Kari Rueslåtten – To The North

[schema type=”review” name=”Kari Rueslåtten – To The North” description=”Label: Despotz Records” author=”Basak Günel” pubdate=”2015-10-22″ ]

Kari Rueslåtten is a Norwegian singer/songwriter and keyboardist. She may be known for her contributions in the metal scene (The 3rd and The Mortal, The Sirens just to name a few) but for now, she has been active with her own solo project which features a mixture of folk and electronic elements . Her desire is to find beauty hiding in the dark and with her latest record “To The North”, she is interested in “creating emotions in the listener and allow people to close their eyes and transcend”.

Throughout the record, we are taken to different journeys within that calm and soothing atmosphere. Surely, the music itself can be described as a mixture of folk/electronic but I had the impression that there’s a bit of everything for everyone. It’s definitely from the heart and it really seems like Kari really speaks to our soul in each song (which happens quite rarely in records nowadays). I also gotta add that I personally found the record more ‘optimistic’ than dark-edged so that “beauty in the darkness” aspect fits to this record really well! It’s also hard not feel that Nordic atmosphere in the album so there’s also a spiritual/atmospheric aspect.

Soundwise, the album might be soothing but it’s definitely a complex one. Surely, Kari’s amazing and unique vocals form the highlight of the record; especially considering her career, this album shows us how diverse an artist like her can be. This is also clear in the different styles embedded within the overall sound. My favorites are “Three Roses In My Hands” (feel the Nordic spirit!), “Turn, Turn, Turn” (probably the most emotional song in the record) and “Letting Go”.

It doesn’t matter what you listen to.. “To The North” is one of those records that you gotta own! It’s definitely one of the best of 2015

01. Battle Forevermore 02. Mary’s Song 03. What We Have Lost 04. Three Roses In My Hands 05. Dance With The King 06. Letting Go 07. Arrow In My Heart 08. Turn,Turn,Turn 09. To The North

Links:
Kari Rueslåtten Official
Kari Rueslåtten Facebook