Okay, so listening to someone whose first name starts with K is kinda cheating, but it was her or Kiske, and I didn't feel like listening to more Michael Kiske today. Pity I didn't buy that Kamelot CD, eh?
Kari Rueslatten is a Norwegian lass who is 6 years older than me, making her 41. And, she actually looks it. Her voice, however, is like liquid silver, dipped in honey. She, along with her symphonic doom band - 3rd and the Mortal, were inspiration for such greats as Nightwish. She has performed with several groups, integrating doom-laden metal with folk vibes and her haunting, ethereal* voice.
The elements of folk are strong in this CD, her debut solo one (albeit a remastered version). Alas, the lyrics are all in Norwegian - a language I do not speak, and thus I cannot comment on her song writing abilities. However, despite the language barrier, I enjoy the way she sings, the lilt to her voice and the various levels she can attain.
Except that I have found translations! And the lyrics are as haunting and beautiful as you might imagine. I'll link them from the songs, so you can at least know what the titles and themes are. In lack of understandable lyrics, instead we are treated to an evocative combination of intruments and voice, portraying the message through sounds, not words, that are understandable in any language.
So, let us begin. And yes, I know I should be using the appropriate characters for some of these letters, but I haven't figured out how to do the special Norwegian letters. My apologies.
"I Manens Favn" ("In the Moon's Embrace") is a song about a dancer, whose magical dance lures in the women. It is most definitely folk inspired, and has a very bouncy rhythm. I could dance to this. I SHOULD dance to this.
We get slower with the haunting "Spindelsinn" ("Mind Web"). A song that weaves an enchanting tune.
Now that I know what the "Skogens Kjole" ("The Forest's Song") is about, I cannot help but feel the spirit of the forest in the words. It's easy to imagine snow-shrouded branches and leaves dropping in the breeze. The song is delicate and fragile.
The very sweet "Agatha" follows. It sounds like a love song. Agatha strikes me as being a wispy, spiritual being - a guide from another world.
"Trollferd" ("Troll Journey") takes you to another world, into a boreal forest, where snow sticks tot he moss laden trees and a trail of strange footsteps leads you through the snow, while above the sky is pale with the promise of frost.
"Vintersol" ("Winter Sunlight") picks up a more upbeat tone, sunbeams glinting off the snow, banishing the cold and portraying the world as pure and clean. A perfect day for a winter walk. The music has the promise of spring in its step, and the inclusion of classical instruments makes it seem divine.
A tender, beckoning song - "Jeg Kommer Inn" ("I'm coming in"), with string instruments, singing alongside Kari's beautiful voice. There's a little bit of bounce in the middle.
"Hor Min Sang" ("Hear My Song") is a very sweet and gentle piece, as soft as a caress.
"Som Av Meg" ("As of Me") is beautiful and ephemeral, a delicate whisper.
The chilling and ghostly "Nordnatt" ("Night of the North") ends the album, a haunting song of long, chilling nights and a vivid tapestry of stars. It fades slowly, the music ghosting away.
There are two more tracks - live versions of "Spindelsinn" and "I Manens Favn".
This is a beautiful album, a soundrtack to a cold winterland. The folk aspects and the classical instruments are a flawless combination with the sweet, lonely voice of Kari Rueslatten. The only downside is that the lyrics are not in English, but it loses none of its beauty because of this - and perhaps gains an extra element of mystique.
Overall rating = 9/10.
I have another CD by Kari, and it is in English.
* You will probably hear this term a lot in these reviews, this is because I like females with haunting, ethereal voices and have quite a collection of these CDs. If I can think of a different adjective, I shall make use of it. Okay?
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