Search - Susanna & Magical Orchestra :: Melody Mountain

Surprising and pleasing...

Karen M. Wegryn | Cleveland, OH | 02/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I downloaded this album with reluctance. Covers are a let down more often than not. At first, I was little turned off that "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was done slowly- it seemed to defeat the purpose of the song, in my opinion.



BUT, after listening to the rest of the album, I can't imagine any of it done differently. "It's a Long Way to the Top" is simply amazing. It didn't take long before all of the songs won me over, including "Love Will Tear Us Apart." It's very pretty and I gave up trying to argue against it.



I have been listening to this album almost daily for the last couple of weeks, so it's definitely worth a listen! I think... :)



The only reason that I gave it four stars instead of five, is because at times it can feel a little redundant. I'm just trying to be fair. But you should find a way to hear it immediately!"

Magical Susanna Intimate Covers

Juan Mobili | Valley Cottage, NY USA | 03/04/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is Sweden's Susanna Carolina Wallumrød's second album under the misleading name of Susanna and Her Magical Orchestra. This time she and her orchestra--that basically consists of Morten Qvenild's tasteful playing in a number of instruments besides Susanna's voice--chose to cover not always obvious choices of songs by Prince, Depeche Mode, Dylan, and Kiss among several others. All very established songwriters who as much as they shared wide recognition could not be farther apart in styles.



In an intimate, almost crepuscular mood, Susanna's voice appropriates these songs and turns them into melancholy ballads, a cabaret set, if you will, in the tradition of Nico's dark European Pop but tenderer.



Although not every song has lent itself graciously to this kind of subtle, somewhat minimal arrangements, there are several beauties such as Kiss' "Crazy, Crazy Nights," Scott Walker's "It's Still Raining," and the obscure Dylan track "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." Also worth of mention is "It's a Long Way to the Top," the AC-DC song, Prince's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and Fairport Convention's "Fotheringay."



More interesting, to my taste, than her compatriot Stina Nordenstam and not quite in the same league with Paula Fraser and Beth Gibbons, Susanna is somewhat to keep tabs on. Play it at night, ideally by a window whatever it might look over, and better if it's cold. It's that kind of a record."

Stunningly Beautiful

Mazzy | San Francisco, CA USA | 02/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Heard the cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart on a Mojo Magazine sampler and went for the full album, So beautiful. They are very slow, minimal, play this after any Red House Painter's album. Great late at night. LOVE IT! It is always great to hear cover versions that don't attempt to replicate the original versions. Why bother. This is great!"