Thomas Dybdahl had an immediate impact on me. His 2006 release Science was the first I heard. He has a comfort in his voice, exuding that i'm-in-the-right-place confidence, and a lyricism so intimate you might never know that he comes from a small town in Southwestern Norway. He is a famous son from a place called Sandnes, which to hear him say it, almost sounds like sadness. And while there is a sense of melancholy in his work, his music is rich in romanticism and always of a quality that earns the time you invest in listening.
Songs, his US debut, comes through Strange Cargo, a new label imprint from producer/bassist Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeleine Peyroux) and pulls together highlights from his previous five critically-acclaimed Norwegian releases, which have earned Dybdahl (pronounced DIB-dull) platinum status and multiple awards at home. This collection will likely serve as an introduction, leading new fans to his earlier work, and setting the stage for the global release of his next album of new songs.
- KCRW DJ Chris Douridas
Image by: Johannes W Berg
Songs will be available to stream on demand from July 04 through August 1, 2011. The album will be available July 12, 2011.