Reflections on a lost love from multi-talented Norwegian musician.
Recorded in his home studio and self-produced, this is the second album from Norway’s Kenneth Norum. With all ten songs written in English, the lyrics largely focus on the pain of a long-term relationship that has ended, while the album title looks forward to a time when ‘This Too Will Pass’.
Now in his mid-30’s, the singer-songwriter has been making music for well over a decade, regularly playing live and touring round the radio stations and live venues to promote his music.
Accompanied by an excellent band, the production is clear, unfussy and allows the expressive vocals plenty of space. Norum himself plays keys, acoustic and electric guitars and shares bass duties with his brother Daniel.
With a strong folk tradition in Norway and a flourishing americana and bluegrass scene, it’s natural that there’s an amalgam of influences at work. There’s a hint of Scottish band Runrig in ‘This Day’ while standout track ‘Road Song’ features some lovely pedal steel guitar.
Playing all the instruments bar drums on ‘I’ll Be Alright (Just Wait and See)’, Norum reflects that “I think this melancholy suits me” and he does seem to be at his best when dealing with his pain. ‘Hollow Heart’ describes a chance encounter that brings back a flood of feelings and it’s left to ‘Train Song’ to suggest a way out of the darkness. This closing track has an uplifting guitar motif and a lovely piano and organ coda that brings to mind Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Racing In The Street’.
It brings closure to what has clearly been a difficult journey for Kenneth Norum and with its echoes of ‘Blood On The Tracks’ and other so-called ‘break up’ albums, ‘This Too Will Pass’ deserves to bring the talented writer, singer and instrumentalist to a wider audience.
