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Solveig Slettahjell: Good Rain
BySlettahjell is faithful to her "slow motion" concept, conscious of every detail and nuance of each phrase, and her natural, leisurely alto shines throughout the eleven songs. The sonic palette of the ensemble is much more varied, enveloping Slettahjell's warm vocals with sounds that recall productions by such art-rock sonic explorers as David Sylvian or Talk Talk. The sensitive playing of all players adds vibrant layers that caress and reinforce the massages of the poetic songs.
All the songs revolve around the theme of belief, often an abstract and secular onein Slettahjell, empowering herself after a failed relationship, or in natureand they offer some consolation, quite often sounding melancholic. The goal? "To be lonely in a good way," as she sings in Qvenild's "Another Day." Slettahjell's innocent and modest narration of life happiness, despair, fate and hope succeeds in creating a peaceful intimacy capable of touching and melting even the greatest cynic.
Slettahjell seeks some calmness and reconciliation in "Where Do You Run To," faith in her lone self in "Another Day." She trusts fate in "Don't Look Back," draws hope from dreams in "Colour Lullabye," and strongly convinces about the joys of lovemaking on "We Were Indians." Her beautiful a cappella version of V.O. Fossett's gospel song "Do Lord" serves as an introduction to the dark, anguished, modern gospelish "My Oh My," penned by Miljeteig. On the Peder Kjellsby-penned "Good Rain" she refers to "the rain washing the stains of / Another broken day."
As on Pixiedust, Slettahjell beautifully interperts another poem by Emily Dickinson, "The Moon." The playful, minimalist version of Johnny Mercer's "P.S. I Love You," the last song on this release, offers some hopeful closure.
Beautiful.
Track Listing
Where Do You Run To; Another Day; Don't Look Back; Colour Lullabye; Flawless (the muse); We were Indians; Do Lord; My Oh My; Good Rain; The Moon; P.S. I Love You.
Personnel
Solveig Slettahjell
vocalsSolveig Slettahjell: vocals; Sjur Miljeteig: trumpet; Morten Qvenild: piano, keyboards; Mats Eilertsen: bass; Per Oddvar Johansen: drums.
Album information
Title: Good Rain | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Curling Legs
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About Solveig Slettahjell
Instrument: Vocals
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