Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun has delivered a strong and consistent fourth solo record. Across the ten haunting songs, with their ornate arrangements and diverse instrumentation, Brun establishes herself as a truly unique talent. The first half of the record contains some exemplary rhythms and melodic sequences as on "Do You Remember", "Words" and the deliciously hypnotic "Worship", which features the ever-elusive Jose Gonzalez. This final track is the most worthy of praise, and is oddly enough one of the more simple arrangements on It All Starts With One. The combination of Brun’s expressive vocals and Gonzalez’s demure voice effortlessly combine to perfection.
The second half of the record experiments with an array of styles, from the medieval folk of "Lifeline" or "Oh Love", the theatrical cinematic "One", to the closing crescendos on the epic "Undertow". Brun has crafted an intriguing album, which, even when going astray, never fails to captivate the listener. She energetically oscillates between thick and thin, fast and slow, hope and despair, in a very human, albeit oftentimes theatrical, manner. There has been a profundity of music coming out of Scandinavia in the past couple decades; Brun’s latest installment is a fine addition to that musico-cultural catalogue.
MP3 Stream: "Worship"
