Press
HANNE HUKKELBERG : Blood From A Stone /Press sheet
Blood From A Stone is the third album by Norwegian artist Hanne Hukkelberg. In part inspired by her past as a member of various rock and metal bands (and especially their live incarnations) and in part by her 80’s dominated collection of indie/rock albums, Hanne acknowledges that the likes of Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, Pixies, Einstüerzende Neubauten and P.J. Harvey have all exerted an influence over her new songs, while one can also detect traces of Siouxsie & The Banshees at their most oblique and many other new wave/post punk outfits.
However, although it is immediately apparent that this is a more ‘rock’ album than Hanne’s previous releases (Little Things [2005] and Rykestrasse 68 [2007]), the results are still undeniably leftfield leaning. The bulk of her vocals are first takes and her lyrics more direct and less introverted than on previous albums. Musically, the songs continue her penchant for combining traditional and unusual instrumentation to form a soundscape unique to her; for a self-confessed ‘rock’ album, Blood From A Stone still manages to include field recordings of flagpoles, train doors, seagulls, clogs, rocks, kitchen utensils, freezers, stoves and a school desk. And no regular drum kit. In line with the pervading approach towards the recording process, all instruments were tuned by ear, with digital tuners banned from the studio.
Although Blood From A Stone was recorded in Hanne’s regular studio in Oslo, the songs themselves were written during a seven month spell living in a tiny coastal village on the Norwegian island of Senja, 300 kilometres north of the Polar Circle. This both compares to and starkly contrasts with a similar period of time spent ensconced in Berlin while writing her previous album. Hanne explains:
“In the north of Norway it is way more quiet. It has been interesting to experience composing in both a busy city and in a quiet village. I noticed it affected me in very different ways. I felt a need for composing more quiet songs in the noisy city, and more noisy music in the quiet village.”
Repeated listens to Blood From A Stone reveal an album of depth and many treasures. Among its highlights, the metal inspired Salt Of The Earth begins with gentle verses replete with church organ, synthesizer and a softly coo-ing vocal harmony, before lurching into an epic chorus that sports crashing piano chords and metal percussion galore and that carries with it an ominous sense of foreboding. The title track is built around a robust, repetitive bass and metal percussion rhythm with an uplifting, melodic chorus and added vocal whoops and hollers aplenty, while Bandy Riddles swiftly develops into a frenetic acoustic indie-rock strummer….albeit an indie-rock strummer without a drumkit, although it does incorporate bicycle spokes, clogs and a vaseline box into the mix. In contrast, the closing Bygd Til By gradually unfolds in a sedate and stately manner, building to a musical climax that maintains a controlled grandeur throughout. It is the only song on the album with lyrics in Hanne’s native Norwegian.
Blood From A Stone is produced by Hanne’s long-term collaborator Kåre Vestrheim and co-produced by Hanne. Several of her regular musicians appear on the album, including Henning Sandsdalen, Lena Nymark, Erland Dahlen and Kåre Vestrheim, while other contributors are Bent Sæther (of Motorpsycho) Ivar Grydeland (Huntsville), Martin Langlie (Gåte, Valkyrien Allstars), Mark Jowett (head of Hanne’s international label, Nettwerk), and the unusual rhythm section Hurrah Torpedo (on freezers and stoves). Hanne herself plays bass, guitar, drums, percussion, piano and various bric-a-brac.
A European tour will follow the April release of Blood From A Stone.
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HANNE HUKKELBERG: RYKESTRASSE 68
Norwegian singer Hanne Hukkelberg’s 2005 debut album Little Things was a charming impression, notable for its imaginative use of found sounds and eclectic array of instrumentation. Her elfin but idiosyncratic persona coupled with a lazily seductive voice drew comparisons to everyone from Joanna Newsom and Björk, to Stina Nordenstam and Billie Holliday.
Her sophomore album Rykestrasse 68, her first since signing to Canadian label Nettwerk, is a tribute to the six months she recently spent living in Berlin and is far less whimsical, with a moodier, more widescreen production. Like her debut, it was produced by Kåre Vestrheim at Propeller Studios in Oslo and features contributions from the cream of the Norwegian music scene, including members of Jaga Jazzist, Dinosau and Shining.
While it shares its predecessor’s wide-eyed wonderment, Hukkelberg’s experimentation reaches maturity here. The album is awash with inventive flourishes, with rhythm tracks constructed from the clacking of typewriters, kitchen utensils, a cat purring or the spinning of a bicycle wheel. Producer Vestrheim melds vibes, glockenspiel and theremin with wheezing brass and sonorous strings, giving the album a wonderfully creaky ambience akin to Emiliana Torrini, Múm and even Tom Waits. Opener “Berlin” is transformed by the addition of atmospheric street sounds, while “A Cheater’s Armoury” is perhaps the most overtly jazz influenced track here and comes with a video directed by award winning MTV animator Andreas Palegolas (also included on the album).
