Signe Svendsen "Hvem vil ikke elskes igen" (2022)

Hvem vil ikke elskes igen

release date Oct. 14, 2022

format: vinyl (LGLP2201) / digital (10 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]

producer: Lars Skjærbæk

label: Lydia Gramophone - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Tiden" - 2. "Du fik hendes øjne" - 3. "Hvem vil ikke elskes igen" - 4. "Sig at solen rejser sig" - 6. "Ville give dig alt" - 7. "Hun sagde det" - 9 "Lydia" - 10. "Uden aftale"

5th studio album by Signe Svendsen following a little more than 2½ years after Det forlyder (Jan. 2020) is like all of her albums produced by Skjærbæk, who also contributes on guitars, mandolin, synths, and on backing vocals - his younger brother Troels plays bass, and Lars' daughter Sofie Juliane is backing vocalist. The album has been made with a handful of handpicked musicians, which also include multi-instrumentalist Christoffer Møller, who has often teamed up with Skjærbæk as acclaimed producer-duo Mahler & Bir. Svendsen's own label Lydia Gramophone is named after her grandmother, and she's the centre of the strong "Lydia" (track #9), where Svendsen recounts the harrowing fate of her grandmother.

Hvem vil ikke elskes igen ['Who Wouldn't Be Loved Again'] follows Svendsen's mellow-styled folk, ballad-line of singer / songwriter releases. The pen has been sharpened and the songs appear more personal and really suit the minimalist musical expression on what clearly comes out as Svendsen's best album to date. This is truly an album without fillers and imho, it's the Danish album of the year.

Highly recommended.

[ Gaffa.dk 4 / 6, Politiken, BT 5 / 6 stars ]

Signe Svendsen "Det forlyder" (2020)

Det forlyder

release date: Jan. 31, 2020

format: cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]

producer: Lars Skjærbæk

label: Lydia Gramophone / I Do Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Det forlyder" - 2. "Sort / hvid" - 3. "Langsom musik" - 4. "Lys ud, lys ind" - 7. "Fugl fra min hånd"

4th studio album by Danish singer / songwriter Signe Svendsen. The album follows nearly four full years after Rift (Mar. 2016) and it's Svendsen's first on her own label Lydia Gramophone. On her own website, Svendsen points to the album as a turning point and a new beginning in her songwriting. Only downside here is a short album of eigth tracks and a total running time just a little above 35 mins.

Where the predecessor took a turn towards a simpler and more direct rock-sound Det forlyder is a slight return to more quiet alt. country and folk. The songs seems primarily with acoustic instrumentation - here and there, you hear electric guitar and keyboard but the overall sensation is one of stronger intimacy. At first you may find it closer related to her second album Kun de faldne rejser sig (2013 but the soundscape is now coloured by dobro and lap steel, and a wider vocal range.

All in all, Signe Svendsen has by now established herself as an original Danish singer / songwriter of highest quality and one to keep eyes and ears for.

Recommended.

[ Gaffa.dk 4 / 6 stars ]

Signe Svendsen "Rift" (2016)

Rift

release date: Mar. 15, 2016

format: cd (BRCD20161)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]

producer: Lars Skjærbæk

label: Bear Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Rift" - 2. "Strejfer" - 4. "Min værste fjende" - 5. "Drømmerester" - 6. "Hjertet brister" - 9. "Den sidste generation"

3rd studio album from Danish singer / songwriter Signe Svendsen following 2½ years after Kun de faldne rejser sig (Oct. 2013) is like that released by Bear Records and produced by Skjærbæk, who's also credited guitars, keyboards and backing vocals. On ten new songs Svendsen thematically investigates the non-perfect in us all - 'Rift' [translates to 'tear' as in 'scratch' / 'wound'] is here that unperfect mark everyone has, physically, or hidden on the inside, but she also raises a concern for the global climate.

Stylewise, the soundscape is more influenced by rock - the arrangements have a basic rock-foundation making the songs edgier and more direct, and the song material no longer contain traces of familiar international names. Svendsen has made her so far most mature and convincing collection of original songs.

Recommended.

[ Jyllands-Posten 4 / 6 stars ]

Signe Svendsen "Kun de faldne rejser sig igen" (2013)

Kun de faldne rejser sig igen
release date: Sep. 9, 2013
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Lars Skjærbæk
label: Bear Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Hjemløse hjerter" - 3. "For evigt rig" - 4. "Ingen som os" - 6. "Vejen til din mund" - 7. "Dansen"

2nd studio album by Signe Svendsen. After a mediocre debut with Ny passager (2010) she has found something more substantial with this release. My favorite track here was "Ingen som os" - a track I thought of handing 4 / 5 but then I remembered where I had come across it earlier. It's really heavily influenced by Martha Wainwright, and listening to her new album with that in mind, it does seem like she has found more than just one or two tracks by the Canadian artist, Emmylou Harris, or Lucinda Williams to elaborate on. The whole album is like a Danish version of the synthesis of music by Wainwright, Harris, and Williams, which is a bit of a flaw 'cause I really enjoy this all the same. Stylistically, one should argue that it's not copied as such, as this is more folk, more singer / songwriter and with less orchestral backing than heard on most of Martha's albums. I do believe, she has found a more elegant form, she only needs more originality to make it great.
[ Gaffa.dk, Berlingske 4 / 6 stars ]

Signe Svendsen "Ny passager" (2010)

Ny passager [debut]
release date: Sep. 6, 2010
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,25]
producer: Lars Skjærbæk
label: Bear Records - nationality: Denmark

Studio debut album by Danish vocalist and songwriter Signe Svendsen. After having worked as backing vocalist for several Danish acts, still touring with singer / songwriter Niels Hausgaard, and after a short stint as one-third of the pop-trio Rollo & King (a duo expanded to a trio with Svendsen aboard and then reduced again after her leave), she now releases her own material.
It just seems like this album is more of a manifest, a necessity to prove her own worth, rather than the result of having a huge back catalogue of songs to bring forth. Her fine melancholic and fragile singing voice, which appears grounded with a portion of latin traditional influence, is simply not enough to make the debut a memorable release. As a first draft, it mostly appears without original conviction.
[ Gaffa.dk 4 / 5, Berlingske 3 / 6 stars ]