Lighter from “dark man” Sivert Høyem – Dagbladet.no

ALBUM: “The night is my favorite time of day,” sings Høyem on it which is also the undisputed highlight of his sixth album, concluding – and atmospheric – “Silences” .

He has always been a night and darkness man, ever since the days Madrugada vocalist.

Voice

Høyem is now so established as a solo artist that the band from Hadsel in Nordland is only a distant – but well – memory.

Since his voice is so central in the sound, it’s not easy to tell the difference between Madrugada and Høyem, either. He manages – and build on – the musical legacy of the band who placed years in 2008. He has developed his own sound, but within the same musical universe.

40 years

A week after his 40th birthday, announces Høyem today his solo album number six, “Lioness”. While “Endless Love” (2014) was produced by Swedish Ulf Ivarsson, with musicians from Thåström band, he has this time taken command himself – along with band member Christer Knutsen.

They provide brand Høyem an ever so slight ” facelift “.

With the operation, besides Knutsen (electric guitar, organ, piano, piano instrument celesta, marxofone / sites and backing vocals), Øystein Frantzvåg (bass) and Børge Fjordheim (drums) – all from HØYEM solid live band.

Easier

The musical expression is lighter and brighter and slightly more controlled and streamlined – and closer to pop music – than the preceding plates.

Høyem has been compared to some of rock most famous dark men, as Nick Cave and Mark Lanegan, and here is also a lovely duet remindful towards Lanegan duosamarbeid with Isobel Campbell: “My Thieving Heart” with a cool Marie Munroe (Hilde Marie Kjersem ).

Leonard Cohen

But he also approaching more and more expression to another – and milder – dark man, Leonard Cohen. It might come with years?

The variety is not as big as the “Moon Landing” – a career highlight with a more inventive production which also gave Høyem one Spellemannpris as this year’s male artist in 2009. “Lioness” has probably not a hit a la “Moon Landing” but songs like “Sleepwalking Man” and “Fool To Your Crown” has potential – despite the fact that they may appear to be somewhat pompous.

“Predictably good”

There is something “predictably good” over them. They glide like a little unnoticed unless they attach themselves, and one of the tracks tend to resemble the next.

It’s easy to frame Høyem, perhaps because the dark vocals may be somewhat monotonous.

But preserved, it floats good long – even though quiet “It Belongs To Me” is the easiest made both musical and textual and must be regarded as filler.

Tom

Men – when we come to the “VOID” and electronica flirt “The Boss Bossa Nova” (which refers to Bruce Springsteen) it seems a little as if he’s run out of ideas.

joinery work becomes more blacksmith, and it suits him not so well.

The songs are simply not good enough in this company. However he turns back sharply in said “Silencer”, which is Høyem at its very best.

• Sivert Høyem adds soon hit the road in Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, starting Oslo Spektrum February 13.