Thomas Dybdahl
One day you'll dance for me, New York City
EMI
This is 24 year old Norwegian Dybdahl's third long player. Taking hints from Ed Harcourt and Bright Eyes, the palette from which he paints from is both fragile and weary. "It's always been you" is a heartfelt weepie that features whispered breathy vocals and a gorgeous piano refrain, all drenched in subtle strings. Title track "One day you'll dance for me, New York City" has an underlying country feel to it with a gently picked banjo, whilst Dybdahl's lyrics are concerned with typical outsiderdom. The young Norwegian doesn't anything new or different on this record, he's just a great songwriter.
- Nick Levine