Susanne Sundfør - "Ten Love Songs"

As a fan of Lykke Li, this is miles better both in terms of ~songcraft~ and delivery. On something like "Slowly" Lykke Li would sound strained and contrived and reaching for emotion, whereas Sundfør sounds much rawer, more honest and open. I think this album really works because there's a sense of committed earnestness to the performance of the songs, and while I can see how that element of theatricality could be off-putting, the mix of grandiosity and vulnerability is what holds this album together and makes it so great.

currently so obsessed with "kamikaze"

A-HA-A

good song but i hate it when she prounounce the word as "kamika-tsee"

I wrote the five-star Guardian review. Had never heard her before, and wasn't expecting much. But it just blew me away. It seemed so fantastically ambitious in its formalism: there's a real streak of classisism in it, but equally it doesn't just dwell on cliches. Brilliant record.

Still caning this...quite surprised at its longevity, the only song I'm getting fed up of is "Accelerate".

the classical/pop tug of war reminds me of seili by jenni vartiainen

this left me cold a month or so ago - it's

this left me cold a month or so ago - it's quite an edifice - but really clicked today.

It's heartstoppingly good
Can't wait to see her next month

Had a chance to listen to it start to finish on a road trip today. Felt almost symphonic, the way the moods and rhythms ebbed and flowed.

Kind of drops off for me after "Memorial," at least right now

this record rules

it is dissolving my hangover rn

Well yeah Memorial is the best song

I kind of think she's achieved peak ESL-charm on this, it opens my ears without alienating it, I wanna start using all her weird expressions

Well yeah Memorial is the best song

otm

wanna write a book about "slowly"

Wow, Fade Away. This is an amazing song.

http://www.roughtradenyc.com/event/816951-susanne-sundf-r-brooklyn

I kind of think she's achieved peak ESL-charm on this, it opens my ears without alienating it, I wanna start using all her weird expressions

i was baffled at this but okay having gone to look at it i didn't realise she was singing e.g. "done with intent without repent"

i listened through her back-catalogue today while doing the housework and i was surprised to find that as well as two records of broadly similar intent with i guess more invested in synthiness and less in poppiness, there was a double-album digital-synth ambient record and a piano-and-vocals record sounding like regina spektor with an answer song to 'hallelujah'

weird

The latter (her debut s/t) has several really, really catchy songs. The production is so basic I think I prefer the 'Take One' stripped version of the album.

This album just keeps on giving, I don't think I've gone two days without blasting it since I got hold of it.

iirc spotify only had the 'take one' version

i have been going back to 'the silicone veil'. i am tending towards being a fan, though, in general, of everything

wondering how i could ever have not been utterly besotted with this album

the mad organ solo on "accelerate" >>>>>>>

and i love how "fade away " seems to nod to t-swift's "style" - obv unintentional but exactly the same feeling

Yeah the image of them together pops up everytime I listen to that song.

tremendous live show, except the part where the record wasn't available for sale. even rough trade (who was hosting) didn't have it in stock, which strikes me as an oversight

and i love how "fade away " seems to nod to t-swift's "style" - obv unintentional but exactly the same feeling

― lex pretend, Monday, 18 May 2015 10:14 (5 days ago)

Glad somebody else said this; I was half-convinced any resemblance I heard was merely due to her using the word "style" in the lyrics.

"Accelerate" into "Fade Away" is wonderful; together they seem to encapsulate so much Scando-pop history. Don't quite get the "goth ABBA" tag insomuch as my brain autocompletes that as Propaganda.

Felt it was a half weak live show saved by the strength of the material, which was soooo strong. She may be my favourite melody writer

I think this is my favourite album of the decade so far.

This album is still incredible. Got it on vinyl this week and it is quite something. Comes with a massive poster and the the fourth side of the record is etched.

wheeeeeeee tickets bought for koko in october
excited

Just got around to checking this out: this absolutely, completely and totally rules!

"Kamikaze" -> "Memorial" -> "Delirious" -> "Slowly" is a perfect sequence.

― courtney barnett formula (seandalai), Wednesday, April 8, 2015 11:11 PM (3 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

OTFM!

'Memorial' surely must be one of the tracks of the year?

You can watch her show from the Øya festival here http://www.aftenposten.no/webtv/#!/video/101657/oeya-2015-susanne-sundfoers-storslagne-avslutning

That's cool, thanks!

Holy crap this record

ikr?!

long time since I've heard a record do this much and pull it all off. I am floored.

yeah i'm so smitten with this album

It's a great record. One of the best of the year, if not the best.

Easily my album of the year. Such an incredible album.

Yep, still the best.

Holy crap this record

― Evan R, Monday, September 28, 2015 7:25 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

URL aside, good interview:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/15/susanne-sundfor-ten-love-songs-made-me-feel-naked

I'm still getting 'Delirious' and 'Kamikaze' popping up in my head randomly. I'm not sure that I can call this my favourite album of the year just yet, but it's definitely a contender. If I don't see this place somewhere in the EOY poll I'll be sorely disappointed.

I have no doubt that it will place, only question is where. Top 20 wouldn't surprise me.

I wouldn't be surprised to see it in the top five.

Yeah, Top 20 sounds realistic to me at the moment. If it goes Top 5 I'll immediately forgive ILX on the spot for ensuring that Future Islands placed last year.

I think everyone who hears this album more than once will probably realise it's their favourite of the year. It's so obviously brilliant but it's a real grower too, every time I play it I love it more and more.

Unless I've missed something, this is the first video for the album. Cool black & whiteness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd4jT4zcdHg

Oh NSFW btw

There are some great songs here, like the entire "ashera's song" -> "ru​̄​nā" sequence (Susanne doing Scott 4/psych-folk-ABBA is a good look)...though I'm not sure the whole album adds up, the back half is (so far) a bit dispensable apart from "alyosha".

The flute part in sannu yarru li reminds me of a relatively famous jazz or funk song. it's on the tip of my tongue and I feel like an idiot for not recognizing it.

I gave it one listen yesterday. It was pouring rain here - perfect weather to light a candle and put on a singer-songwriter album. Don't have any specific comments off that one listen, but I really enjoyed it.

― peace, man, Saturday, April 29, 2023 8:47 PM (one month ago) bookmarkflaglink

Just here to repeat this, basically. This is a great, chill album. Just flipped the disc from Fare Thee Well to Leikara Ljóð. Great sequencing there.

Still wondering about the flute part I mentioned in my last post. We have some kind of rolling thread for recognizing melodies on ilx, but I can't remember what it is off the top of my head.

Found it! I was thinking of Fishbone: Can anyone identify which song used this melody?

nice bigger-band live version of blómi: https://susannesundfor.bandcamp.com/track/bl-mi-feat-rohey-taalah-live-from-trondheim

beautiful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3SsTknkXpA

that went into the end of Weekend À Rome in my head

Ten Love Songs still rules, man.

yeah I never got into the 2023 one

and i hooooooooope it's gonna last fooooooorever

this is the kind of love that never goes out of style
'cause baby i know that you'll always be waiting
and i'll always want to come back

*ding*

this is the sound of your heart
the sound of your heart
it sounds lonely