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton has done what a lot of his contempories have already done: released an album of songs from his parents’ generation. I find Old Sock probably the best of the lot, honest and without any fuss, still full of musicality and true craftsmanship.

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8. The Diving Board – Elton John

Elton John has released a number of slightly good albums during the last decade – suddenly a truly great album comes along, in the vein of his best albums from the 70s and 80s. Some of the songs on The Diving Board are among his best ever, and the collection grows on me for every time I listen.

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7.  The Stand-In – Caitlin Rose

Caitlin Rose has probably created more converts to country music than any other artist this year. I heard the first song from this album on BBC’s tough rock station Radio 6…. Most of the tracks are truly irresistable.

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6. Life In Easy Steps – Robert Vincent

Robert Vincent is an anti-celebrity artist, proving that quality and sincerity trumph style. This collection is filled to the brim with honest, heartwarming songs of the highest songwriting quality.

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5. Back Into the Woods – Ed Harcourt

Nine gorgeous songs from singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt, piano player and romancer. I have enjoyed listening to Harcourt before, but this album I have played over and over again this year. A lot of my blog followers have commented on tracks from Back Into The Woods, so I am not alone in my admiration.

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4. Sing To The Moon – Laura Mvula

Jazz, soul, pop all mixed together on this amazing debut album from British singer Laura Mvula. The harmonies are in a league of their own, I have never heard anything like it before, truly orignal, just like the quality of the vocals and the songwriting.

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3. Dark Black – Kristina Train

This was one of the few albums I actually bought this year, I just couldn’t get enough of it. Kristina Train is an amazing songwriter and an even better singer, this is so smooth and beautiful that it literally lowers my pulse.  This is the title song:

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2. Quickbeam – Quickbeam

This album will not raise your pulse either. There will always be some artists that dare go where no-one else dare to thread. This year Scottish trio Quickbeam proves the point. They have created an album of stunning beauty, using primarily classical instruments, writing small concertos rather than songs. The harmonies, the craftsmanship, the pure beaty of it all make me listen to the album again and again.  Here is their most famous song to date:

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1. I Awake – Sarah Blasko

Sarah Blasko from Australia went to Sweden to record her «I Awake»- album, she also recorded part of the album in Bulgaria, with a 52-piece symphony orchestra.  The album is masterly done, Blasko’s voice haunts me every time I hear it, every song is a little symphony, carefully carved out. This is truly a BIG album, one that I would expect will build a reputation for the artist even outside her native Australia. This is «Fool», one of the best songs on the album:

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Here are all the tracks for your enjoyment:

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… and here are 25 other albums reviewed in 2013, all of them in my view among the best albums of the year. I have presented them in alphabetical order – no preferential treatment! At the bottom you’ll find a playlist with all 25 albums.

1 2 3 4 Radio Star – Bille Van

Bille, or Merete Pascual as known by her parents, is a Norwegian singer who has lived in the shadows of her, for the time being, more famous musical partners Jonas Alaska and Mikhael Paskalev. Her debut album has energy, humour and great music.

Alaska – The Silver Seas

The Nashville band Silver Seas never promises more than they can deliver: true melodic, catchy pop, written and performed with sophistication.

Alone Aboard the Ark – The Leisure Society

The third album from The Leisure Society offers humour, great melodies, irony and naivitë in rich abounds.

Antiphon – Midlake

A dark, rich album, with debth, recorded amidst instability in the band, as they lead singer left during recording the album.

Crimson/Red – Prefab Sprout

One of the true masters of pop returns, with titles, lyrics and melodies like no other. Possibly a sign of more to come.

Desire Lines – Camera Obscura

Musical sweetness from the rough city of Glasgow.

Dyrandé – Hekla Stålstrenga

Norwegian folk at its very best, modern and traditional at the same time, with Anne Nymo Trulsen’s voice embracing us.

