Eldbjorg Raknes - Sense
by Adrian Huggins
published: 3 / 11 / 2010

Label:
My Records
Format: CD
intro
Mesmerising and totally unique largely voice-led only album from Norwegian composer and musician, Eldbjorg Raknes
Eldbjorg Raknes is renowned in her home country of Norway for creating beautiful and haunting music. An artist in the true sense of the word, she regularly uses mediums such as Voice, Improvisation and Text. ‘Sense’ is mostly a vocal offering from Raknes, with the odd sample here and there to help things along. It sounds quite unlike most things you’re likely to come across. The most obvious comparison is, however, to Bjork, so imagine if you will Bjork at her most relaxed and experimental, then take away the music and you’re halfway there. A fantastic use of layering on the vocal tracks breathes so much life into the songs in a similar way to Imogen Heep. Utterly mesmerising throughout, 'Senses' seems to transcend time and worlds. Whilst at one level a very modern and distinctly Scandinavian album, it at another recalls the timeless sound of chanting monnks. Split into three movements, ‘Closest To’, ‘Far From’ and 'All Right, Alive’ 'Sense' is a complete piece of work that you should listen to as a whole. It all loops in together perfectly as a body of work. It is a really magical album and, while there are shades of other artists, there really isn’t a lot like this. It feels totally unique and I for one wouldn’t be shocked to hear this was from another planet. A magnificent experience if you’re open to new things this will take your breathe away.
Track Listing:-
1 Close To 12 Close To 2
3 Close To 3
4 Close To 4
5 Close To 5
6 Far From 1
7 Far From 2
8 Far From 3
9 Far From 4
10 Far From 5
11 All Right, Alive
soundcloud
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Sukie Smith - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart