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Elly Roberts reviews
Cosmos Records
- Released: June 2008
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:
Swedes excellent bitter sweet debut – went Gold in two weeks in Sweden. Tim Rice is a big fan.
When the voice of Oh Lauras Frida Ohrn hit our TV screens on last yearsSAAB advert, singing Release Me, I was stunned, really. It was seen by a staggering 240 million viewers.
On first hearing, it sounded like Bjork, but soon realised the song wasnt bonkersenough, so some internet trawling ensued until she was tracked down. In all, 50,000downloads were registered from the SAAB website alone. I was one of them. BBC Radio 2s Bob Harris described like her like this “It sounds like a wholelife has been lived through Fridas vocals.”
And so it is, somewhere between Bjork, and Roisin Murphys huskiness. This incredibleblonde babe now gets a chance to show what she can do on the bands debut whichruns – in at around a short and sweet 35 minutes. She hasnt written any songs,so shes left to front and only sing and play the odd bit of harmonica.
The single, Release Me was a sensation in their native Sweden, with hopefully,the album due to make waves in the UK. This five-piece from Stockholm knew theywere onto a winner with Fridas vocal talents which are adaptable for this folkypop bonanza, though nothing quite matches Release Me. The songs are very goodindeed which make for a pleasurable listen, sometimes veering into Fairground Attractionterritory.
At the core of all their work is a deep sense of gorgeous melody and harmony,even when they clash with unsettling lyrics on Black and Blue “Beat meblack and blue / As long as you forgive me (repeat) / Lock me in your room /As long as you are with me / Honey, there aint nothing I wont do,” she singslovingly as the tables are turned by her lover.
If Release Me doesnt make the national airwaves, then chirpy Fine Linesradio friendliness will do the trick. Their folk influences surface on thedivine melancholic ballad Raining In New York. It ambles along nicely, until swayingstrings boost the chorus with Fridas voice at its peak, and heart warminglybeautiful.
She describes the album as a love story, “But a fragile love story wheresomething uncomfortable and uncertain is ever present”, highlighted by thedark Killer On The Road, which has some fine Latino brass breaks.Thunderbird Motel opens much like Chris Isaacs Blue Hotel with itsjangly guitar strums, turning into a simple but effective Americana ballad.
File under: promising future.
Weblinks:ohlaura.net /myspace.com/laurasweden
The full list of tracks included are :
1. A Call To Arms
2. It Aint Enough
3. Release Me
4. Black N Blue
5. Fine Line
6. Raining In New York
7. Out Of Bounds
8. Killer On The Road
9. The Mess You Left Behind
10. Thunderbird Motel
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.