How to Fake it In America – Bendik Brænne

Norwegian sax player goes country – a brilliant low key album with some exceptional songs

It’s All True – Sylvie Lewis

The British singer with the mature and elegant voice delivers an album of songs that grows and grows.

Made Up Mind – Tedeschi Trucks Band

One of the best blues bands around, with an accessible album for all ears.

My Favorite Picture of You – Guy Clark

Guy Clark’s painfully honest collection of folk gems, with some of this year’s very best songs, like the title track.

No Way There From Here – Laura Cantrell

Laura Cantrell exemplifies mature music, strong lyrics, great melodies, a great reason for embracing new country.

Personal Record – Eleanor Friedberger

Friedberger’s second solo album is nearly as good as the first, full of humour, double meanings, strong lyrics and slightly burlesque songs.

Push Pull – While You Slept

A bit of nepotism – vocalist Benedikte is my daughter – but the band deserves to be on the top 25 list, although slightly rougher than most of the albums above and below.

Sensitive Dependence – Beranek

Retro pop from one of Norway’s best composers, his first release in 19 years.

Shadows – Lenka

Australian angelic voice Lenka with an album about motherhood, full of beautiful pop tunes with no pretensions.

The Disappearance of the Girl – Phildel

 

Mysterious and powerful, this album is an astounding debut.

The Magic Line – Magic Brothers

Another retro album, this time from Madness’ drummer, sometimes surpassing his former band.

The Next Day – David Bowie

Another artist that never stops surprising, every album feels like a snap shot of his present state of mind, including this.

The Weight of Your Love – Editors

Power pop from British band Editors, walking a fine line between pretense and honesty, most songs landing securely on the side of the latter

There’s a Last Time for Everything – Lucy Wainwright Roche

Singer with the perfect musical family tree proves shes can stand on her own two feet.

 This is What I Do – Boy George

One of the true comeback surprises of 2013, a mature and simply great and varied studio album from an artist with quite a musical baggage.

 Timekeeper – Lucy Schwartz

Brilliant songwriter in the tradition of some of the best 70s and 80s pop music.

Tin Star – Lindi Ortega

Canadian singer, now a Nashville resident, has realeased a happy, feisty, countryinspired pop album.

Trouble Will Find Me – The National

Dark, hauntingly beautiful songs, crisply produced and performed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY! I WILL BE BACK IN 2014….

Det er jul, og mange av dagens nyinnlagte på bloggen for modne lyttere har røtter tilbake til tidligere gullaldre, enten fordi artisten har fulgt sine egne røtter eller har fulgt andres.

57 nye låter entrer Spotifylisten, og første mann ut er Beranek, eller Espen Beranek Holm, som mange kjenner ham som. Fordi det er det han heter. Espen har hatt en meget allsidig karriere, men her er han tilbake til nettopp røttene, med sologitaren og den mørke popen, der han startet. Mange av låtene er penere i tøyet enn for noen tiår tilbake, kanskje derfor blir det så åpenbart hvilken melodismed av rang han er. Dette er melodier som er rikere og vakrere enn mye annet som slippes på markedet. Jeg har valgt ut seks låter fra Sensitive Dependence, men det er flere å ta av om du liker dette.

En annen og enda eldre ringrev er Paul McCartney, og med sine 70 år har han sanket litt erfaring på veien. Ingen av låtene på New er uten substans, selv om enkelte er litt kjedelige. Det er likevel nok spennende å ta av her, og lyden er moderne og frisk. Paul McCartney blinker stadig til, og det er noen perler blant de seks låtene jeg legger ut.

Med Lucy Wainwright Roche snakker vi om EKTE røtter. Hun er datter av Loudon Wainwright III og Suzzy Roche, og halvsøsknene hennes er Rufus og Martha. De som følger listen min vet at dette er en familie jeg har høstet rikelig fra tidligere. Lucy står virkelig ikke tilbake for noen av de andre familiemedlemmene, faktisk er hennes nye samling, There’s a Last Time for Everything, noe av det bedre jeg har hørt i år, fra noen familie, rolige og velskrevne og godt fremførte poplåter.

