ANNLAUG BØRSHEIM – Spring Før Sola Står Opp

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://annlaugb.bandcamp.com/album/spring-f-r-sola-st-r-opp

Few albums are as compelling, fully formed, and addictive as this one is – let me just say that to begin with. The immensely gifted Annlaug Børsheim’s latest musical effort saw the light of day in early September via the eclectic Apollon Records, and this 9-song gem is undoubtedly one of the finest and most heartachingly beautiful entries in the label’s diverse and wonderful discography.

Annlaug expertly guides us through a uniquely sculptured world of sound in which Americana, jazz, folk (rock), singer-songwriter music with an indie rock twist, and very subtle touches of early post-punk come together in spectacular fashion. Rich in texture and filled to the brim with bittersweet melancholy, this is simply a gorgeously composed record that flows incredibly well from beginning to end without ever losing momentum. Børsheim’s voice has the ability to fill the head and heart of the listener with thoughts and feelings of loss, longing, overcoming, introspection, and the strangely poetic qualities of everyday observations that seem to matter more than we think. Death and the inevitable passing of time are themes that occasionally rear their heads as well, and one can only marvel at how perfectly the melodies, soundscapes, and words merge and complement each other – an example being the closing track titled “Støvet som glitrar og gror.”

Bolstered by a warm, vibrant, and organic production that invites the listener in from the very first note, Spring Før Sola Står Opp is an inventive and mesmerizing piece of work that is bound to enthrall the open-minded listeners out there, and keep in mind that darkness is never far away throughout this multi-layered triumph.