Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Nuaia: Belong To The Moon

2

Nuaia: Belong To The Moon

By

Sign in to view read count
Nuaia: Belong To The Moon
Nuaia is a Swedish-Danish trio featuring guitarist Mika Forsling with vocalist Sofie Norling and percussionist Michala Østergaard Nielsen who both play in the jazz quartet David's Angels. The trio's sophomore album, after a self titled debut on Boogie Post Recordings in 2009, deepens their affinity for exploration of genre-defying, dream-state songs.

Norling is gifted with an expressive, warm voice that immediately introduces her intimate state-of-mind. She delivers concise, poetic ballads with dramatic restraint and great command. Østergaard Nielsen is one of the most underrated percussionists in Scandinavia, a highly personal musician who leads her own, excellent Østergaard Art Quartet. Here, she creates Gamelan-tinged patterns in hypnotic pulses that transform Norling's emotional pleas into secular rituals of liberation. Forsling thickens the quiet atmosphere with layers of distant, distorted guitars and live-electronics. Together, they form an eclectic sonic envelope that organically blends experimental synth-pop of the eighties, world music percussive elements and the intensity of free improvisation.

The song cycle offers a series of scenes from a fragile relationship, following the territory of David's' Angel songs. Norling, who wrote all lyrics, wonders if her dark, sober realizations of a very sensual relationship are still actual, if it can be healed or rekindle its passion. Patiently and painfully, Norling sketches her own terms and needs for an individual place. Halfway through this demanding emotional journey, on "Seasonal," she begins to exorcise her demons and fears to accommodate new independence. She still seeks peaceful resolution on "Leave It All Behind" but finds belief in herself and her calling on the closing song, the compassionate "My Role."

A beautiful and moving effort.

Track Listing

Belong to the Moon; Don't Know Where to Turn; Where Is Your Heart in This; There Is No Love; Seasonal; Follow, Pt. II; Leave It All Behind (Intro); Leave It All Behind; My Role.

Personnel

Nuaia
 

Sofie Norling: voice and electronics; Mika Forsling: electric guitar, synthesizers, spinet and electronics; Michala Østergaard Nielsen: percussion; Albin Johansson: piano (6); Jonne Bentlöv: trumpet (6).

Album information

Title: Belong To The Moon | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: BoogiePost Recordings

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.