HANNE HUKKELBERG - BLOOD FROM A STONE

TRACKLISTING
Midnight Sun Dream, Blood from a Stone, Bandy Riddles, No Mascara Tears, Seventeen, Salt of the Earth, No one but Yourself, In Here/Out There, Crack, Bygd til By
By far one of the most refreshingly obscure musicians I have had the pleasure in reviewing. Definite Siouxsie and the Banshees nuances, however Hanne's influences include Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, Pixies and PJ Harvey, no ordinary, mainstream sound can possibly be borne out of such a vast array of influences!Hanne is now a solo artist, however in the past she has been a member of various rock and metal bands, no doubt bearing some influence over her solo work.Even with the huge technological advances of recent years, Hanne is not satisfied in gaining her unique sounds through everyday technology. Her music is the product of regular life, sounds which most people block out and attribute to the rat race. Hanne however, makes the most out of it all, incorporating the likes of train doors, seagulls, kitchen utensils, clacking typewriters, clogs and a Vaseline tin into her music. This, combined with Hanne's delightfully whimsical voice seeming to possess elfin qualities, makes for a bizarre yet addictive and unique sound. All Hanne's instruments (yes, she does use some everyday instruments such as guitars and glochenspiel) were tuned by ear as a result of Hanne banning digital tuners from the studio. After all, a true musician should possess the ability to tune instruments by ear.Although recorded in Hanne's regular studio in Oslo, Blood from a Stone was written while she was voluntarily holed up for a seven month period in the far north of Norway, about 300kms north of the Polar Circle. In direct contrast to this her previous album, Little Things (released 2005), was written and composed during a prolonged period of time in Berlin. Hanne attributes the different styles of music on each album to where it was composed, explaining that 'I felt a need for composing more quiet songs in the noisy city, and more noisy music in the quiet village'.Each song on this album possesses its own unique sound, incorporating both instruments and everyday living utensils, but the base of Hanne's music, her ability to create obscure yet listenable and addictive songs, is what ties each track together, making this album truly irresistible.
BIOGRAPHY

LINKS
HANNE HUKKELBERG hanne.hukkelberg.net
Review author: Tamlyn Head
CD: Album
Release date: May 12 2009
Discs: 1
Asin: B001Y7SIQG
Rating: 7.0