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How the music supervisors for the last James Bond movie
Casino Royale missed placing a song by Kate Havnevik
in the movie is a huge mistake on their part. There are many female
artists who sing beautifully but Havnevik exceeds every impression
you have of spellbinding vocals with a feminine lure. The Norwegian
born and UK resident's voice is a breathtaking combination of
Enya, Andrea Corrs, and The Cranberries'
lead singer Dolores O'Riordan. Kate Havnevik's voice is
majestic and her music is delightful with orchestral tones emitting
from the angelic string arrangements and Celtic tinged instrumentation
beaming from the harp and percussions.
Her latest US release Melankton is her third album and
was recorded in studios around the world including London, Oslo
in Norway, Bratislava in Slovakia, Los Angeles in the USA, and
Reykjavik in Iceland. Produced by Guy Sigswort (Bjork,
Madonna, Frou Frou), the album features the artistry
of harpist Rhodri Davies, vibraphonist Orphy Robinson,
and bassist John Thorne. Exquisitely beautiful is the only
way to describe these songs as Havnevik takes ethereal textures
and creates melodic choirs that are classic, timeless, and modern,
all at the same time. The music transcends generations and time
periods like few artists can achieve.
The celestial violin swirls on the opening track "Unlike
Me" ascend vividly as Havnevik's vocals elegantly melt into
the melody's movements. The lounge jazz beats of "Travel
In Time" are warm and mold graceful pulses along the airy
tempo. Havnevik's vocals are strikingly curvaceous on "I
Don't Know You", as the horns evolve and move into the melodic
choir of violins and vibraphone series. The upbeat horns and synth
elements on "You Again" emote a modern pop/dance vibration
while the classic lounge jazz components of "Not Fair"
surges into billowing laments and silky textures. The gentle rises
and ebbing action of "Nowhere Warm" glistens with dazzling
harmonies in the piano and violin passages. The music is enchanting
filled by alacrity in the soft flowing excursions, gentle vocal
lacing, and delicate melodic choirs.
The sobbing violin tones in the intro of "Serpentine"
are coveted by warm vocal streams and emerge into flickering
chords in the bridge of the melody. The dramatic violin coils
on "Kaleidoscope" are lanced by upbeat synth chains
embracing the vocal melody and effusing glimmering melodic sequences.
The soft melodic ballet of "Sleepless" ramps radiant
orchestral crescendos and elevating vocals as "Suckerlove"
strums lively violin strokes and springy vocal prancing. The
delicate melodic choirs on the final track "Timeless"
glide like satin with liquefied tones and incorporeal textures.
The songs are melodically hewn with celestial arbors and silky
textures. Havnevik's vocals are distinguishable with spellbinding
elegance and rich complexion.
Several of Kate Havnevik's songs have been featured on the TV
show Grey's Anatomy, including "Kaleidoscope"
from Melankton and two tracks not from this album, "SO
LO" and "Grace." Havnevik began her musical career
as a classical jazz guitarist but when she turned 14, she decided
to join an all female punk band and played in clubs throughout
Oslo, Norway. Six years ago, she moved to England where she resides
today and carved out a niche for herself as a prominent singer
and musician. She is presently on a theater tour in the US and
Canada opening for Air through the spring and summer of
2007.
-Susan Frances
Track Listing:
1. Unlike Me
2. Travel In Time
3. I Don't Know You
4. You Again
5. Not Fair
6. Nowhere Warm
7. Serpentine
8. Kaleidoscope
9. Sleepless
10. Suckerlove
11. Timeless
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Kate
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