I do not know why I wrote this blog in English for nearly seven years.
Maybe because I daily speak Spanish even though I am Swedish and live in Sweden and sometimes resort to English when words are not enough?
Yet, I mean, my English is quite ok now, not least because of all of today's "social media", and the exercise by communicating with English speaking people every now and then, everywhere on the net, it can provide a lot of practice for those who are open to it.
But to say that I know the language fully, and understand all its connotations and all 'it raining cats and dogs "statement that the English language is structured, and full of, and may use them in everyday communication with a native English person, and thus, strictly speaking, understand the language fully, would be far from the truth.
I can make myself understood, yes, but not like in Swedish. I really admire those who succeeded. The journey is long. Very long.
Those of you who read the blog, get either a good laugh, or understand the meaning, ambition when I write in English.
This time, i'm writing about a wonderful album that I bought a while ago. It has just been released in iceland by the English-born Icelandic singer / songwriter, and I would say, the poet, Louisa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir (or Lay Low as she calls herself), one of my favorites since her 2006 debut.
I am unable to say anything more about the poetry of the lyrics since I am a stranger to the Icelandic language, but the nice atmospheric music and melodies, I can speak a lot about, it helps me through the day and night keeps me going, gives me new energy, just like all good music should, and allows me to recognize the meaning of some words in my own language, Swedish, a little better, Lovisa sings so beautifully in the Icelandic language that I almost can "take the words", anyway, but I still can not reach all the way, not at all. I will not suffice.
This time Lovisa has taken inspiration from classic female Icelandic poets as she set to record music to the poems of Vilborg Dagbjartsdatter and Margret Jónsdóttir and several others, including Hugrúnu, which I think (not much information to be found not in the Icelandic's available), wrote the poem behind the title track?
I don't think too much this time.
But, I think of why I like this album, and why I did not like Lykke-Li's latest acclaimed album (the only direct comparison I do).
I think of how I can explain the difference between these two artists and their music, about whether there even is a difference at all?
Brostinn Strengur was recorded entirely on analog tape, which I am convinced absolutely contributes to the wonderful sound that really feels through the entire recording with her voice mixed way far in front of the mix. The mellotron, played by Louisa herself, also make sure to add its own soul with the warm mysterious sound.
There are many great musicians involved in this project (but their names are so exotic that I should not even try to spell them).
This is an album you should buy physical on CD, i think, and not in compressed digital format, to experience the maximum pleasure.
You can order the stylishly designed digipack directly from Louisa on her website laylow.is. Do it! So, all the money is for her and not to any multiglobal record companies.
Is not it enough just to say that I think this is good music, really good music, so good that this album probably will end up there at the top of my seasonal best list this year?
And why I wrote this, first in Swedish?
For each touted "Friskt vågat, hälften vunnet", eller "Better listen to the string broke, than to never stretch a bow", it will be, believe me, some broken strings left.
It's just beautiful, it need not be explained. This music goes straight to the heart.
Highly recommended.
Brostinn Strengur by lovisalaylow
ps: If you are a little curious as to how Lay Low sounds in English, you can listen to 2008's critically acclaimed Farewell Good Night's Sleep Also this, an album which I highly recommend to you all. Especially for fans of Lefty Frizell, another of Lovisa's inspirations.
Note: This text was translated from Swedish, so some parts may seem a little strange. I just could not write this post in english, because of my reaction to this wonderful album.
1 comments:
I love her music, and I did not know about this record (perhaps because not released in the U.S. This is a fine post, and you make yourself understood very well in English. [You should see how poorly some native speakers write the language - embarassing.]
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