Lena Anderssen has spent a lifetime travelling, ever since she moved with her family from Canada to the remote Faroe Islands as a child. That’s a lifetime of good times followed by goodbyes. However, the sorrow of moving on gives way to hope and the anticipation of being reunited with loved ones. It’s no surprise that these themes run through Anderssen’s songs. Her latest single, ‘The Airport’, addresses these conflicting emotions directly. Full of nostalgia for summers past and sadness at how quickly experiences fade, the song points us towards a more positive future when Anderssen sings, simply, in a message to all those who matter: “…we don’t say goodbye // We just say that I’ll see you again.”
‘The Airport’ is upbeat and, as Anderssen turns back the pages on her memories, it transports us back into our own pasts. Matt Rollings (Springsteen, Mary Chapin Carpenter) delivers rhythmic piano and B7 organ that really gives the song its character. Horns from Ólavur Olsen and a 30-piece string orchestra add further depth and texture, over which Anderssen showcases her vocal range and ear for memorable melody.
The single is the latest release from Anderssen’s sixth album, ‘State of the Land’, which is due out on 3rd September. This was the final full-album project of legendary recording engineer Geoff Emerick before he passed away. Emerick is best known for his work with The Beatles on such records as Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road. With collaborators like this, Lena Anderssen’s new record promises to be something to look forward to. Enjoy.
