In the Country, Solveig Slettahjell & Knut Reiersrud: Remembrance

Formed in Oslo, Norway, in 2003, the piano trio In The Country has featured its founding members, pianist Morten Qvenild, bassist Roger Arntzen and drummer Pal Hausken, ever since. In its early years, the trio released a steady stream of releases on Rune Grammofon—This Was the Pace of my Heartbeat (2005), Losing Stones, Collecting Bones (2006), Whiteout (2009), and Sounds and Sights (2011)—accompanied by a steady stream of praise.

The years after 2011 saw In the Country change labels several times and expand its horizons beyond the trio. After Sunset Sunrise (ACT, 2013) their last album to only feature the three trio members, Skogenes Sang (Grappa, 2014) was credited to In the Country and Frida Annevik, the latter being credited with vocals and arrangements. Trail of Souls (ACT, 2015) was credited to In the Country plus Solveig Slettahjell & Knut Reiersrud, the former a vocalist, the latter a guitarist. And now, after a decade without any other releases, In the Country returns with Remembrance (Jazzland, 2025) with the same credit as Trail of Souls.

Remembrance itself is surprisingly different from anything that In the Country has previously released. Recorded and edited by Qvenild at his recording studio, Ugla Lyd, in November 2022 with additional recordings throughout 2023, and further recordings by Påi Hauken at Kaihuset Recording in January 2023, it is not difficult to hear why such attention was lavished on the tracks. Each of the album's nine tracks centers on a poem by American poet Emily Dickenson (1830-1886) or by one of the Bronte sisters, author of "Wuthering Heights" Emily (1818-1848) or author of "Jane Eyre" Charlotte (1816-1855), with Emily Bronte outweighing the other two.

Each of the poems is sung by vocalist Solveig Slettahjell and/or recited by Sidsel Endresen with subtle but effective accompaniment from In the Country and guitarist Knut Reiersrud. Slettahiell's voice is very expressive and brings the poems to life with emotion. The album's packaging is worth comment as it includes a small booklet that includes the lyrics of all the poems and the names of their authors. You are recommended to listen to Slettahjell singing and Endresen reciting the album's title track "Remembrance" by Emily Bronte in YouTube below; feel your heartstrings being plucked. Although albums combining poetry and music are not uncommon, it is not easy to think of a combination of music with poetry nearly two centuries old by popular authors. It seems likely that this album will be popular for reasons other than historical interest, and that it will not be a decade until we hear more from In the Country.