Review: Østerlide

by H. Murray. Published March 15, 2021.

I have a new favorite band. I am utterly obsessed with the otherworldly quality of Liv Ulvik’s voice and the way the ensemble pulls together and crafts sounds that feel like landscapes in your ears. It is uncanny. I had never heard of these musicians before a few weeks ago, and now I’m sure I will never forget them. The lyrics are in Norwegian, which I do not speak or understand, but these sounds paint a portrait that I resonate with deeply. In an attempt to define and explain his music and heritage, guitarist Andreas Haddeland began working with folk singer Liv Ulvik and percussionist Ulrik Ibsen Thorsrud to find melodies and stories from the Norwegian folk music tradition. 

These melodies and sounds are haunting in all the ways you want to be haunted. I craved this album and listened exclusively to it for weeks. There is magic in this sound. It is wanderlust for your ears. It is wide open spaces for your imagination, and it is a world that feels purer than what we (myself, anyways) endure in the present. 

This album is already available, and I wish I had been listening to it throughout the coldest months because there is a crispness in the air when you hear this music. You can practically see your breath, and apples look particularly red and juicy. Blues are bluer, snow feels bleaker, and your soul feels like it has moved to a remote part of the world where only intimate sounds matter. 

Listen to one song - I’m sure you will agree with me that your soul needs more of this.

You can hear this album on all major streaming services and find out more about the band and album on the website.