Wednesday, October 11, 2023
LISA EKDAHL – When Did You Leave Heaven (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
A major pop star in Scandinavia, Lisa Ekdahl was 24 when she attempted to sing straight-ahead jazz on the consistently weak When Did You Leave Heaven, which was her first release in the U.S. and her first all-English recording. The Swedish singer's thin, girlish, mousy voice might work on bubblegum pop, but it's hardly appropriate for standards like "Cry Me a River" and "I'm a Fool to Want You." Ekdahl tries to emulate Billie Holiday, although the disc ends up sounding more like Paula Abdul with a Scandinavian accent making an ill-advised attempt at acoustic jazz. Especially embarrassing is her version of "Lush Life" -- this is a song that even 35-year-old singers shy away from because they don't feel they've done enough living, and Ekdahl gives no indication that she has the type of depth needed to sing this Billy Strayhorn classic convincingly. As many gifted jazz singers as Sweden had in the late 1990s (including Jeanette Lindström and Lina Nyberg), it's most regrettable that RCA Victor chose to record someone who should have stuck to commercial pop. Alex Henderson Tracklist + Credits :
LISA EKDAHL | PETER NORDAHL TRIO – Back To Earth (1998) FLAC (tracks), lossless
At first, Lisa Ekdahl's squeaky, girlish voice may seem inappropriate for the pop standards she has chosen to make her trade, but given some time, her voice and laid-back style become endearing. True, she occasionally seems mannered and borrows heavily from her inspirations (most notably Billie Holiday), but she shows signs of developing her own style throughout her second American album, Back to Earth. Like its predecessor, When Did You Leave Heaven, Back to Earth was recorded with the Peter Nordahl Trio and has a charming mellow vibe. Nordahl has an elegant turn of phrase and his rhythm section -- drummer Ronnie Gardiner and bassist Patrik Boman -- has a light touch that keeps the focus on Ekdahl. It is true that her voice may strike some listeners as odd, but it's girlish, not thin, which means she can nail the emotions of the songs. There may be a few missteps here and there, but she delivers ballads ("What Is This Thing Called Love?," "The Laziest Gal in Town," "Now or Never") as well as swing ("Down with Love," "I Get a Kick Out of You"). Yes, the selections are a little predictable and Ekdahl is a bit of an acquired taste, but ultimately, Back to Earth is quite charming. Stephen Thomas Erlewine Tracklist + Credits :
Saturday, October 7, 2023
LISA EKDAHL – Give Me That Slow Knowing Smile (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Released in 2009, Give Me That Slow Knowing Smile is the eighth studio album from Swedish singer/songwriter Lisa Ekdahl, but her first to be recorded in English in nine years. Produced by Mathias Blomdahl and Tobias Fröberg, the follow-up to Parlor Av Glas, recorded in her native Stockholm, focuses on a more folk-pop sound than her previous bossa nova/jazz efforts, and includes the title track lead single. Jon O'Brien Tracklist + Credits :
