Review: Odd Nordstoga – “Inn i skogen”

Deputy pop

Published:

7. October 2022

Record label:

Universal music

“Up to expectations.“

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After the release the single “Ieri” a month ago there was every reason to raise expectations for the long-player “Inn i skogen”, available today. And Nordstoga delivers.

I could also have written “of course”, why did Nordstoga ever release a bad album? “He’s almost defiantly good, this man”I wrote when he let go “Poor traveler” two years ago. What should I write now, when it follows with the excellent “Inn i skogen”?

Versatile

Part of the secret of Nordstoga’s success is probably its versatility. You recognize it right away, yet it never becomes predictable. He doesn’t solidify into a form. He feels safebut to call it confidence it would be an insult. The level of what he and his fellow musicians offer is too high for that.

This time, Nordstoga challenged himself. “Inn i skogen” was recorded in the home music room at Lambertseter in Oslo, and he plays many of the instruments himself. He was certainly a co-producer of best career “Kløivd” (2018) together with Bård Ingebrigtsen, but here for the first time he is also a solo leader.

Following the plan

It can go both ways, but here there is no external voice that can send the artist on the right path. Nordstoga completed an apprenticeship and passed the exam with flying colors. He has faith that what he is doing is right. He had a plan that follows and the result is convincing. Yet.

He’s just as good if he sings about experiences in nature, the world situation or everyday life, and he’s just as accurate if he sings shows, pop, American, or mixes folk music into the mix. The latter is especially true “Nice and straightforward” and stripped “Far away in the forest”but it appears in several places.

Road movie on skis

Often it is the forest, both in summer and in winter. There is an explanation for this. “Yes, there has been a lot of forest in the last couple of years. One thing is that I have composed music for the NRK series ‘Fotobonden’. Another thing is the acquisition of a small farm in Trysilskogen”, Nordstoga herself writes in the cover letter. He wanted to cook “a kind of road movie, but with skis and blue swix instead of a Ford Mustang and on Route 66” – and you succeed. Vinje’s eldest son makes no secret of the fact that the forest poet Hans Børli is an inspiration.

The band

And – if he has been sitting at home alone and playing acoustic guitar, electric guitars, high string guitar, banjo, accordion, percussion, wood organ, synthesizer, recorder and singing, he has gradually brought and received excellent help a “fill on” by Torstein Lofthus (drums / percussion), Tor Egil Kreken (bass), Håkon Aase (violin), Sigrid Aase (choir), David Wallumrød (piano and synth) and Alexander Pettersen (electric guitar / mandolin). Aase’s violin in particular leaves a strong mark on the soundscape.

Songs

“Inn i skogen” is made up of eleven quite different songs. The opening “Everything as it was prepared” some will recognize from the second season of the TV series “Fotobonden”, for which Nordstoga wrote the music. Here we are deep in the deep forest while “Easy as nothing” it’s about the fact that life can only be beautiful if “the other” is nearby. “Off skis” is a cool song about the joy of hearing the crunch of bindings and poles in the snow. “Quite good”a warm and friendly duet with Sigrid Aase from the band Hajk, talks about how little is needed to feel good.

Ukraine

ON “Yesterday” It expresses in words the bad things that happen in our “neighborhood”. Our daily “problems” are very small compared to the war taking place elsewhere in Europe. At the same time, we have to take care of the little things in this. “The barn is my temple”, sings in the acoustic lead track “A forced child”as he concludes “Only in the cabin” it’s a real “happy song”. Here sings the joy of “meets silence in every room. This is what can give me peace”. Time alone in the cabin is encouraged by a cheerful “women’s choir” consisting of Sigrid Aase, Hilde Marit Kvile and Sol Heilo.

There won’t be much peace this fall. Nordstoga & Co. begins a tour of the Asker cultural center on October 20 and ends at the Oslo Opera on November 20. 28 places are visited.