
Hanne Hukkelberg - Little Things [Leaf - 2005]Hanne Hukkelberg’s debut album is a wonderful mix of playfulness and real emotion. Her voice varies from powerful jazziness, to angelic highs through to soothingly sweet. The music weaves its way through varied musical styles from lush jazz to junkshop show tunes, to heartfelt pop and beyond. Hanne handles most of the varied instrumentation her self, along with help from members of fellow Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. Strangely enough it doesn’t sound Scandinavian at tall. It seems for the most part, to mummer of long forgotten musical halls and female jazz singers of another time. But all put together with a keen ear for sonic detail and a modern edge.
Little girl comes off like a gone wrong show tune with tuba and banjo, barging jollily into the proceedings here and there. With pots and pans used as percussion. Making a wonderful quirky humbly tune. Through out she users interesting sounds, adding them to the nocks and crannies of the songs. On Cast anchor she users the sound of pouring water under the enchanting jazzy melody. That’s flecked with Hawaiian guitar, even a castanet like sound waltzes in at one point. Making the track well travelled in its musical references.
Other highlights include the Haunting and emotional air of words and a piece of paper with Wurlitzer, violin and the sound of bicycle spokes. And the Parisian air of Boble with heady accordion and urgent guitar and toped with enchanting singing. A captivating debut that is touching,funny and always inventive. A raising star with out a doubt.      Roger Batty
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