However, Hukkelberg’s lyrical concerns are ambiguous. It’s for the listener to glean the meanings of “Obelix”, (the finest paean to a feline since Red House Painter’s ‘Wop-A-Din-Din’), sits alongside “The Pirate” (a lonely death at sea) or “Ticking Bomb”.
Rykestrasse’s defining moment is an extraordinary interpretation of the Pixies classic “Break My Body”, a perennial live favourite re-cast as an evocative sea shanty that Hukkelberg manages to invade so completely as to make the song her own. Pixies manager Ken Goes was moved to say: “Of the dozens and dozens of Pixies covers over the years, Hanne’s is my favourite.”
An album of contrasts, it is a testament to Hukkelberg’s skill that she manages to make such a personal work so inviting. As well as the aforementioned video, the UK edition of the album also includes a live version of “Searching”, the original version of which (from Little Things) was recently used as the soundtrack for Space NK’s TV and cinema advertising campaign.
Hukkelberg started singing and playing instruments in her home town of Kongsberg, Norway at the age of 3 and later played in various jazz, rock and free jazz bands including a high school heavy metal act called Funeral. A graduate of the Norwegian Academy of Music, she has also gained a reputation as a powerful live performer, her shows full of typically Scandinavian absurdist humour.
Hukkelbergs’ latest album Rykestrasse 68 was released in Europe March 2007. Hanne Hukkelberg did an extensive European tour for 3 months with her full band during spring (april – june). Hanne Hukkelbergs’ albums will be released in North America in february 2008. She will be touring North America, South Pasific and Asia first half of 2008.
Quotes:
“Little Things demands to be heard and cherished for its audacious beauty 5/5”
SUNDAY TIMES
“Enchanting debut… equal parts Stina Nordenstam and Nina Simone. Fans of CocoRosie take note 4/5”
UNCUT
“Very clever and very pretty – moments of real loveliness”
THE WORD
“Makes you think of Björk’s little sister, stoned and let loose in the Early Learning Centre” NME
“The best instrument of all is Hanne’s voice… a Northern light shining bright 4/5”
THE SUN
Her sophomore release Rykestrasse 68 was a less whimsical affair, with a moodier, more widescreen production. While it shared its predecessor’s wide-eyed wonderment, Hanne’s experimentation reached a new level of maturity, the album being awash with inventive flourishes such as rhythm tracks constructed from the clacking of typewriters, kitchen utensils, a cat purring or the spinning of a bicycle wheel. Vibes, glockenspiel and theremin were melded with wheezing brass and sonorous strings to give the album a wonderfully creaky ambience akin to Emiliana Torrini, Múm and even Tom Waits. It again received a barrage of favourable press:
“A seductive song suite based around six months in Berlin, all wound around inventive, meandering detailed arrangements and Hukkelberg’s delicately powerful voice, midway between Cat Power and Radka Toneff 4/5”
UNCUT
“All the carefully recorded clicks, ticks and sprongs enhance Hukkelberg’s enchanted sound world. And as for her beautifully judged vocals, ignore those comparisons to Joanna Newsom or Björk. ‘Rykestrasse 68’ puts Hukkelberg way ahead of both 4/5”
GUARDIAN
“Hukkelberg’s music has toughened up a little since her debut, ‘Little Things’, but lost none of its intimate beauty 4/5 POP CD OF THE WEEK”
SUNDAY TIMES
“Found sounds, typewriters, vintage instruments, yodels, scats and proper songs leap across genres like a pianist trying to keep up wth a Keystone Kops movie. Unusually everything creates the illusion of making pop sense. Weirdly thrilling 4/5”
INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
in norwegian:
Hanne Hukkelberg: ”Rykestrasse 68” – Propeller Recordings
Albumrelease 4.september 2006 (Norway) “[Hanne Hukkelberg] has the ability to melt even the coldest heart with her glistening, freeform compositions…The best instrument of all is Hanne’s voice – a Northern light shining bright.” The Sun (UK)
Dette er en av mange fantastiske anmeldelser Hanne Hukkelberg fikk for sitt debut-album ”Little Things” i 2005. Med påfølgende konserter over hele Europa det siste året er hun i ferd med å bli en anerkjent artist innen sin genre. I sommer har hun vært hyppig gjest på europeiske festivaler med opptredener på bl.a. Roskildefestivalen (DK), Les tomées de la Nuit (Frankrike), Supersonic (UK), Kongsberg Jazzfestival og nylig til stående ovasjoner på den gigantiske Big Chill festivalen i England. Sunday Times kåret ”Little Things” til et ”Top ten album of 2005” og hun ble nominert til ”Female artist of the Year” i New Yorks Plug Independent Music Awards. Det er blitt gjort tre BBC live-opptak i England for cred-DJ Giles Peterson det siste året – han er en svoren fan! I det hele tatt har den internasjonale responsen på Hanne Hukkelbergs musikk vært overveldende.
