Ida Wenoe - The Things We Don’t Know Yet

  by Nicky Crewe

published: 4 / 7 / 2019

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Review

This new album is the follow-up to Ida Wenoe’s debut 'Time of Ghosts'. She’s been touring and writing, a hectic schedule for a singer-songwriter. There’s no sense of scurry in these songs. As she says, she’s reminding listeners "to stop before walking, instead of running before thinking" in her songs. "Find the patience to enjoy this moment instead of always running for the next one." That patience is rewarded with this new collection of songs. I was lucky enough to see her play live at my favourite venue, Sheffield’s Cafe #9. There’s an intimacy about her performance and her songwriting that is perfect for such a small and cosy venue. She was warm, funny and had a great rapport with her audience. Her songs were thought provoking and charming. The songs on this album have depth and breadth. Her musicianship is obvious, with her multi-layered harmonies and the range of instruments she plays on the recording. She has her own sound, but she’s recognisably Scandinavian, with that ability to create optimistic and even pop songs out of loss and heartbreak. She writes in English but she’s working in a Nordic folk tradition as well as an English or American one. The title track ‘Things We Don’t Know Yet’ sets the tone, with its intimate vocal, drawing us in to "gently let in the light." ‘Change Me a Little’ shows a stronger arrangement. ‘Circus Season’ is eerily supernatural with lovely harmonies. ‘Another Kind of Love’ is a pop song at its best. ‘The River Of Treebury Hill’ takes us into the natural world to escape the demands of our everyday life. ‘The Self-Pity Song’ is tortured and funny. "I made a knife of paper and stabbed myself." It’s this ability to explore emotion through song while keeping spirits up which makes her such an engaging songwriter and performer. Highly recommended for some "slow listening".

Track Listing:-

1 The Things We Don't Know Yet
2 Change Me a Little
3 Circus Season
4 Another Kind of Love
5 Värmeland
6 Oh My Heart, Sweetheart
7 The River of Treesbury Hill
8 The Self-Pity Song
9 A Place so Full of Splendour