LINDY-FAY HELLA

Seafarer Ván

evocative debut album by the Wardruna vocalist.

norwegian band Wardruna tap back dramatically into that country’s history and connection with the sea, and Hella continues that theme on the title track here, which evokes spray caught in harbour lights with the sea stretching into the darkness beyond, full of romance and danger. But Seafarer’s peculiar character comes from it being originally conceived as an a cappella project, with instrumentation added later, and on this song Hella sings over shuffling percussion and a small choir. Herbrand Larsen provides synths, guitar and programming, and Ingolf Hella Torgersen adds percussion. The guest musicians were asked to only join in as appropriate, which gives us some subtle, nuanced settings for Hella’s sinuous vocal lines. A gamelan chimes in the background on Two Suns, and bouzouki and flute play over the low keyboard chord changes of Bottle of Sorrow. The most haunting aspect of Seafarer is that it feels both ancient and modern with what seem like shamanic incantations on nåke Du Finn I Skogen – which invites comparisons to Dead Can Dance – while on Horizon keys evoke an accordion, and Hella’s wordless voice drifts above to spectacular effect. MB