Tenderness and irony from Ellen Sofie Hovland

After critical acclaim and a nomination for the Spellemann award for her debut album from 2012, Ellen Sofie Hovland is following this up this autumn with her "Skandinavisk sjel" [Scandinavian Soul] album.  

The new album is filled with irony and tenderness. Hovland pokes gentle fun at folksy, prosaic, embroidered house blessings, such as "Live now and live strong", she sings of hopelessly elevated expectations about the joy of going out on the town, and about how poor we Scandinavians are at sharing our emotions. She also sings love songs so vulnerable and raw that you should probably wear sunglasses if you dare listen to them in the presence of others.

Around Ellen Sofie Hovland's expressive voice and guitar Morten Qvenild has created a small star-studded universe of strikingly beautiful sounds produced by numerous keyboards. Another Morten, Morten Barrikmo shines with his clarinet and bass clarinet on most tracks.

One of the songs is in praise of Ellen Sofie's favourite animal, the rat. Another is a new, bitter-sweet Christmas song. The national patriarch Einar Gerhardsen, who led Norway years and years before Hovland saw the light of day, also has his own track on Scandinavian Soul.

Ellen Sofie is one of the very best contemporary Norwegian songwriters. Her powers of observation are phenomenal, and her lyrics, melodies and performance are sensational. Her characteristic voice gives the original and powerful lyrics a very special touch as she exudes a unique and captivating combination of vulnerability and confidence.

"Skandinavisk sjel", recorded in Morten Qvenild's studio in Nesodden near Oslo, was mixed by Martin Abrahamsen and produced by Erik Hillestad for KKV.

Track list:

1. Alltid Noen Andre                               5:02

2. En Mengde Vakre Ord                       4:58

3. Rotta                                                   3:23

4. Ved siden av Deg                               3:36

5. Et Siste Glass                                     4:22

6. Skandinavisk Sjel                               5:03

7. Nå Kommer Jula til Alle                      5:09

8. Når Man Har Oss                                4:10

9. Einar Gerhardsen                               3:08

10. En av Dem Nå                                   6:19

11. Hold Meg, Slipp Meg                        5:13