Susanna - Elevation
If you are not already familiar with the work of Susanna Wallumrød (or, come to that, Charles Baudelaire) I would implore you to give 'Elevation' a listen. It is most certainly an album that is all that I cannot leave behind.
Susanna and The Brotherhood of Our Lady's musical interpretation of Bosch's triptych panels in 'Garden of Earthly Delights' was probably the most enlightening album that I listened to for Outline in 2019. It introduced me for the first time to the world of Norwegian vocalist Susanna Wallumrød. Since then I have listened to many more of her recorded works, a fascinating journey that has led me through indie pop and jazz – mostly low key original songs, but also to some quite extraordinary covers of rock classics like AC/DC's 'It's a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock 'n' Roll', and Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
However, fear not. 'Elevation' is not Wallumrød's celebration of the works of U2. Instead, the musical experimentalist focuses again on Charles Baudelaire, the French poet whose work formed and inspired her 2020 solo release 'Baudelaire & Piano'. This time around she has collaborated with French spoken word artist Delphine Dora and Norwegian musician Stina Stjern to produce a truly spiritual, and at times mystical, collection that ranks alongside 'Garden of Earthly Delights' as one of my most treasured musical pleasures.
Opening track, 'Alchemy of Suffering' is a gorgeous piano-led song that really showcases Wallumrød's vocal clarity and precision. 'Ciel Brouillé' and 'Le Vin des Amants' each impart Baudelaire's words with almost monastic reverence. 'L'aube Spirituelle' uses spoken-word enhanced with birdsong and field recordings of 'la vie naturelle'. 'Elevation' is a sparse piano-led musical interpretation of Baudelaire's poem in praise of transcendence, and becomes the stunning title track. 'Rose-Pale Dawn', the second single from the album, develops into an exquisite ambient landscape of sound, atmospherically enhanced by Stina Stjern's ethereal tape loopings.
If you are not already familiar with the work of Susanna Wallumrød (or, come to that, Charles Baudelaire) I would implore you to give 'Elevation' a listen. It is most certainly an album that is all that I cannot leave behind.
10/10
