Sigvart Dagsland // Villa Nordrakk // LP

Sigvart Dagsland returns to "VILLA NORDRAAK"

Sometimes it is nice to go back – to do something completely new…

Thirty years ago Sigvart Dagsland visited Villa Nordraak for the first time. This year he returns to the scene with 13 brand new songs and his eight-man "Wedding and Funeral Band". This event can actually be considered a rare variant of a house occupation on the posh side of Oslo because during its five days there was hardly room for anything but music and instruments round the clock in the old villa that dates back to the beginning of the last century.

Early in January this year Sigvart Dagsland let his experienced musicians loose on the new songs in the old villa in Oslo where KKV was situated when Sigvart made his recording debut for the company, and the result is a unique form of organic exuberance. All the arrangements were improvised, and almost all the music heard was recorded at the same time. An ancient Bechstein grand piano from 1893 is the highlight of the fixtures, at times played by Dagsland, at times by his keyboard assistant Torjus Vierli. The other musicians in the Wedding and Funeral Band are Mathias Eick (trumpet and vibraphone), Sigmund Groven (harmonica), Geir Sundstøl (guitars and lap steel), Julian Berntzen (violin and mandolin), Ingelin Reigstad Nordheim (acoustic guitar), Hildegunn Garnes Reigstad (glockenspiel, Marxophone, autoharp, percussion), Bjørn Holm (double bass) and Arnfinn Bergrabb (drums).

Most of the lyrics and melodies carry Dagsland’s signature, most often in lyrical cooperation with Mike McGurk. It all starts and ends with a waltz, and between these two sweeping songs we hear the full range from bitter and biting to sweet and salty. 

As always on a Dagsland record, there are some powerful ballads, allowing Sigvart's superb voice to unfold in full force. The descriptions of the rich cast of characters in the lyrics span from playful and swinging to humorous and subtle. Without giving too much away we can reveal that Karoline Krüger has contributed one of the most beautiful songs in the history of Norwegian pop music, a song about divorce and breaking up put to lyrics by Norwegian poet André Bjerke. Karoline does not perform on this album, but has composed the melody.

The album was produced by Villa Nordraak’s host, Erik Hillestad.

Track list:

1. Bryllupsvals                                                                      3:46

2. Eg stikke                                                                           3:57

3. Det tar lang tid                                                                 3:47

4. Om eg ikkje visste                                                           3:07

5. Mannen som gjekk for langt                                           4:39

6. Deprimert                                                                         3:33

7. Aleina                                                                                4:34

8. Rundt og rundt                                                                 3:23

9. Pastor Øvrebottens Tango                                              4:08

10. Uden ord                                                                         4:20

11. Sei du vil                                                                          3:35

12. Aldri                                                                                 2:58

13. Livet går videre                                                               2.45