Vi fortsetter med familierelasjoner og går til The Avett Brothers. Brødrene Seth og Scott utgjør kjernen i dette bandet. Musikken er sjeldent variert, faktisk beveger de seg mellom bluegrass, country, punk, pop, folk, rock, honky tonk og ragtime, selv om Americanalyden er gjennomgripende. Deres nye album heter Magpie and the Dandelion, og seks flotte låter er med herfra.

Vi holder oss i USA og flytter oss fra North Carolina til Baltimore, der finner vi en humoristisk singer-songerwriter, Cass McCoombs. Han ga ut sitt syvende album i høst, Big Wheel and Others, et album som mange kritikere har gitt toppanmeldelser til, og det forstår jeg godt, for her er enda en melodismed løs på oss. Melodiene vokser for hver gjennomspilling, og tekstene er til tider morsomme og anekdotiske.

The Head and the Heart oppsto i musikkmiljøet i Seattle. En lokal pub arrangerte open mic night, og flere av bandmedlemmene ble kjent der. De har i år gitt ut sitt andre album med fengende popmusikk, og ryktet om bandet har spredt seg. Årets album heter Let’s Be Still og har fått stort sett gode kritikker, noen synes det blir litt blodfattig, men de fleste er enige med meg at dette har både hode og hjerte. Derfor ligger det hele syv låter fra Seattlebandet i listen fra og med i dag.

Så til en artist som følger røtter tilbake til Leonard Cohen og andre poetiske sangere. Howe Gelb er ingen ny artist, men det er først nå i voksen alder ( han er 57) han har fått fortjent oppmerksomhet. Den siste samlingen hans, The Coincidentalist, henter inspirasjon fra mange store artister, men har likevel en egen umiskjennelig klang. Jeg liker dette mørke og lett narkotiske lydbildet.

Vi gjør en helomvending og lytter til den britiske bandet Woman’s Hour, som bare er på begynnelsen av sin karriere. Også her står et søskenpar i sentrum, Fiona Jane og William. De har gitt ut to singler, og begge er med i listen, for her tror jeg vi kan vente oss mer godt fremover. Dette er pop med bakkekontakt, med et rikt lydbilde og varierte og gode melodier.

Mutual Benefit har valgt en form som ikke er så vanlig nå til dags, men som vi så en del av på 70- og 80-tallet, nemlig Prosjektet, med Alan Parsons Project som kanskje det mest kjente. Mutual Benefit er musikere som ønsker å samarbeide med  Jordan Lee, og dermed skifter besetningen hele tiden. Prosjektet har nettopp kommet med en ny samling, Love’s Crushing Diamond, og her by de på luftige, beroligende melodier som har fått mye positiv oppmerksomhet fra kritikere. For de av dere som likte Quickbeam som forlater listen i dag, er Mutual Benefit noe å glede seg til.

Så et sjeldent besøk til Frankrike og til en artist som først og fremst er en instrumentalist, Sabastién Tellier. Platene hans har også form som prosjekter, og Confection er intet unntak. Dette kan minne om de store instrumentalistene fra 70- og 80-tallet, som Mike Oldfield, men Tellier har sin definitive stil og byr på musikk som ligger tettere opp til film- enn til kunstmusikken.

Og da er vi naturlig over til skotske Mogwai som har skrevet musikken til den superskumle Emmyvinnende serien, Les Revenants. Mogwai blir nok ikke fornærmet om jeg kaller musikken deres for sær, for dette er kunstrock, hvis et slikt begrep eksisterer. Men til denne serien passer musikken som hånd i hanske, og jeg har tatt med hovedlåten og en av de få med vokal som er med. Mogwai er litt krevende, men gi dem sjansen så vil du kanskje finne ut at det er verdt det.

