John Wort Hannam - Love Lives on - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

John Wort Hannam - Queen's Hotel [COMPACT DISCS] date 11/17/2009

Wizrd is a boundary-pushing Norwegian rock band that effortlessly blends genres, from rock and indie to jazz and prog. While they know the rules, they take pride in breaking them. On their highly anticipated second album, Elements, Wizrd dives deeper into uncharted musical waters-experimenting with new styles, fresh melodic paths, and both extended and condensed song structures, all while introducing Norwegian lyrics. Though the album is eclectic, it remains unmistakably Wizrd, unified by a distinct, cohesive sound.Recorded at the legendary Athletic Sound studio in Halden, the ambiance of both the studio and the city itself left an indelible mark on Elements. The result is an album that feels organic yet unpredictable, with a mix of carefully crafted and spontaneous elements. Every decision in the making of the album influenced it's outcome-change one thing, and Elements would have been something entirely different. Co-produced, recorded, and mixed by Dag Erik Johansen alongside the band, his contributions were vital to shaping the final sound.Formed at the Jazz Conservatory in Trondheim, Wizrd's lineup features four talented musicians Hallvard Gaardløs (Spidergawd, Draken) on bass and lead vocals, Karl Bjorå (Megalodon Collective) on guitar and vocals, Vegard Lien Bjerkan (Soft Ffog) on keyboards and vocals, and Axel Skalstad (Krokofant, Soft Ffog) on drums. Together, they've crafted Elements-a diverse and dynamic record that showcases Wizrd's fearless creativity.- For fans of Motorpsycho, Black Mountain, The Mars Volta, Kula Shaker + + +- Limited LP version on Transparent Red vinyl- Members from Spidergawd, Krokofant, Megalodon Collective, Soft Ffog etc

When John Wort Hannam started to write songs for his 8th album, 'Long Haul', he didn't have any particular theme in mind. Locked down in the early days of the pandemic, random ideas began to coalesce into a unified whole and eleven songs later, a solid vision had clearly emerged. With narratives that trace small victories earned through faith, resilience and humour, the songs on 'Long Haul' reach beyond our current sense of isolation to share a sense of gratitude for what we have, and grief for what we have lost. Balancing personal and universal concerns, the songs on 'Long Haul' offer intimate reflections of everyday life and experience. InchI've become more comfortable writing about myself than I ever was in the past. Recently, I've realized that the things that I go through are meaningful and that I don't need a crazy, drunken, bound for the jailhouse kind of life to write good songs.Inch Recording during a global pandemic is not an easy proposition. Thankfully, John and his long time producer, Steve Dawson had formed a natural chemistry over the pair of records they had previously crafted together, and once they got down to working remotely, and the thousands of miles separating Lethbridge, Alberta from Nashville seemed to disappear. Memorable performances from Dawson (guitar/strings) Gary Craig (drums), Jeremy Holmes (bass), Chris Gestrin (keyboards) and John Prine alumnus Fats Kaplin (mandolin, fiddle, banjo and accordion) added a special chemistry to the mix, resulting in the best sounding record of Hannam's career. 'Long Haul' is a reflection on my life up to this point, and for the first time I think that my songs perfectly encapsulate the truth of where I'm at as an artist and a person. Life is short. Time is passing and I don't want to spend it wishing that things were any different than they are.Inch Engagingly melodic, topical and enduring, 'Long Haul' is