Innimellom all turneringen i Europa pakket imidlertid Hanne kofferten og fikk Berlin som base for en periode. Hennes møte med denne byen er utgangspunktet for det som er blitt albumet ”Rykestrasse 68”. Her settes Kurt Weill’ske salong-orkester-stemninger opp mot nære, meditative strekk, middelaldersk ringdans og store orkestrale topper! Albumet har et mer episk, cinematisk preg enn debuten, og som kortfilmer rulles sangene ut på rekke og rad. Singelen ”A Cheater’s Armoury” har allerede vakt oppsikt med sin animerte kortfilm-video av den svenske animasjons-hipsteren Andreas Paleologos. Blant de som til nå har hørt ”Rykestrasse 68” trekker noen musikalske paralleller til Radiohead, andre til Kate Bush og enkelte endog til lavmælt Motorpsycho! Men først og fremst er dette lyden av Hanne Hukkelbergs musikalske univers med hennes fantastiske stemme i sentrum.
”Rykestrasse 68” inneholder ni sanger, alle skrevet av Hanne selv bortsett fra en særegen tolkning av Pixies-klassikeren ”Break my Body” som vakte umiddelbar respons hos Pixies’ manager: “of the dozens and dozens of Pixies covers over the years, Hanne’s is my favorite“, Ken Goes.
Musikerne som bidrar er stort sett den faste besetningen i Hannes lille orkester pluss gjester som den originale gitaristen Bjørn Klakegg og Daniel Sandén-Warg (fra de svenske folkemusikk-rockerne ”Harv”). Som på debut-albumet har Hanne også denne gangen benyttet uvanlige instrumenter – både gamle skrivemaskiner, kandelabre, sprettball og stolbein har fått unngjelde! Ja, til og med katta Obelix er med!
Albumet er produsert av Kåre Chr. Vestrheim.
”Rykestrasse 68” er i handelen 4. september 2006.
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Hanne Hukkelberg på Narnia soundtrack! (NO)
Hanne Hukkelberg har skrevet en ny låt for soundtracket til den nye Narnia filmen ”Cronicles Of Narnia filmen, Prince Caspian” som lanseres i USA 16.mai. Låta har fått tittelen ”Lucy” etter en av hovedkarakterene i filmen. Andrew Adamson som er regissøren bak blant annet Narnia og Shrek filmene er en stor fan av Hukkelberg og har vært personlig involvert i å få henne med i prosjektet. Hukkelberg ble fløyet til London på en privat vising der hun ble bedt om å skrive en låt inspirert av filmen. Dessverre var tidsfristen for kort til at låta kunne være med på selve filmen, men interessen var så stor at den like fullt har blitt med på filmens soundtrack som lanseres 13.mai.
Andrew Adamson er strålende fornøyd med resultatet og har gitt uttrykk for stor interesse for å videreutvikle samarbeidet med Hukkelberg på senere filmproduksjoner.
“it’s amazing – almost a whole movie score in it”.
Andrew Adamson etter å ha hørt ”Lucy”.
Hanne Hukkelberg slapp sitt siste album, ”Rykestrasse 68”, i USA den 4. mars i år og fulgte opp med en USA turne der hun blant annet spilte på bransjetreffet SXSW i Austin, Texas. Både albumet og turneen har blitt viet stor oppmerksomhet i amerikansk media og har ført til mange interessante henvendelser.
I tillegg figurerer Rykestrasse 68 og låta A Cheater’s Armoury på CMJ 200 hvor den til nå har ligget hele 16 uker. CMJ 200 er listen som viser spillehyppighet hos de amerikanske uavhengige radiostasjonene.
Hukkelberg er nå i en skriveprosess for sitt neste album som skal spilles inn med hennes faste produsent, Kåre Vestrheim i Propeller Music Division til høsten. Plata vil bli verdenslansert i mars 2009 og vil være startskuddet for en omfattende verdensturne.
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018LRNMS/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk16?ie=UTF8&qid=1209840788&sr=8-12
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Adamson
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![HanneHukkelberg9[1].jpg](http://hanne.hukkelberg.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/HanneHukkelberg9[1].thumbnail.jpg)
HANNE HUKKELBERG – “A CHEATER’S ARMOURY”
Single / video
May 2006
Propeller Recordings
Here comes the first morsel of goodness from Hanne Hukkelberg’s upcoming album!