Etter noe så skummelt må vi avsluttet denne samlingen med noe koselig og hyggelig, nemlig Silver Seas’ nye album Alaska. Jeg har tidligere skrytt hemningsløst av dette bandet fra Nashville, først og fremst fordi de ikke utgir seg for å være noe mer enn et meget godt poporkester. På tidligere album har de levert den ene perlen etter den andre. Det er noen færre på Alaska, men jeg har plukket en liten bukett som jeg tror de fleste vil like.  Silver Seas er blant mine favorittgrupper, så jeg håper noen flere blir imponert nok av dem til å gå tilbake til deres tidligere strålende samlinger.

For å gi plass til ny musikk fjernes Céu, The Duckworth Lewis Method, Editors, Half Moon Run, Ole Paus, Paloma Faith og Quickbeam.

Og listen finner du her:

Vi går inn i den mørkeste tiden, og da er godt å varme seg på både nye lyse og mørke låter, aller helst uten ringlende bjeller og julebudskap. Det får vi nok av andre steder. Hele 65 nye låter fordelt på 12 artister er inne i blogglisten på Spotify, alle nøye vurdert før de får slippe inn i et så celebert selskap.

Vi starter med den lekne engelsk-tyske duoen Psapp, som med sitt nye album What Makes Us Glow gir oss morsom og annerledes orkestrert musikk. Her er mye leketøysmusikk, men låtene er voksne nok, og Galia Durants stemme er forførende nok til å komme fra en voksen dame.

Midlake byr på en betydelig mørkere tone, men er full av melodi likevel. Gruppen kommer fra Texas, og hadde mye suksess med sitt forrige album The Courage of Others. Vokalisten Tim Smith valgte å forlate bandet da de var i gang med å produsere sitt nye album, så gruppen måtte begynne litt på nytt, og resultatet ble Antiphon, som anmeldere – og jeg – har hatt mye glede av. Fire låter derfra ligger nå i listen til allmenn nytelse.

Tilbake til lyset. Laura Cantrell har ikke produsert musikk på mange år, så plutselig kom No Way There From Here, spekket med nye selvskrevne låter. Dette er vakker og intelligent country-musikk, litt bort fra det tradisjonelle, og kanskje derfor har Laura slått spesielt godt an i Europa. Stemmen hennes er særegen, enkel og så sikker. Håper dere blir like frelst som jeg har blitt.

Så til dagens mørkeste slik jeg ser det. King Midas kom i forrige uke ut med et album som har fått mange norske anmeldere til å hente frem den mest dekorerte siden på terningen. Bandet fra Oslo har holdt på helt siden 1994, og det sies at dette er deres siste album. I så fall går de ut, om ikke med et pang, så i alle fall med flagget til topps. Dette er sterke, vakre låter som vokser for hver gang jeg hører dem. Kanskje ligger de i utkanten av den musikktypen du finner på denne listen, men gi King Midas en sjanse, så kanskje ombestemmer de seg og fortsetter noen år til. Norsk rock trenger noen ledestjerner. Albumet heter Rosso.

En annen norsk artist som virkelig har imponert er Maria Due. Med albumet Past Potential Future Lover har hun laget et intelligent popalbum med et spennende lydbilde, med herlige tyvlån fra både jazz, latino og vise. Hun har en nærmest fransk stemme, hviskende og sensuell, og musikken burde ha et like stort nedslagsfelt i Europa og Amerika som i Norge. Jeg håper hun får en stor karriere, dette er nemlig bra.

Josephine Fosters stemme er også særpreget, men på den helt andre enden av skalaen fra Maria Due. I’m a Dreamer er et merkelig album, og Foster synger med en vibrato, nærmest operastemme som av og til kan minne om Olga Marie, for de som husker henne. Josephine Foster synger imidlertid svært så rent, og hennes låter er vakre og fascinerende. Kan hende du ikke klarer å høre på henne, men gi henne en sjanse før du bestemmer deg.

