Album Review: Eliksir, Earthly Things
‘I save a raindrop from sinking in the sand' - the first line of Eliksir's (Elin Synnove Brathen) opening track, Raindrop Song. By Gerry Casey - 09/08/07
Taken from her stunning debut album, Earthly Things, this is a track in which the Norwegian singer/songwriter introduces us to the element of water that ebbs and flows so effortlessly throughout this wonderful collection of songs, mixing as it does elements of Pop, Jazz, Rock, Celtic and World music; a mixture that she herself describes as a potion of contemporary nostalgia. And a most potent potion it is.
The title track, Earthly Things, is a hauntingly beautiful lament to the inevitable changing of The Seasons from Summer to Fall, or rather, the passing of time and the impermanence of everything, How much time do we get? Soon enough we will fade. Eliksir begins to stretch her legs vocally on this song-as the listener delves further into the album, we discover that she has only been limbering up.
Feel It, is my overall favourite song of this altogether groundbreaking album. Making all the mistakes that you won’t regret, (Remember) Sad things only repeat themselves if you let. The line (So) care for every breathing loveliness is so beautifully and sensually sung that words simply cannot describe the experience that awaits the fortunate listener-those lingering sounds are just so..beautiful.
As I say, this song simply must be heard to be appreciated, not just read about, and all this in another wonderfully FM Radio friendly format. Profound and intuitive words from a woman who says her dreams influence much of her lyrics. There is certainly a great creative intelligence at work here throughout this album-wherever it hails from-and the listening experience simply gets richer and more absorbing with every play.
On the closing track, Play Among The Shadows, Eliksir again uses dream imagery or rather, she has a one sided dialogue with the source of said imagery and she finally rocks out as her superb voice soars above the shadows to a soundscape of utter abandonment and desolation-sublime.
The music and instrumentation throughout Earthly Things is quite sparse at times and very much to the background, the point being, I guess, is that Eliksir’s voice quite simply IS the music on this spectacular album. An amazingly talented Composer / Singer / Songwriter, herself hauntingly beautiful with such an incredible voice, she can most certainly take her place among the top contemporary female artists of today.
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