Det du aldri sa is the title of Tom Roger Aadland’s new release. The man behind the critically acclaimed album Blod på spora (Dylan translated into Norwegian) has written some new songs with strong lyrics and haunting melodies and recorded them with an interesting mixture of musicians. Die-hard indie rockers, eclectic roots aficionados and seasoned session players found common ground in the songs and stories of the album.
Det du aldri sa is recorded live in studio with an expanded version of the crew behind the Blod på spora album. The musicians were all gathered for the first time the day the recordings started, focusing on the content of the songs rather than on technical perfectionism. Musically the album is very variegated; rock, roots, country, folk – the common denominator being strong melodies and isspired contributions from the band. A rich instrumental network of electric and acoustic guitars, fiddle, mandolin and steel guitar surround Tom Roger’s soulful, rustic vocal delivery.
Tom Roger Aadland’s translations of Bob Dylan have gained him much praise. The lyrics are important also on his album, thematically spanning from warm declarations of love (Der eg er no), via burlesque dark humor (Støyande hjarte) to reflective epic narratives (Postkort i oktober). On the opening track ”Fall for deg for alvor”, Tom Roger sings about falling in love driving down along the west coast of Norway “in a tired old Volkswagen”.
The four musicians that participated on Blod på spora make up the heart also of the new album. The rhythm section from low-fi post-rock favorites The Low Frequency in Stereo, Ørjan Haaland and Per Steinar Lie, are the perfect pick for playing roots, country and gypsy rock, in Tom Roger’s opinion. Internationally renowned pianist Brian Connor (Van Morrison, Riverdance) had just enough time between tours to come to the west coast of Norway and sit down by the organ keys. Linn Frøkedal from Megaphonic Thrift sings beautiful vocal harmonies.
Three more musicians contribute strongly to the colorful weavings that run through the album. Multitalented string player Olav Christer Rossebø plays fiddle and mandolin with soul and true musicianship. Kjetil Steensnæs plays pedal steel guitar and dobro, laying down a musical case that the spiritual home of the album may be Tennessee just as much as the west coast of Norway. Beneath it all sings Kjetil Lundø’s warm acoustic bass.
Stig Morten Sørheim has recorded and mixed the album, giving these songs an organic and rich timbre, not least by employing the natural acoustics of the wooden walls in the old converted school house where ABC Studio is located. Mastering legend Björn Engelmann at Cutting Room, Stockholm has mysteriously managed to give the album even more character and gusto.
Those who appreciated Tom Roger’s renditions of Bob Dylan on Blod på spora or delighted in his dark, beautiful debut album Obviously Embraced, will find much to like on Det du aldri sa. One of the first people to listen to the finished version of the new album sums it up, “Rarely have I heard so many simply beautiful songs on one and the same CD”. Started in South Africa, finished in the city of Oslo and in the countryside of Norway, this is an album that crosses many borders.
