"ROCK OF NORWAY", SKRIVER DETTE OM HULDRA:
Huldra
are
Kenneth Pedersen - Vocal
Tomi Pedersen - Guitar & Bass
Arnfinn Knutsen - Drums
Additional Musicians
Jorgen Skeie,Jostein Hustveit,
Roger Pedersen & Kjetil Ulland
Tracks
( Neste Morgens Lys )
Huldra Records 2001
1) Neste morgens lys
2) Me ska komma tebake
3) Naboens brod
4) Naar eg dromme
5) Sjaa maanen lyse
6) Paa byen
7) Ei ny tid
8) Mot utkjent hav
9) Kvite seil
10) Alt du ser
11) Paa disse fjell
Produced
by
Huldra
Rating
**********
/ 10
Three of Huldra's members were
previously with Heaven, a Norwegian AOR band responsible for the album
"Take Me Back" ('89). Heaven toured following their
success with the album's title track on the nationwide radio
show "Norsktoppen", but broke up in the early '90s. Three of the
band members were however to keep working together, and after a
switch to Norwegian lyrics in the spring of '99, recording commenced for
Huldra's debut album. Released in mid-August 2001, "Neste morgens
lys" was initially to be distributed only in the south-western region
of Norway, but at present, enough momentum has built for a
nationwide release to be considered.
The Huldra line-up consists of
Kenneth Pedersen - lead vocals, Toni Pedersen - guitars, bass, Arnfinn
Knutsen - drums, as well as Roger Pedersen on additional guitars. With
the exception of keyboardist Vidar Stakkestad, this in other words sees
all original members from Heaven involved with Huldra. Lyrically, the band
have opted for their native tongue, as well as more of a pop influence
with a dash of the singer-songwriter/folk rock style musically. On the other
hand, there is no mistaking certain old Heaven "Take Me
Back"-era characteristics.
The title track opens the
album in poppy AOR fashion with an excellent guitar solo to boot, and
would have been sitting very comfortably on "Take Me Back"
stylewise. "Me ska komme tebake" is more of the same, but
poppier with the aforemenioned singer-songwriter/folk rock influences.
"Naboens broed", on the other hand, is my least favourite on the
album, whereas "Naar eg droemme" is a powerful ballad with the
obligatory guitar solo. "Sjaa maanen lyse" is an
acoustically based, but good, rocking tune, a trend which continues
with the album's most out and out '80s rocker, the good party tune,
"Paa byen". "Ei ny tid" is a piano AOR ballad, again
with singer-songwriter/folk rock hints. "Mot ukjent hav" uses
more of the classic Heaven AOR sound with guitars and synths ~ one of my
favourites on the album. "Hvite seil" is a decent pop tune,
while "Alt du ser" could have been straight off "Take Me
Back" with its driving '80s guitar sound. Closer "Paa dissa
fjell" evolves from a pop/ballad beginning into guitar based AOR.
All in all, Huldra have kept several
musical Heaven trademarks, but "Neste morgens lys" is
ultimately more directed at the commercial Norwegian pop/singer-songwriter
market, for listeners of pretty much all ages.
Reviews Terje Hoiland
Translated by Geir AAmo.