Helene Blum – Men Med Åbne Øjne

I’d been waiting and hoping for some 2013 album to come along and hit that sweet spot. You know, a disc that makes you think that yes, there’s something truly special going on here. I had high hopes for this,Helene Blum’s fourth record and it doesn’t disappoint. It satisfies the parts most albums can’t reach.

I’ve been a fan of her voice ever since I first heard her sing at the Tønder Festival in 2003, and Solen, the duo disc she did with Karen Mose (one of the other major young Danish singing talents) showed that she had a remarkable, translucent quality. She’s grown with each of her solo records – even her Christmas record was a joy – but this truly takes her to a new level. There might be folkies on it and a traditional song (Gådevisen) but this is, at heart, poetry set to music. It takes chances throughout – Læber Åbnes has her over backing of piano and cello that’s arranged in a gloriously spare, unearthly fashion, while the closer is utterly naked, just Blum’s voice, not even double-tracked. It’s a bold way to finish but it works. Throughout, even coalesces around her singing, which has a vulnerable, delicate warmth; you want to reach out and protect her, and you want to listen to her singing all night. Hjertet Ved , which has her singing and playing piano ( the vocal melody reminiscent in part of an early Jackson Browne song) while husband Harald Haugaard offers fiddle backing (and he’s one of the world’s best fiddlers, making them quite the dynamic duo). Like a flower, this opens its joys gradually, but fills the senses. Når Først Vi Har Sagt Farvel sees her duetting with the great Martin Simpson on a song they co-wrote, with Simpson adding acoustic guitar and verses in English; it’s a testament to Blum that she upstages him. Then again, Blum has been a world-class talent for the last several years. This release, at once so personal but also accessible while still pushing at all the possibilities of performance, might see her receiving the due she so richly deserves. With The Killing and Borgen people have become more aware of Denmark and eager for what it offers. People, this is among the very best. And no expensive sweaters needed, just a stereo and an ear for real beauty.