MP3: Kristin Asbjørnsen - Ride up in the chariot
Conceptionally, this sounds like a terrible idea. Kristin Asbjørnsen is a Norwegian singer/songwriter whose debut solo album "Wayfaring stranger - A spiritual songbook" is a collection African-American spirituals she learned from Ruth Reese, a Chicago native who emigrated to Norway in 1960 (and passed in 1990). It would be very easy to dismiss it outright, but truthfully, it's not that bad. Kristin has a delicate, scratchy voice that fits the songs and her spacious, subdued arrangements suit the material well. Listen to the song I've posted today and two things should be readily apparent. Firstly, the percussion is nothing but hand-drums. Second, the backing chorus is very small, small enough that you can pick out the individual voices. In less talented hands we'd be hearing a full gospel choir and church band. The concept itself remains problematic, but seeing as how the project was treated with such reverence, it's harder to write it off. Nomatter what, it's impossible to deny that the artists are passionate about the music. Now I'm just waiting for an American gospel artist to record an album of Norwegian folk tunes.
Kristin Asbjørnsen - Ride up in the chariot