Susanna And The Magical Orchestra is in fact a duo with keyboardplayer Morten Qvenild and singer Susanna Karolina Wallumrød. (Morten is a former member of Jaga Jazzist and Shining, he quitted to concentrate on this duo and his own trio called In The Country. Their debut-album was released in Norway in February 2004, and some time later in Europe and in Japan, and received very good critics around the world. List of lights and buoys contains highly personal interpretations of Dolly Parton´s Jolene and Leonard Bernstein´s Who Am I as well as nine originals that show a suprising degree of maturity, especially considering the writers young age and the fact that they operate in a landscape that requires a good deal of songwriting skills to hold your attention. Susanna And The Magical Orchestra combines the availability of the traditional popmusic, the strictness of the electronica and the improvisation in the jazzmusic.
Melody Mountain is out in the stores now!
Singer Susanna Wallumrød has a unique way of making a song her own, and to fill the lyrics and melodies with the emotional content they require. This was made very clear with her stunning interpretation of Dolly Parton´s classic Jolene, recorded for the duo´s debut album List Of Lights and Buoys (2004). A song covered by many artists, but seldom with such heartfelt sincerity. With Melody Mountain they have chosen to do an album of only interpretations, some quite radical, of mostly well-known songs, all personal and moving performances with Morten Qvenild´s naked and to the bone playing an important part in the overall soundscape. Full track list includes Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), It´s A Long Way To The Top (AC/DC), These Days (Matt Burt) "Condition Of The Heart" (Prince), "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Joy Division), "Crazy, Crazy Nights" (Kiss), "Don´t Think Twice, It´s All Right" (Bob Dylan), "It´s Raining Today" (Scott Walker), "Enjoy The Silence" (Depeche Mode) and "Fotheringay" (Fairport Convention).
Dictionary definition of the word magical...
Boomcat US
Their astonishing, heartbreaking deconstruction of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" could keep you awake for days
Leeds Guide UK
For one thing, its fucking gorgeous.
Dustedmagazine.com US
It's an album of cover songs, and it's not the kind that coyly avoids well-known songs. On the contrary, "Melody Mountain" begins with Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," which has been sung by Jeff Buckley and many others. Ms. Wallumrod starts out quietly but not at all timidly, and her partner, Morten Qvenild, does almost nothing: his occasional chords could almost be reverberations of his partner's voice.
NY times US
If you thought the best had already come and gone, try this.
Independent UK
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