| Susanna & the Brotherhood of Our Lady — Garden of Earthly Delights (22 Feb. 2019) |
Susanna & the Brotherhood of Our Lady — Garden of Earthly Delights 
ΞΔΞ Introspektivní a celkově hluboce expresivní. Albem “Garden of Earthly Delights” Susanna pokračuje ve svém trendu pohlcujících úniků od mimořádně talentovaného umělce k definitivním reprezentantům scény a vzorovým hrdinům naší doby. Norwegian singer/pianist with a unique blend of atmospheric jazz, rock, and electronica.
Birth name: Susanna Karolina Wallumrød.
Born: 23 June 1979, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
Genre: INDUSTRIAL / WAVE / ELECTRO
Location: Oslo, Norway
Album release: 22 Feb. 2019
Record Label: SusannaSonata/Rune Grammofon
Duration: 42:18
Tracks:
01. Garden of Earthly Delights 2:31
02. Wayfarer 3:58
03. Ecstasy X 3:13
04. Death and the Miser 4:13
05. Ship of Fools 1:43
06. Ecstasy 3:28
07. Exterior 1:48
08. Wilderness 3:12
09. Wayfarer II 2:20
10. Gluttony and Lust 3:19
11. Beautiful Life 2:57
12. By Earth and Starry Heaven 1:47
13. City of Hope 2:06
14. River to Hell 2:40
15. Gathering of Birds 3:03
Personnel:
Ξ Susanna: voice, piano, CP80, Rhodes, electronics
Ξ Stina Moltu: guitar, tape recorder and voice
Ξ Ida Løvli Hidle: accordion
Ξ Ina Sagstuen: voice, synth and electronics
Ξ Natali Abrahamsen Garner: voice and electronics
Credits:
Δ Recorded by Henning Svoren at Ocean Sound Studio Giske, Norway
Δ Mixed by Andrew Scheps
Δ Produced by Deathprod and Susanna
Δ Mastered by Helge Sten at Audio Virus Lab
Δ Cover art made by Lasse Marhaug
Δ All songs written by Susanna, Charles Baudelaire and Greek Mythology is quoted.
PRESS:
Δ “…’City of Hope’ undoubtedly proves that they have an otherworldly chemistry that should carry through Garden of Earthly Delights.” — The 405
Δ “…City of Hope builds into something gloriously intense.” — CLASH Magazine
Δ “….lead single “City of Hope” is an appealing dose of atmospheric pop.” — Brooklyn Vegan
Review
Δ The incredible, ahead~of~its~time art of medieval Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch bears strong comparison with the music of Norwegian artist Susanna. Visionary, disturbing, spiritual; vivid images of darkness and light, good and evil, heaven and hell and the folly of mankind. Like her songs, Bosch’s iconic images range from the panoramic to the intimate, and express bliss, torment and tortuous inner conflicts.
Δ On Garden of Earthly Delights, her 13th album, Susanna takes a selection of Bosch’s paintings as starting points for a fervent, poetic rosary of fantastical songs and stories. Tracks like ‘Gluttony and Lust’, ‘Death and the Miser’ and ‘Ship of Fools’, reflect Bosch’s depictions of sin and human weakness, while ‘Wayfarer’, ‘Ecstasy’ and ‘Beautiful Life’ suggest the transcendent search for spiritual rewards.
Δ Susanna has always been a purposeful wayfarer through music. Like the nomadic figure in the painting by Bosch of around the year 1500, she brings minimal baggage, makes thoughtful choices, and ignores temptations and distractions on her path, in order to stay focused on life’s journey.
Δ Originally a commissioned work for the Vossajazz Festival 2017, Garden of Earthly Delights ranges from soul searching balladry to sonorous electronic expanses. Some listeners might catch echoes of the melodic range of Joni Mitchell, the confessional darkness of Nina Simone and the traumatised intensity of Diamanda Galas, filtered through a medieval folk and modern experimental sensibility. But there’s no mistaking the powerful, questing clarity of Susanna’s distinctive voice, and the core of symbolic imagery she draws on from ancient mythology via medieval mysticism to present~day consumer society.
Δ Accompanying her own wanderings on vocals, piano and electronics, Susanna assembled The Brotherhood of Our Lady, a new group (named after the religious organisation that sponsored Bosch) drawn from Norway’s current dynamic, young and open minded music scene, with members of bands like Skadedyr, Stina Stjern, Listen to Girl and Propan. The album was recorded in the extraordinary Ocean Sound Studio on the Northwest coast of Norway, a fully equipped wooden hut that sits on a rocky outcrop at the edge of the sea. All programming and production was done by Susanna and regular partner Helge Sten (Supersilent, Deathprod), with mixing by Andrew Scheps (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Lana Del Rey, First Aid Kit, etc). The team and the wild location extract some of Susanna’s spookiest and richest sonic performances to date, with a vivid range of colours to match Bosch’s extravagant imagery.