During this last winter and spring, Hanne Hukkelberg has been recording her new album which will be released September 4th, 2006. Along with producer Kåre Chr. Vestrheim, who also produced her previous album, Little Things, recording has once again taken place in Propeller Music Division studios in Oslo, Norway
A Cheater’s Armoury is the title of the first single. A song which finds itself completely in step with her debut Little Things. Hanne’s trademark scruffy-charm style will certainly wisk you away. Hanne describes her music as cinematic, where each song could easliy have been a theme from a movie.
The music video (included on the CD) for A Cheater’s Armoury is in fact an animated short film, directed by Swedish animator, Andreas Paleologos. Both the song and the short share a common ground, yet each have their own story to tell. Hanne’s music is very visual.
In step with this release, Hukkelberg will have a busy summer with plenty of live performances and festival concerts including: Roskilde (DK), Supersonic (UK) and the main Norwegian festivals Kongsberg Jazzfestival and Nattjazz. Hukkelberg and orchestra will be touring Norway and Europe extensively from mid September 2006.
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Little Things:
Last year, Hukkelberg’s debut album Little Things received rave reviews from the international press. Here is a sample of what they had to say:
“Little Things demands to be heard and cherished for its audacious beauty.”
The Sunday Times CD of The Week *****
“Hukkelberg’s soothing and emotive voice…threads into a universe that we defy you to label. Gloriously leftfield and strangely intimate”
DJ Magazine ****
“An astonishingly seamless mosaic… Little Things is an album that best rewards close, undistracted attention, its every delicate tendril capable of sprouting a blossom.”
7.2/10 Pitchfork
“Little Things is rooted in the strength of an extraordinary ordinariness and that’s what makes Hukkelberg’s album so compelling”
The Wire
“Hanne Hukkelberg’s voice is so ethereal it makes Björk seem clumsy.”
Q Magazine
“Divine…A delicate and deliciously sensuous tiptoe through fairground folk, jazz and electronica. Little things is a subtle, soft-pawed delight.”
Time Out
“Little Things arrives understated yet fully formed, a hushed but radiant bunch of songs…Hukkelberg’s voice [is] equal parts Stina Nordenstam and Nina Simone”
Uncut ****
“Warm whispers seem to dance in the air and the meaning of music is revealed… subtle and moving”
Observer Music Monthly ***
“A strange, beautiful album and one that’s very special indeed, “Little Things” is a joy from start to finish.”
Kaleidoscope Frenzy
“[Hanne] has the ability to melt even the coldest heart with her glistening, freeform compositions…The best instrument of all is Hanne’s voice – a Northern light shining bright.”
The Sun 4/5
“Very clever and very pretty…moments of real loveliness.”
Word
“Bubbling delights…sweet, offbeat lyrics trickle samples of gurgling liquids, drunken fairground organs and lovingly squeezed accordions, as soothing as a sonic Jacuzzi”.
The Daily Telegraph
“Hanne Hukkalberg has a gorgeous sensibility and you feel glad to be pulled into her glimmering, almost underwater, world…A wonderful debut album.”
Straight No Chaser
“Exquisitely Scandinavian…‘Little Things’ is alternately as big as a dream and as intimate as a whisper.’
4/5 iDJ
“Fantastic…idiosyncratic eccentricities, emotional depth, quirky humour and general marvellousness. So you should probably buy it.”
Undercover
“Intoxicating…wonderful…Little Things marks the arrival of a talent who will have critics and consumers alike swooning [Hukkelberg’s] way for the foreseeable future.”
4/5 Drowned In Sound
“A work of sheer delicacy and delight, Norwegian Hanne’s vocals are sublime like a Thirties jazz singer…Charming.”
Music Week
“At once staggeringly original and brimming with unusual charm, Hukkelberg enchants at every turn…A fascinating musical creature emerging from the shadows of obscurity.”
8/10 Rock Sound
“Every melodically airy journey is a sparsely crafted, endearing regional tribute that bursts with the light texture of [Hukkelberg’s] windy, weightless voice.”
The Leeds Guide
“Little Things, is awe-inspiring. Few things are more life-affirming than a beautiful voice singing warm, captivating melodies set in luxuriant, boundary-defying musical arrangements. And that’s exactly what Hukkelberg offers on this 13-song gem…It’s an honest-to-goodness musical shiver.”
Playback
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Cast Anchor EP
“[vocals] draped over cuts conjured from freshly fallen snow and tales from the fireside…there is a power here that outmanoeuvres any kook or kitsch. Beautiful.”
DJ Magazine ****
“Magical”
4.5/5, Kieran Hebden (Guest review), DJ Magazine
“Courageous genre bashing…Jazz-tinged Billie Holiday-style vocals and some pretty bizarre instrumentation…Perfect hangover music”
Touch Magazine ****
“A suggestion of Bjork-style eccentricity…only adds to the charm of a promising newcomer.”
The Sun, Women to Watch
“beautifully delicate… Hanne Hakkelberg is definitely one to keep an eye on”
Stylus Magazine
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