Moddi - Floriography

  by Fiona Hutchings

published: 3 / 3 / 2011

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Review

Norwegian singer-songwriter Pal Moddi Knutsen's first studio album is beautifully presented, with its lyric sheet folding out like a treasure map. The atmospheric photos of the beautiful Norwegian coastline which adorn the cover are both calm and a little brooding - much like the nine tracks hiding inside. Opening track 'Rubbles' starts with the gentle hum of the sea, so quiet you have to strain to hear it. It builds into something of a quiet storm. 'Maggiepie Eggs' is rich with melancholy. All the songs have the bittersweet tang of a love that leads to mutual destruction. 'Poetry' starts like a stripped, salty sea shanty with accordian and builds to a lush crescendo of piano. This isn't an upbeat album but it isn't depressing either. It is truly beautiful both in presentation and soul. Moddi was recently one of four artists to receive a stipend from fellow Norwegians A-ha. This album proves their faith in his ablities are well founded.

Track Listing:-

1 Rubbles
2 Magpie Eggs
3 Ardennes
4 A Sense Of Grey
5 Smoke
6 Poetry
7 Stuck In The Waltz
8 7!
9 Krokstav-Emne