Kari Rueslåtten
Demo Recordings 1995

THE REVIEW

Graceful tears of infinite poetry, softly laid on grassy slopes among waterfalls, fjords, and gently snow-capped mountains.

An embarrassing delicacy, the joyful warbling of a Norwegian maiden of dazzling beauty, whose red hair adorns a nobly Nordic and graceful face. A golden voice capable of offering truly precious emotions, carrying the listener through dreary autumn evenings and bright sunsets of Scandinavian reminiscence.
An engaging intertwining of classically folk elements, dark-tinged textures, solemn almost operatic tones, romantic acoustic arpeggios like warm caresses expressed by gentle drops of winter frost.

Kari delights us with these nine marvelous pearls of tormenting intensity, showcasing a mesmerizing vocal performance and a genuine love for her land and its musical roots. At times shamanic, at times fairy-tale-like and dramatic, the voice of the Norwegian princess delves into the depths of the heart, uncovering hidden emotions and mystical dreams with ethereal glimmers.
Pieces like "The homecoming song" and "Våkenatt" blend seductive classical guitars with a Celtic flavor, gently insistent percussions, and enviable vocal harmonies. All of this is framed by a perfect and exceedingly crystalline production, considering the primitive equipment used during the recording.

The musical shamanism explodes dark and mysterious in "The Shadowchant" where Rueslåtten showcases a spine-chilling vocal technique, combined with a heartfelt and sinuous feeling. Engaging and dramatic. The Celtic-Scandinavian folk duo makes a strong appearance in the masterpiece "In Here" where the previously mentioned elements explode vibrantly, creating a true diamond reminiscent of sweet chivalric love sentiments, while the subsequent "Dead" reveals the dark soul of the Trondheim siren. Dominated by somber and melancholic pianos, it looms misty and pessimistic in the anguished singing, laden with romantic sentimentalism. A truly intense, heart-wrenching lament. "In a day" closes the work with a vocal "solo" that takes us back to classically ethnic tones already appreciated in her collaborations with Storm and The 3rd and the Mortal, once again displaying graceful and elegant melodies.

A refined work, nostalgically national-romantic, leaden at times but able to delight and make one dream, leading the mind to distant lands of surreal and "ancient" mysticism. The musical cult of the past gently dissolves in the notes of the Norwegian artist.

Let yourself be seduced.