Browse by Artist: SUSANNA AND THE MAGICAL ORCHESTRA

Artist:	SUSANNA AND THE MAGICAL ORCHESTRA
Title:	List of Lights and Buoys
Label:	RUNE GRAMMOFON (NORWAY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	RCD 2034CD

"Susanna and her orchestra is in fact a duo that has been around some four years on the Norwegian live scene, to much acclaim. Singer Susanna Wallumrųd (23) is a new name while Morten Qvenild (24) is a profiled keyboard player with the likes of Jaga Jazzist, jazz quartet Shining, Norwegian pop diva Bertine Zetlitz and recently Nils Petter Molvęr. The first time it hit us that this was something very special was when we heard a demo including their versions of 'Jolene' and Leonard Cohen“s 'Hallelujah'. The second time was when they, with an intimate and intense performance, managed to silence a festive and lively audience at Rune Grammofon“s five year celebration in London last year. Many were taken by their highly personal interpretation of 'Jolene', but also their own songs like 'Believer' and 'Hello' made strong impressions. On our own account we“d like to add that their approach to 'Jolene' and Susanna“s heartfelt delivery brings a new dimension to this classic. Behind the maritime album title we find versions of the mentioned 'Jolene', written by Dolly Parton, and Leonard Bernstein's 'Who Am I' as well as nine originals that show a surprising degree of maturity, especially considering the writers young age and the fact that they operate in a landscape that requires a good deal of songwriting skills to hold your attention."

Artist:	SUSANNA AND THE MAGICAL ORCHESTRA
Title:	Melody Mountain
Label:	RUNE GRAMMOFON (NORWAY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	RCD 2057CD

This is the second release from the Norwegian duo consisting of Susanna Karolina Wallumrųd (vocals) and Morten Qvenild (Jaga Jazzist, Shining, In the Country) (piano, cembalo, autoharp, vibraphone, church organ and keyboards). This time they have chosen to record ten interpretations of mostly well-known songs by artists such as Prince, AC/DC, Scott Walker, Leonard Cohen, Angus Young, Matt Burt, Peter Hook, Paul Stanley, Bob Dylan, Martin L. Gore and Sandy Denny. Susanna has a unique way of making a song her own, and to fill the lyrics and melodies with the emotional content it requires. This was made crystal clear with her stunning interpretation of Dolly Parton's classic "Jolene," recorded for the duo's debut album List Of Lights and Buoys. The same can be said of their version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," one of the first songs they demoed and have since presented in their live show, now finally recorded for inclusion on Melody Mountain. Known to turn venues so quiet you can hear grown people sob, it's only one of a string of moving performances that make up this album. In addition to Susanna's moving vocal deliveries, Morten Qvenild's naked-to- the-bone approach is essential to the way this duo come across, both on record and in a live situation. This album is produced by Deathprod.

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