Staff Reviews

Susanna And The Magical Orchestra - 3

Review by Kevin EG Perry

“What fresh hell is this?” Dorothy Parker would declare when someone was unwise enough to interrupt her day with something as triv»

Buy now from:

after their successful covers album 'melody mountain' from 2006, filled with intimate and highly personal takes on mostly well known songs, they return to their own songwriting skills of their debut album 'list of lights and buoys' (2004) and present us with eight new originals as well as two covers. the new songs are written deep in the norwegian woods and by the sea, but the topics lay much further away.the music has a retro-futuristic edge to it, is darker and more electronic, the arrangements more evolving and varied, the words reflecting such topics as inner conflicts, human relations, outer space, stars and planets, journeys to unknown galaxies and more. but there's also room for an absolutely stunning interpretation of roy harper's beautiful love song 'another day' while the album ends on an optimistic note with the gorgeous chorus of 'someday'. the album was recorded on various locations in norway by the duo itself and their sound companion helge sten, who also mixed and co-produced the album while mastering guru bob katz did the finishing touches. among the guests are mariam wallentin from swedish duo wildbirds & peacedrums, madrugada drummer erland dahlen and susanna's drummer brother fredrik wallumrod, this time on vocals. kudos to sleeve designer kim hiorthoy, who once again has managed to capture the various feelings in an album with one striking image.
description from www.roughtrade.com