Freddie Matthews writes from London: This album is a real turn up for the books, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Norwegian born, Stockholm based Rebekka Karijord is a musician and composer and in actual fact she’s probably better known for her work as a film soundtrack creator, having produced over 30 film soundtracks. To date Karijord has had her music placed on TV on both sides of the Atlantic and as a musician she’s toured in the UK and Europe.

This new album is beautiful in its creation and also compelling in its arrangement. We Become Ourselves is the follow up album to The Noble Art Of Letting Go which gained success in her Scandinavian homeland as well as across Europe. This music lends itself to typical heart-rending lyrics from her inner soul, and not a stone’s left unturned. The music is very basic in the main with often nothing more than an acoustic guitar, some weird percussion, bass and her unique and mesmerising vocal. It may be stripped back but it’s also full in an accomplished sense. Karijord is like an uber-cool Florence Welch. In fact she makes Florence Welch look positively normal.

To the music: the lead track on We Become Ourselves is Use My Body While It’s Still Young. It’s almost tribal with the leading drumbeat. I can hear Husky Rescue (if you’re familiar with the Finnish band) especially from the organ middle eight. It’s urgent and a fairly uneasy listen yet it draws you deeper and deeper with every second until you’re immersed in this genius-like-music. I’m a big fan of the song. I love the powerful build in the vocal.

Another single from the album is Oh Brother. It’s sparse, yet full and rich with a male choir and her vocal fits seamlessly against the piano and distant electric guitar. “Stop and wait, Feel What’s New, ‘Cause Winds they Change, We can change Too?” And she’s not even writing in her native tongue, which makes this work even more remarkable.

Multicolored Hummingbird is a beauty. It’s endearing yet simple, invites you in and makes you smile. And what wonderful lyrics: “I don’t wanna sing, I’d rather be the song, I don’t wanna sing, I’d rather be the song”; Save Yourself has complete tenderness and has splendid harmonies. Ode To What Was Lost has a certain pain in the piano part long before her vocal returns and it’s followed by a perfect final track to any album called Bandages. This final song, Bandages, is pure with the continual message, “Don’t ever look away.” There’s a lot of pain in the lyrics and I’m not even sure if we’re ending on a positive note. It’s almost like a case of ‘To Be Continued’ like so many films these days.

The UK leg of Rebekka Karijord’s European tour is at the following cities and venues: The Borderline London 16 January, The Ruby Lounge Manchester 17 January, Workman’s Club Dublin 18 January and King Tuts Glasgow 19 January. I can’t help but feel that we’re on the verge of something very special that’s just about to explode onto the world stage.

Go and see Karijord on tour now before the tickets double in price over the next couple of years.

If you like Dido, Sarah McLachlan and early Kate Bush then, take it from me, you’ll fall head over heels for Rebekka Karijord and her new album We Become Ourselves. She’s the real deal.

8/10

–End–

3 Comments

1. Lisa says:

   January 12, 2013 at 11:28 pm

   Nice review I am so glad that I read this review because it has introduced me to something I knew nothing about what I heard. Watching films with music like this in the background is what makes these films so special. Thanks for sharing, great music to do the dishes to as well so well done Freddie for this positive review. I may even go out and take friends to see this band play live to should be really entertaining.
2. 1Sausage says:

   January 16, 2013 at 8:55 am

   I agree with Lisa, I would not have heard about this artist unless I’d read this review. I try to read a lot of music press and have never seen her mentioned before, maybe what I read is too generic and not underground enough, or maybe I should just read more from this reviewer.
   Thanks for a fab find Mr. Matthews.
3. Houdini says:

   January 19, 2013 at 1:35 am

   Rebekka Karijord is just a fantastic singer/performer/composer… I used to know her work since years now, and it is always stunning to be present at her shows (I’m French). She is one of the best artists I ever heard since long… WE BECOME OURSELVES is actually her fourth album !