Mer standardmusikk får du med Lucy Schwartz’  Timekeeper, men denne damen fra California kan skrive musikk. Hun har skrevet musikk for TV-serier på oppdrag, men dette albumet må komme fra eget hjerte. Det var virkelig vanskelig å velge låter å ta med, for albumet har så mange gode, så hvis du er enig, ta turen til hele albumet etterpå. I mellomtiden kan du i alle fall nyte de fire jeg har inkludert.

Lindi Ortega har også lys og deilig musikk å by på. Hun er kanadisk, men stilen går rett hjem i Nashville, en by hun nå har flyttet til. Tin Star er også spekket av den delen av countrymusikken jeg etter hvert har fått stor sans for. Indie Lindi, som hun kalles, er fremdeles å regne som en godt bevart hemmelighet, en annen måte å beskrive en artist som ikke helt har slått gjennom.

Denai More fra øst-London er så fersk som artist at hun ennå ikke har et helt album ute. Vi er nå tilbake til de mørkere tonene blant dagens nykommere, og de enkle og vakre tonene fra Denai kan varme et vinterhjerte. Storbritannia har produsert en rekke slike unge kvinnelige vokalister i det siste, og mange har vært innom listen min. Kanskje er du blant de første til å lytte til og bli glad i en fremtidig stor stjerne?

Et sikrere kort i så måte er Dave Stewart, godt kjent fra Eurythmics. Også han har gitt ut ny plate på sine ”gamle dager”, selv om han så vidt har passert seksti. Jeg anså ham som en juniorpartner i Eurythmics, mest fordi Annie Lennox var så dominerende, men på Lucky Numbers briljerer han med morsomme, tidløse, respektløse låter, men også med varme og åpne tekster. Jeg falt for denne platen, hør om du er enig.

Billie Vans første single er allerede på listen, og nå kommer et knippe låter fra hennes strålende første album. Billie er fra Asker, og har kommet litt i skyggen av andre artister i samme generasjon, men jeg synes hun er blant de freskeste og mest tilgjengelige av dem alle. Albumet heter 1 2 3 4 Radiostar, og med On My Knees som ligger på listen fra før, kan du nå glede deg over hele åtte låter.

Til slutt skal vi til Island, og til Asgeir Trausti, eller bare Asgeir som han nå kaller seg ute i den store verden. Hans album Dýrð í dauðaþögn ble nærmest en sensasjon på Island, og lå som nummer en på hitlistene der i ukevis. Nå er albumet spilt inn på nytt på engelsk, men jeg har beholdt de islandske låtene (unntatt én), så kan dere eventuelt skifte til engelsk hvis det blir for uforståelig. Asgeir minner litt om vår egen Thomas Dybdahl, men jeg har større sans for Asgeir.

Ut av listen tar jeg Eleanor Friedberger, Ingrid Olava, Kristina Train,  Lenka, The National, Phildel,  Sarah Siskind og Zaz.

Og listen med oppdaterte sanger finner du her:

Jeg tror vi nå kan kalle det en trend. Store artister på 70- og 80-tallet kommer tilbake på 2010-tallet og trollbinder oss på nytt. Samtidig går unge artister i deres fotspor. Dagens liste-påplussning henter gull fra begge disse naboleirene.

Steve Harley har vært en favorittstemme i mitt liv, fra hans frekke, selvsikre stil sammen med Cockney Rebel til hans mykere side på begynnelsen av 2000-tallet. I 2010 kom albumet Faith & Virtue ut, med vakre ballader og god rock, en Steve Harley for vår tid. Jeg har tatt med fem låter. Liker du dem , begynn å grave i katalogen hans, enten du er fan eller novise.