Δ Like Bosch’s paintings, Garden of Earthly Delights is relevant to today’s world, marking the pathway between salvation and damnation. Susanna’s visions offer a signpost in the righteous direction. Garden of Earthly Delights is 42 minutes of paradise. (Rob Young)
Review
by Jeff Penczak; Rating: 8
Δ If that sounds like you’ve stumbled across musical siblings of The Revolutionary Army of The Infant Jesus, you’re not too far off. Norwegian singer~songwriter/multi~instrumentalist Susanna Wallumrød has released nearly a dozen albums, frequently in collaboration (Magical Orchestra, fellow Norwegian musician Jenny Hval, Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones) and including three covers albums featuring radically arranged treatments of well~loved songs from the likes of Joy Division and New Order, Dolly Parton, Lou Reed, Thin Lizzy, Sandy Denny, Prince, ABBA, Nico, and Black Sabbath! Quite an eclectic musical taste. This time out, Susanna has collaborated with a quartet of women musicians (electronics, tape recorders, and samples) named after the Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady, a 14th century society that venerated the Virgin Mary. The album title comes from a painting by Hieronymus Bosch, who was a member of the society.
Δ So right off the bat, we’re in for some heavy stuff with obvious religious overtones. But while the performances are solemn and reserved (most of Susanna’s material is), this is not liturgical music in the style of Hildegard von Bingen. The title track is a warm, piano~driven ballad that bears immediate similarities to Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, sisters Lily and Madeleine, and acid folkies Sharron Kraus and Marissa Nadler. It sets the pace for much that follows: quiet, exquisite vocals, minimalist backing from the Brotherhood, and emotionally intoxicating image~laden lyrics that Susanna says are not intended to play out as a concept album, but which retain an eerie, fairy tale quality.
Δ ‘Wayfarer’ boasts unusual electronic effects and ‘Ecstasy X’ haunts like an icy Bjork outtake (complete with creaking doors, squawking bird effects, and other haunted house noises), while ‘Death and The Miser’ (featuring the Brotherhood’s Greek chorus of “Money, Money, Money, Money, Money…”) may be more effective while staring at Bosch’s titular painting. In fact, with additional titles like ‘Ship of Fools’, ‘Gluttony and Lust’, and ‘River To Hell’, you might just want to keep the painting perched alongside your stereo to achieve maximum effect!
Δ Another esoteric recording from one of our most challenging and rewarding artists, fans of Laurie Anderson, Diamanda Galas, Nina Hagen, Yoko Ono, Nico, This Mortal Coil, et. al., will find much to enjoy, while others looking to be frightened out of their complacencies (and wits) will enjoy the theatrical atmospherics and Susanna’s vocal loop~de~loops. You actually might prefer to listen to this alone in the dark! The final lyric of the album (from the elegant ‘Gathering of Birds’) is “There’s a flock coming. Be aware!” A bit more poetic than “Be afraid…be very afraid” don’t you think? Δ https://soundblab.com/
Website: http://susannasonata.com/
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| Susanna & the Brotherhood of Our Lady — Garden of Earthly Delights (22 Feb. 2019) |
Birth name: Susanna Karolina Wallumrød.
Born: 23 June 1979, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
Genre: INDUSTRIAL / WAVE / ELECTRO
Location: Oslo, Norway
Album release: 22 Feb. 2019
Record Label: SusannaSonata/Rune Grammofon
Duration: 42:18
Tracks:
01. Garden of Earthly Delights 2:31
02. Wayfarer 3:58
03. Ecstasy X 3:13
04. Death and the Miser 4:13
05. Ship of Fools 1:43
06. Ecstasy 3:28
07. Exterior 1:48
08. Wilderness 3:12
09. Wayfarer II 2:20
10. Gluttony and Lust 3:19
11. Beautiful Life 2:57
12. By Earth and Starry Heaven 1:47
13. City of Hope 2:06
14. River to Hell 2:40
15. Gathering of Birds 3:03
Personnel:
Ξ Susanna: voice, piano, CP80, Rhodes, electronics
Ξ Stina Moltu: guitar, tape recorder and voice
Ξ Ida Løvli Hidle: accordion
Ξ Ina Sagstuen: voice, synth and electronics
Ξ Natali Abrahamsen Garner: voice and electronics
Credits:
Δ Recorded by Henning Svoren at Ocean Sound Studio Giske, Norway
Δ Mixed by Andrew Scheps
Δ Produced by Deathprod and Susanna
Δ Mastered by Helge Sten at Audio Virus Lab
Δ Cover art made by Lasse Marhaug
Δ All songs written by Susanna, Charles Baudelaire and Greek Mythology is quoted.
PRESS:
Δ “…’City of Hope’ undoubtedly proves that they have an otherworldly chemistry that should carry through Garden of Earthly Delights.” — The 405
Δ “…City of Hope builds into something gloriously intense.” — CLASH Magazine
Δ “….lead single “City of Hope” is an appealing dose of atmospheric pop.” — Brooklyn Vegan
Review
Δ The incredible, ahead~of~its~time art of medieval Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch bears strong comparison with the music of Norwegian artist Susanna. Visionary, disturbing, spiritual; vivid images of darkness and light, good and evil, heaven and hell and the folly of mankind. Like her songs, Bosch’s iconic images range from the panoramic to the intimate, and express bliss, torment and tortuous inner conflicts.
