Rebekka Karijord - Mother Tongue
Norwegian born composer Rebekka Karijord may still be better known for her numerous film, theatre and dance soundtracks, although 2012's We Become Ourselves was one of MOJO magazine's top ten albums of 2012. Mother Tongue is ostensibly a collection of songs that plot the story of Karijord's pregnancy and childbirth, although upon listening it could also be a metaphor for the cyclical forces of nature, life and death, and even the universe itself. Starting with Morula, a medical term for an early-stage embryo, and concluding with Mausoleum, a human tomb, the thematic is clear yet peppered with personal narrative. Waimanalo, for example, is the community in Hawaii where Karijord lived during part of her pregnancy, and where some of the album was written and recorded. Like the works of Olafur Arnalds, and other modern Nordic songwriters, the mood of Mother Tongue veers from dark and moody to bright and euphoric – resplendent in elemental tone and rhythm. Thunderous drums roll over delicate keys, suggestive of melting ice, whilst lyrics speak of foetal bonds and unconditional maternal love. Electronic embellishment and vocal effects ensure that Mother Tongue delivers the perfect soundtrack with which to await the life-giving warmth of spring.
8/10
