Consistent, smooth and pleasing to the ear and soul, that’s Morten Harket’s “Vogts Villa” - an album which truly lives up to both his and Håvard Rem’s potential.
When Morten Harket released this album in November, it was immediately spoken of as a bad move by the bulk of the Norwegian press who saw it as inaccessible and believed Morten was losing touch with the rest of the music world by not singing in English. They wanted a repeat of “Wild Seed”, but Morten Harket never stays in the same place for too long, thankfully!! Whilst “Wild Seed” held a potential, a sign of a really talented musician finding his footing for the first time as a song writer, “Vogts Villa” takes the ability on to solid ground. This is an album formed not from tentative steps, but with a fully fledged stride and puts both himself and Håvard into a new realm of music making, with Ole Sverre Olsen perfect seasoning.
What seperates this album from that of the masses is quite simple - a bold attitude of being non afraid to just make music to provoke feelings, emotions and sweetness to the senses. This is not an album which strives for a number one success and it is that humble integrity that makes it so good, so unique and so creatively intoxicating. Naturally making his second album in Norwegian was a risk, but proof that if Morten ‘feels’ something is right, he will just go right ahead. He is unabashed and free and the wings he wears is what brings the music alive and you must soar with him.
There is no such thing as a language barrier where music is concerned. If “Poetenes Evangelium” was not proof to that, then you must look around at the sales of classical music. It has no lyrics, no words, yet a unmistakeable power. Classical music has the energy to squeeze the heart, to touch the soul and sometimes to shake you up and leave you exasperated like any music. A melody can carry the message home regardless of the poetry within and that is what can be said of “Vogts Villa”, no matter how beautiful to the ear the Norwegian language is. Being English with basic Norwegian, it is important to appreciate the album on that level, although a Norwegian dictionary brings to life the amazing lyrical contribution from Håvard Rem.
The album is highlighted by Håvard great poetic ability. His poetry holds such depth and clarity of life and it’s situations and he sheds his exterior as he did on “Wild Seed” to portray a softer vulnerable side in places. Being criticised in this issue for his attitude towards women at the Tønsberg show, does not take away the fact that at times he writes words that even the hardest female heart could not feel unconditionally touched by. He moves through a matter of fact and wry humoured twang to a wisdom trip about time, life and faith and “Vogts Villa' opens minds to the idea that in Norway, right now, is great artistry, great awareness and talent in it’s purest form.
Each Individual will have their own specific favourite track on this album. From the folk numbers with their brilliant guitar rhythms, basic humble instrumentation and a flowing pace that’s infectious - ‘Tilbake Til Livet’(Back To Life), ‘Herre I drømmen’ ('Master of the Dream’) and the laid back and emotive ‘Jeg Kjenner Ingen Fremtid’('I Don’t Know The Future') which has a melody hanging in the air like a soft mist falling gently on the senses, and what about the ever building “Himmelske Danser”('Heavenly Dancer'), which is unlike any song I have ever heard in it’s ability to provoke you to move along to it’s rhythm only to find so many conflicted grooves which bind you paralysed.
Perhaps it has gone unnoticed that “Jeg Kjenner Ingen Fremtid”, “Fremmed Her” and “Vuggevise” have all been Harket songs before in the shape of “All Of You Concerned”, “Gospel For A Heathen” and “Lay Me Down Tonight”. What was brilliant then loses nothing now with the altered instrumentations and revised or completely rewritten lyrics. You have to give Morten credit for not parting with great melodies, but by releasing them to go free healthier than before.
To critically pull apart, dissect and over analyse this compelling album would be a crime and an injustice to the simplistic way it was made on a barren, deserted island off Norway’s Southern Coast. Its birthplace in in no way reflected in the blessing it holds, aside the need to play it in solitude. It makes an excellent companion and with it in your machine, exuding from your speakers with refreshing, rejuvenating and uplifting properties, you will never be alone.
Music like this can live and breath in a person for a lifetime. It is not an idle purchase, an expensive sale for momentary pleasure. This album is an investment and will see you through to the future - indeed it never leaves my CD player.
*Skapelses Rus = creative intoxication