release date: Feb. 11, 2022
format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Bremer / McCoy
label: Sony Music - nationality: Denmark
Track highlights: 1. "Vinter" - 2. "Tænk" - 5. "Lys finale" (4 / 5) - 6. "Stille måne" - 7. "Verden" - 10. "Festen"
6th studio album by Marie Key following the album Marie Key (2020) saw Key in an attempt to take up the success from her first three solo albums with producer Andreas 'Maskinen' Sommer, and although the album produced a small single hit with "True Love", the album wasn't part of top-40.
Lys finale is easily her most quiet album to date. It's produced by contemporary Danish jazz-duo Bremer / McCoy (bassist Jonathan Bremer and pianist Morten McCoy), and all tracks are co-composed and arranged by the duo, and the end-result is far from the art pop and synthpop-fused predecessors. Stylewise, this might go as indie pop with a strong touch of jazz pop, and most tracks have near minimalist arrangements where bass and a delicate keyboard often are only instruments backing Key's vocal, which is accentuated strongly.
A first listen had me think it was daring and far from expected but I quickly found it a quite strong release. It's not filled with hit material or sing-a-long choruses, and it's primarily the most stripped down songs that work the best - and it's Key's delicate narration that really lifts the album, which then also calls for a native audience, as all songs are in Danish.
This is imho, Key's second best album to date and thus highly recommended.
[ Berlingske 5 / 6, Politiken 3 / 6 stars ]
