Ane Brun - How Beauty Holds The Hand Of Sorrow - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Two decades into her career, Norway's Ane Brun has come a long way from busking other people's songs on the streets of Barcelona. And yet, in some respects, not that far after all. Now a much-loved singer-songwriter in her own right, with ten studio albums and multiple awards to her name, Brun continues to lend her singularly expressive voice and intuitive feel for melody to the fine art of the cover version. In Brun's hands, even songs that feel untouchable are brought close and revealed in a new and intimate light. Whether reimagining Beyoncé's all-conquering 'Halo' with a cello quartet arrangement by Linnea Olsson, or bringing a ghostly fragility to Radiohead's 'How To Disappear Completely', she dives in undaunted, seeking out the emotional core of each song and working outwards from there. Portrayals gathers together for the first time twelve of Brun's most popular covers, plus a previously unreleased version of the Rodgers & Hart standard 'Blue Moon'. Collectively streamed over 250 million times on Spotify and featured on film soundtracks, adverts, and landmark TV series such as 'Normal People' and 'Peaky Blinders', Brun's reworkings move in tender, unforgettable, and often startling ways. Portrayals is the first in a series of planned 2023 releases to mark the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Spending Time With Morgan. InchCovers have been such a big part of my career,Inch says Brun. InchIt's almost a career in itself. It has it's own dynamic. I wanted to celebrate that by giving these songs their own space.InchInchA stately, graceful and gorgeous meditationInch - Metro InchA phenomenal record.Inch Times InchBrings her shivering sensuality to well worn standards.Inch Daily Mirror InchHaunted and inspired.Inch Mojo InchAn exquisite naked beauty that gently tugs at the heartstrings.Inch - Big Issue InchSomething quietly magical.Inch - Record Collector InchIndi

Franziska Holscher on the freedom enjoyed by the composer and the difficulties faced by the performer Felix Schmidt InchIt would seem that the works in album programmes are usually chosen for popularity; originality and artistic quality are often bypassed to optimize sales. On this album, however, you have made no concessions to popularity... Regardless of what other people may think, popularity is not a criterion for me. I want to draw listeners' attention to these works, which, in my opinion, are among the most important compositions of their time... Berio's Sequenza VIII for Violin was my point of departure. As one of the essential 20th century works for violin, it occupies a central place in my repertoire, and has been part of my life for many years. Every time I come back to it, the Sequenza reveals new dimensions of sound. We can likewise note a certain tension between contemporary and early music in the works of Berio's compatriot, Salvatore Sciarrino. His distinct style often explores the boundaries of timbre; Sciarrino's typical nervousness in fast movements is reminiscent, in turn, of the music of Robert Schumann. And Sciarrino's figures of rhetoric hark back explicitly to Baroque music. Schumann's sonata likewise associates Baroque forms- specifically, a chorale- with progressive techniques of composition and means of expression. Thus, the relation between the present and the past is the central theme connecting all the works on this album... Inch

Sweden-based Norwegian artist Ane Brun's eighth studio album AFTER THE GREAT STORM finds Brun in questing mode, her crystal-clear, affecting voice haunted by electronic and analogue textures. Nine tracks of stellar art-pop/prog. Her finest work to date.