Δ On Garden of Earthly Delights, her 13th album, Susanna takes a selection of Bosch’s paintings as starting points for a fervent, poetic rosary of fantastical songs and stories. Tracks like ‘Gluttony and Lust’, ‘Death and the Miser’ and ‘Ship of Fools’, reflect Bosch’s depictions of sin and human weakness, while ‘Wayfarer’, ‘Ecstasy’ and ‘Beautiful Life’ suggest the transcendent search for spiritual rewards.
Δ Susanna has always been a purposeful wayfarer through music. Like the nomadic figure in the painting by Bosch of around the year 1500, she brings minimal baggage, makes thoughtful choices, and ignores temptations and distractions on her path, in order to stay focused on life’s journey.
Δ Originally a commissioned work for the Vossajazz Festival 2017, Garden of Earthly Delights ranges from soul searching balladry to sonorous electronic expanses. Some listeners might catch echoes of the melodic range of Joni Mitchell, the confessional darkness of Nina Simone and the traumatised intensity of Diamanda Galas, filtered through a medieval folk and modern experimental sensibility. But there’s no mistaking the powerful, questing clarity of Susanna’s distinctive voice, and the core of symbolic imagery she draws on from ancient mythology via medieval mysticism to present~day consumer society.
Δ Accompanying her own wanderings on vocals, piano and electronics, Susanna assembled The Brotherhood of Our Lady, a new group (named after the religious organisation that sponsored Bosch) drawn from Norway’s current dynamic, young and open minded music scene, with members of bands like Skadedyr, Stina Stjern, Listen to Girl and Propan. The album was recorded in the extraordinary Ocean Sound Studio on the Northwest coast of Norway, a fully equipped wooden hut that sits on a rocky outcrop at the edge of the sea. All programming and production was done by Susanna and regular partner Helge Sten (Supersilent, Deathprod), with mixing by Andrew Scheps (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Lana Del Rey, First Aid Kit, etc). The team and the wild location extract some of Susanna’s spookiest and richest sonic performances to date, with a vivid range of colours to match Bosch’s extravagant imagery.
Δ Like Bosch’s paintings, Garden of Earthly Delights is relevant to today’s world, marking the pathway between salvation and damnation. Susanna’s visions offer a signpost in the righteous direction. Garden of Earthly Delights is 42 minutes of paradise. (Rob Young)
Review
by Jeff Penczak; Rating: 8
Δ If that sounds like you’ve stumbled across musical siblings of The Revolutionary Army of The Infant Jesus, you’re not too far off. Norwegian singer~songwriter/multi~instrumentalist Susanna Wallumrød has released nearly a dozen albums, frequently in collaboration (Magical Orchestra, fellow Norwegian musician Jenny Hval, Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones) and including three covers albums featuring radically arranged treatments of well~loved songs from the likes of Joy Division and New Order, Dolly Parton, Lou Reed, Thin Lizzy, Sandy Denny, Prince, ABBA, Nico, and Black Sabbath! Quite an eclectic musical taste. This time out, Susanna has collaborated with a quartet of women musicians (electronics, tape recorders, and samples) named after the Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady, a 14th century society that venerated the Virgin Mary. The album title comes from a painting by Hieronymus Bosch, who was a member of the society.
Δ So right off the bat, we’re in for some heavy stuff with obvious religious overtones. But while the performances are solemn and reserved (most of Susanna’s material is), this is not liturgical music in the style of Hildegard von Bingen. The title track is a warm, piano~driven ballad that bears immediate similarities to Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, sisters Lily and Madeleine, and acid folkies Sharron Kraus and Marissa Nadler. It sets the pace for much that follows: quiet, exquisite vocals, minimalist backing from the Brotherhood, and emotionally intoxicating image~laden lyrics that Susanna says are not intended to play out as a concept album, but which retain an eerie, fairy tale quality.
Δ ‘Wayfarer’ boasts unusual electronic effects and ‘Ecstasy X’ haunts like an icy Bjork outtake (complete with creaking doors, squawking bird effects, and other haunted house noises), while ‘Death and The Miser’ (featuring the Brotherhood’s Greek chorus of “Money, Money, Money, Money, Money…”) may be more effective while staring at Bosch’s titular painting. In fact, with additional titles like ‘Ship of Fools’, ‘Gluttony and Lust’, and ‘River To Hell’, you might just want to keep the painting perched alongside your stereo to achieve maximum effect!
Δ Another esoteric recording from one of our most challenging and rewarding artists, fans of Laurie Anderson, Diamanda Galas, Nina Hagen, Yoko Ono, Nico, This Mortal Coil, et. al., will find much to enjoy, while others looking to be frightened out of their complacencies (and wits) will enjoy the theatrical atmospherics and Susanna’s vocal loop~de~loops. You actually might prefer to listen to this alone in the dark! The final lyric of the album (from the elegant ‘Gathering of Birds’) is “There’s a flock coming. Be aware!” A bit more poetic than “Be afraid…be very afraid” don’t you think? Δ https://soundblab.com/
Website: http://susannasonata.com/
_____________________________________________________________