Foy Vance - Hope (2007)

Traveling to Dublin last autumn i picked up on an English/Irish artist called Foy Vance [allmusic link] . Since the early 00's we've been tuning in to almost only singer/songwriters especially here in Norway, and I've started to grow tired of the constant stream of both mediocre melodies and artists. But Foy Vance really hit me. His stunning vocal performances and lyrics complimented by easy and straightforward arrangements really made the difference for me.
So when we landed in Dublin i bought three copies of his debut cd "Hope". One for me, one for my girlfriend and one for the friend who introduced me to him (I had to buy them in Dublin since you couldn't get any copies here in Norway)

Tracklist

Be With Me
Shed a Little Light
Doesn't Take a Whole Day
Fifteen
I Was Made
Treading Water
Gabriel and the Vagabond
First of July
Elshaneed
Indiscriminate Act of Kindness
Hope, Peace and Love
If you could only see yourself like i See you
Dry Wells
Pull me through
Two Shades of Hope

My personal favorites on this album must be the heart wrenching "Two Shades of Hope", "Gabriel and the Vagabond" and "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness", whereas the later one has a vocal performance which is stunningly good.
If you are tired of the Dime-a-dozen singer songwriter, Foy Vance is a good choice. He takes it back to people like Nina Simone and Jeff Buckley, both musically and spiritually.

Official Website (Foy Vance)
Allmusic link to the Record

Bruce Hornsby & Bela Fleck - Concert takes from 1996 (1996)

Ok i know, i know... Bruce Hornsby [Allmusic link], not known for the best music in the world, and not that special in any way. But hey i really like this album.
I was recorded in 1996 during a session/concert with Bela Fleck [Allmusic link] and has no name and has never been released as a cd. I found it online and i just started listening to it. The first song i played was Mandolin Rain/Brokedown Palace. Those two songs combined made for beautiful arrangements. He also has some of the more known hits like "The way It is" (Mostly known trough 2pac's version) and "End of the Innocence"

What really hits me is what three instruments on a scene can do. These recordings sound allot like Bobby Mcferrin and Chick Coreas recordings and they are very easy to listen to. Piano, Banjo and Vocal. I Guess this album is for anyone who likes 80's hits in new and more sophisticated arrangements.

Bela Fleck's website
Bruce Hornsby's website
Rapidshare link Cd 1
Rapidshare link Cd 2

Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself (2005)

A mate of mine (not really into music) said; dude, you have to get Imogen Heap [allmusic link] for me. I cant find it anywhere and she's so god damn good. And i found her, i listened to the tunes and yeah, he was right.
Imogen Heap hails from Essex in England, but now lives and works in London. She started out as a singer/songwriter, but not the usual kind. She played alot of alternative music with alot of electronica and classical influences mixed up. The first thing i noticed was the originality, then the sound and voice picture which reminded me of Kate Bush. Her first album was praised, but i really like the second album better.
Speak for Yourself is one of those albums you either like or hate. It has its own sound, and although it copies some from other influences its still Imogen Heap's sound. Excellent vocal performances and electronica sounds mixed with a little of the classical influence that comes from learning the piano in that way sounds heavenly in my ears.

Tracklist:
Headlock
Goodnight and Go
Have you got it In You?
Loose ends
Hide and Seek
Clear the Area
Daylight Robbery
The Walk
Just for Now
I am in love With you
Closing in
The moment i Said it

Although her voice has a really powerful touch to it, the lyrics are frail and tells us about alot of things that seems personal. For instance:

"Just put back the car keys,
Or somebody's gonna get hurt
Who are you calling at this hour?
Sit down, come round, I need you now
We'll work it all out together,
But we're getting nowhere tonight
Now sleep, I promise it'll all seem better,
Somehow in time"

Ive always liked artists that makes lyrics with a personal touch and this is one of them. Check her out:)

Official Website
Allmusic link to the Record

Harmonium - Si on avait besoin dune cinqueeme siason (1975)

Harmonier er et grep i musikken jeg liker og denne Kanadiske gruppen kunne det.
"Kortlevde" Harmonium [Allmusic link] fra Quebec sang og spilte som små guder på midten av syttitallet. De utga 4 album før det var slutt i 1980. Musikken var preget av orgel, fløyte, sang harmonier og kassegitarer. Faktisk så finnes det nesten ikke trommer på albumene deres.
Platen "Si on avait besoin dune cinqueeme siason" fra 1975 var et konsept album bygd opp rundt de fire årstidene hvorav de fire første representerte hver sin og den siste låten (som varer i 17min!) er en episk rockemelodi. Tittelen betyr: If one neaded a fifth season. Albumet ble gitt ut ett år etter det første (Harmonium - Harmonium 1974) og plasserte Harmonium lengre unna folkemusikken enn før.

Innhold:
Vert
Dixie
Depuis L Automme
en Pleine Face
Histories sans Paroles

Som dere ser er ikke det noe stort album, men det er et godt album. Jeg kan si at alle låtene her faller innenfor min kategori for god musikk (hvis det betyr noe som helst)
Det skal også nevnes at hele albumet er meget godt arrangert og jeg vil tippe at det var laaaaange kvelder i studio. Resultatet ble uansett en utrolig god plate som kan nytes selv om du ikke kan Fransk flytende. Takk til Merete for annbefalingen:)

Allmusic link til Plata (med annmeldelse)
Rapidshare link

Velkommen

Velkommen inn!
Min første post på min nye blogg kalt Audiofil.
Denne bloggen egner seg best for de som forstår Norsk nogelunde.


Litt om meg:
Gutt på 18 år som bor i Sør-Trøndelag, interessene er musikk, data og sosialt samvær. Jeg går for tiden Musikk, Dans og Drama.


Litt om Bloggen:
Den skal omhandle alt av musikk jeg finner verdt å skrive om, håper dere finner noe av interesse her etterhvert.
Eksempler på musikk som kan dukke opp her:
Jazz
Rock
Pop
Metal
Blues
Klassisk

Jeg håper alle innlegg og kommentarer kan være saklige.