23/12/2008 / amerikansk anmelderros til sidsel strømnes
Anmeldelse i Freetime Magazine:
SIDSEL STROMNES
Beyond Amber
(Via Music/Norway)
By Scott Gudell
There is an understated elegance on the deceptively simple songs of Sidsel Stromnes’ debut recording from Norway. Shadowy hints of a late night 1930’s Berlin cabaret, post war French cafes and 1960’s American folk houses swirl together. Meticulously crafted phrases that Leonard Cohen would be proud of, balance with the wounded angelic thoughts of Marianne Faithful or the confident, incisive style of Sade. These all combine to create Beyond Amber but, in the end, it is all fresh, all a bit different…all Stromnes.
The majority of the songs are carefully constructed “letters” to former lovers where open wounds are revealed, but are turning to scars she must forever wear. Stromnes measures her words and articulates them with an intriguing northern European accent: she is delicate, fragile. She is cautiously optimistic and passionately open with her memories of the past and hopes for the furute. A soft bed of support is created by organ, accordion, gypsy violin and other strings.
Ultimately the deep, dark Artic blue permeates all of the songs with a unique richness that makes this recording a truly outstanding debut. Wounds can heal, a person can blossom again. Fresh beginnings can..no..will come again.