Boy George har jeg ikke hatt det samme nære forholdet til, både musikalsk og privat har det vært for viltert til at det her fenget så mye. Men – nå i godt voksen alder kommer Mr George tilbake med et sterkt album, 20 år etter siste utgivelse. Stemmen hans har aldri vært bedre, rusten og glatt på en gang, og albumet byr på store tekster og magiske melodier. Kritikere har vært over seg også, og This Is What I Do er av flere allerede utnevnt som årets comebackalbum.

Den tredje tryllekunstneren i dagens liste er Paddy McAloon i Prefab Sprout. Også han har vært en vesentlig del av The Soundtrack of My Life, og jaggu har han klart å lage enda et nytt album med magi, Crimson/Red, kanskje et av de beste noensinne. Det sier ikke så lite, for selv om Prefab Sprout aldri har vært megastjerner har de i flere tiår vært å regne som de beste melodismedene i verden. Igjen byr han på varme, glede og tekster som får deg til å lytte ekstra nøye. Mange har kalt McAloon et musikalsk geni, og de største artistene i bransjen, inkludert Paul McCartney, har søkt samarbeid med ham. Det forstår jeg godt, for til og med Paul McCartney har noe å lære ved Merlins føtter.

Chip Taylor, mannen som skrev Wild Thing for The Troggs, er nå er blitt en eldre mann, han også. Han var mye på turne i Norge da tragedien 22. juli skjedde.  Han ble dypt berørt, og skrev en rekke sanger som tok utgangspunkt i massemordet. Mange har hørt Chip Taylor siden og har blitt tilsvarende berørt av låtene hans, inkludert God Bless Norwegians. For meg er han en engelsktalende Ole Paus. Lytt på de fem låtene jeg har lagt ut fra albumet Block Out the Sirens of This Lonley World, og hør om du er enig.

David Rotheray er også en gammel magiker, men det er hva han nå gjør sammen med yngre krefter som har gitt ham en plass på listen min. Rotheray spilte i The Beautiful South, men i de siste årene har han utviklet et konsept der han inviterer inn andre artister til å spille inn med ham, stort sett kvinner. Resultatet blir samlinger som har en egenartet stil, men med mye variasjon på grunn av bidrag fra svært forskjellige artister. Årets album heter Answer Songs, men det er verdt å høre på tidligere album over samme lest også.

Dent May fra Mississippi er en ung artist med en gammel smak. Jeg får assosiasjoner til Beach Boys og andre sekstitallsartister, selv om dette definitivt er lyden av 2013. Her er det mye sol og sommer og glede, men jeg mistenker en slags musikalsk ironi under det hele, kanskje er det feil, men det gjør ingenting, herlig er det å høre på dette. Albumet heter Warm Blanket.

Nå man hører Magic Brothers første gang er en naturlig tanke at disse gutta må ha hørt mye på Monroes (må de hvile i fred) og Madness. Og det er for så vidt riktig, for den ene av disse to brødrene har faktisk spilt i Madness. Nick og Woody Woodgate har gitt ut et retroalbum,  The Magic Line, som gleder stort, langt utover at det er lyden av Madness som gjenoppstår. Jeg synes låtene på The Magic Line er om mulig enda mer melodiske og sterke enn ”originalen”., og har tatt med fem. Hør gjerne på resten av albumet også.

Bloggens siste tilskudd er Paula Paulusma, en britisk singer/songwriter som har gitt meg mye lytteglede i det siste. Hun er ikke blant dem som har gjort stor karriere, men dette er en dame som både kan synge, spille og skrive. Paula har forsøkt mye i sitt liv, hun har jobbet i BBC og har påbegynt en doktorgrad, men det er kun musikken som aldri har gitt opp. Det skal vi være glade for. Leaves from the Family Tree kom i fjor, og jeg har tatt med hele seks perler derfra.

Hem, Josh Ritter, Miss Li, Rod Stewart og Stig Ulv forlater listen nå for å gi plass til ny magi.

Og listen finner du her: ( ser at de fleste av dere spiller av fra bloggen og fra Facebook, men husk at du også kan abonnere på listen på Spotify)