Erlend Oye - Legao - Import CD

Credits:Erlend Oye Description:Elevenyearsafterhissolodebut,Norwegiansinger/songwriterErlendOyereturnswiththewinsomeandlaid-backLegao.Muchhaschangedforthecharismaticsingerwho,atthetimeofhis2003debut,wasinthemidstofadeepelectronicphasewhichwasconverselybookendedbytwofineacousticalbumsfromhisprimaryoutlet,thefolk-popduoKingsofConvenience.WhileLegaoissomethingnewaltogether,ithasfarmoreincommonwithKings'quiet,bookishballadsthanwiththepulsingelectroanddiscojamsofhisfirstsolodalliance.NowbasedinSicily,theworldlyOyetraveledtoReykjaviktorecordLegao(aPortuguesewordwhichbasicallytranslatesto"great"or"cool")withIcelandicreggaebandHjalmar.Atfirstblush,hisgentlysunnyguitarpopseemspleasantifslightlyunassuming.ButthereissomethinginOye'scharacter,asortofworld-wearykindness,thateventuallydrawsyouin.Withitsbright,cleanproductionandindie-islandpulse,LegaoshinesawarmlightontoOye'swistfulNordicmelancholiaresultinginthekindofrecordthatcouldeitherbringcomfortonawinter'sdayorhangbackonasun-bakedcarradiowiththewindowsdown.It'sromantic,bittersweet,uplifting,andoccasionallysad,butacharmerinallaspects.Fromthesoftlyupbeatopener"FenceMeIn"tothebig-heartedpercolationsof"Rainman,"Oyeandhiscrewinviteyouonaveryhumanjourneyandit'seasytogetsweptalong.Standoutslike"BadGuyNow"andtheelegantpianoballad"WhoDoYouReportTo"showcasethepolitevulnerabilitythatmakesOyesoappealingasbothasingerandasongsmith.Ascollaborators,Hjalmarwerewell-chosenandguitaristPortsteinnEinarssoninparticulardeliverssomesparklingandinventiveguitarworkthroughout.PerhapsLegaodoesn'thavethegrittypathosandmystiquethatsooftencausesanalbumtobeflaggedasan"importantwork,"butit'sapureandhonestwork,andoneyouwanttospendsometimewith.~TimothyMongerTracklisting: 1. Fence Me In 2. Fence Me In 3. Say Goodbye 4. Garota 5. Bad Guy Now 6. Say Goodbye 7. Whistler 8. Peng Pong 9. Rainman 10. Bad Guy Now 11. Who Do You Report To 12. Whistler 13. Save Some Loving 14. Rainman 15. Lies Become Part of Who You Are