aaamusic | On 10, Jun 2012

Amanda Mair is a female Swedish singer songwriter and pianist who studied at the Rytmus Musikergymnasiet, a music school in Stockholm. In style think of Stevie Nicks, Ladyhawke, Sylver Tongue and Bat for Lashes.

She’s probably Sweden’s most talked about new artist. Her self-titled debut album was released in February 2012 in Sweden only, then on June 11^th in the UK on the Labrador label.  It was produced and arranged by Philip Ekström.

Opener Said and Done, a song about no regrets, has an Eastern string motif whilst Doubt has a Californian feel. House captures the emptiness felt when a relationship comes to an end. Sense is a catchy orchestral number about joy and sadness, love found and then lost. The quiet and sensitive, Skinnarviksberget (a hill above Stockholm) is a track about the innocence of youth.

This is a well produced and intuitive album. With a great voice Amanda sings in an airy and melodic way which is both playful and sorrowful. She has a precocious talent but doesn’t always master her songs as a 17 year old girl singing to an adult, mature and complex audience. Her musical abilities may blossom further in years to come.

 

★★★★★

Anthony Weightman