Islander

by Bernhoft

Overview

With his third studio album, Islander, Bernhoft offers more of his slick '80s-style R&B tossed with '70s soul, lots of funky bass, and a feel-good song selection. A household name and chart-topper in his native Norway, U.S. appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Conan, and NPR's Weekend Edition after the release of 2011's Solidarity Breaks helped grow his American fan base and prompted a move to New York City, though the album was recorded in Los Angeles and Isle of Wight. Armed with a voice that doesn't have a weak range, Bernhoft can glide between rich baritone and lucid falsetto with the ease of a well-oiled rollercoaster, and does here, in doses. Speaking of effortless singers, the record features a duet, "No Us, No Them," with Jill Scott. It's an album highlight in its simplicity, the playfulness in the rhythm of the melody, and the perhaps mild surprise that their voices work together so nicely. The first single, "Come Around," is another strong vocal track loaded with layers of rhythm, singalong backup vocals, and a clap-along, slide-along groove. Islander could benefit from Bernhoft letting his voice do even more of the talking; some tracks that focus on stylized, throwback guitar and keyboard timbres, accented bass, and more-processed vocals -- notably the beatboxing track "Wind You Up" and "One Way Track," in which he's usually buried in overdubbing -- are fun enough but obscure those pipes, which ultimately feels like a deprivation. In contrast, his vocals are allowed to really dig in and show coloration on the more stripped-down, pleading, retro ballad "Don't Let Me Go." In the big picture, Islander has the variety and texture to make for an engaging listen, though what it really aims to do is distract and lift spirits. ~ Marcy Donelson

Product Details

Release Date:	06/23/2014
Label:	Big Picnic Records
UPC:	0822685324666
Rank:	127129

Tracks

1. Come Around with Me
2. Wind You Up
3. Freedom
4. Don't Let Me Go
5. Chale Skit
6. Everything Will Be Alright
7. One Way Track
8. No Us, No Them
9. Arsy Skit
10. Esiwalk
11. I Believe in All the Things You Don't

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bernhoft   Primary Artist,Vocals
Paul Butler   Primary Artist
David Wallumrod   Keyboards
Jill Scott   Vocals,Featured Artist
Rupert Brown   Drums
Vemund Stavnes   Bass
Dave Granshaw   Handclapping
Tom Gardner   Guitar

Technical Credits

Rupert Brown   Composer
Guy Davie   Mastering
Jarle Bernhoft   Composer
Fred Ball   Composer
Paul Butler   Mixing,Sounds,Composer,Producer
Charlie Paakkari   Vocal Engineer
Bernhoft   Sounds,Composer
Dave Granshaw   Engineer
Fred Jonny   Photography
David Wallumrod   Composer