I come back to an album released at the end of January 2021 and which is the work of the Norwegian band 'MEER' which already has a dozen years of existence and which only releases their second studio recording 'Playing House'. The line-up mixes the traditional electric instruments of progressive rock and adds strings with violinist 'Åsa Ree' and violist 'Ingvild Nordstoga Eide', the vocal section being shared between siblings 'Johanne Margrethe Kippersund Nesdal' and 'Knut Kippersund Nesdal' (the latter having participated to the Norwegian program of' The Voice 'in 2017 - 'Norges beste stemme' in Norwegian). They offer us a mix of pop and rock mixing symphonic, folk and progressive in atmospheres offering beautiful melodies but, make no mistake, with sought-after constructions, the diversity of instruments bringing this richness to each composition and even if the length of each title does not exceed 7 minutes, this opus improves listening after listening, discovering previously unexplored corners.
'Picking Up The Pieces' start the album with sumptuous vocal harmonies and remarkable instrumental arrangements, this first track reminds me of certain atmospheres of 'Mostly Autumn', then, 'Beehive' continues but with more powerful passages alternating with others quieter and 'All At Sea' offers us a more stripped down semi-acoustic atmosphere and we let ourselves be lulled by Knut's soft voice, Johanne joining him halfway by enchanting us with her delicate vocal harmonies that we also found on the following track 'Songs of Us' which forms only one with the previous one. With 'Child', the tone is even lighter in the form of a playful ritornello, then, 'You Were a Drum', while having this light pop side, flirts with a muffled jazzy atmosphere brought by the strings and 'Honey', catchy and more powerful, offers us an addictive melody on which Johanne brings a remarkable vocal delicacy, the final being of any beauty. The end of the album scrolls through 'Across The Ocean' which served as the single for the album and which is certainly the most accessible track, 'She Goes' which is one of my favorites with its mysterious atmosphere, everything in tension and relaxation, and its admirable vocal arrangements, the very refined 'Where Do We Go From Here' and to finish, 'Lay It Down' which takes us on a beautiful symphonic fresco with beautiful alternations between calm and energetic parts, the final runaway with this sudden rupture being magnificent.
In summary, 'MEER' is a great discovery and takes us on a beautiful journey filled with freshness and originality, the whole being sublimated by magnificent arrangements, first, vocally, with this beautiful complicity between Johanne and Knut but also on an instrumental level which makes it a rich and dense album which improves listening after listening... | |
