Down came the sky, and all you did was blink…

Sondre Lerche is a Norwegian singer-songwriter that I first discovered on Christmas Day 2007. He had already been on the music scene for several years when I heard that song, “Track You Down”. It wasn’t, however, until several months later that I really started looking into his music and quickly became a big fan of his.

He has an acute talent for writing catchy pop hooks. While it’s quite evident that he was influenced by artists like Elvis Costello and Brian Wilson, I think his work is distinctive in his own write. He weaves his songs from catchy Beatlesque melodies to sophisticated sounds like Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello and intertwines them with his own notable and worthy voice. Considering his young age when he started (he was only 19 or 20 when his first album was released), you would think his music would be naïve and inexperienced, but it’s pleasantly the opposite.

 

The first album I got was his 2004 album, Two Way Monologue. That is a great album to use as an introduction to such a talented musician. At least, it completely hooked me. It kicks off with an instrumental piece then launches into the enchanting and catchy “On The Tower” and segues into the title track, “Two Way Monologue”. That song was an early favorite of mine. I love the way the song builds – starting with just vocal and guitar and swelling into a toe-tapping pop-rock song.  “Wet Ground” is lovely for the poetic lyrics and melancholy melody. “It’s Over” is another favorite of mine, seeming to be reflecting on a breakup. “Stupid Memory” and “Counter Spark” are both extremely catchy pop songs. And “It’s Too Late” has an unusual melody written in 6/8 time – I really dig the drums in this song.  Then the album ends on that first song I’d ever heard by him – “Track You Down”. I think that song may still be my favorite of his. After listening to that album, I felt compelled to check out the rest of his albums.

 

All of his albums have a number of great songs: “To Be Surprised” from the Dan In Real Life soundtrack is an instant feel-good song for me – and I love the guitar in that song.  “No One’s Gonna Come” is another song written in 6/8 with a catchy tune and prominent piano and drums. Phantom Punch is a really great album that has a bit of a different feel than his previous albums – with a bit more of a rockier edge. Particularly “The Tape” and “Face The Blood” – though there are plenty of straight pop songs too, like “She’s Fantastic” and one of my all-time favorite songs, “Say It All”. In that same vein is the song “Don’t Look Now” from Heartbeat Radio. He even does a really great cover of “Human Hands” that gives the fabulous Elvis Costello song a fun, jazzy feel.

 

All in all, if you dig dreamy and romantic pop music, you should definitely check out Sondre Lerche. (And he's not half-bad to look at either!)