Sondre Lerche - 'Don't Be Shallow EP' (Astralwerks)
4/5
By: Joshua K
Following his rousing 2003 tours with Nada Surf and Ed Harcourt, young Norwegian singer/songwriter Sondre Lerche now releases this eight-track, US-only EP of early songs and current live tracks to tide us over until a second album. While not as immediate as his stunning debut LP 'Faces Down', it's a grower of the highest order; a rewarding sketchbook for the delightfully downbeat songs for which Lerche is very quickly making his name.
And in considering this EP, do especially note the use of the word 'sketchbook'. For the whole affair is noticeably sparser than the previously released material and is at times lyrically clumsier than equivalent later songs. That said, the title-track is a rousing breath of fresh air that musically recalls a mix of the LP's 'Sleep On Needles' and 'All Luck Ran Out', while 'I Know I Know' is an achingly gorgeous slice of '60s-inspired pop, held together by the minute yet weighty inflections of Lerche's voice.
The live tracks, all recorded on his recent solo American trek, continue the bare nature of the proceedings - with 'Dead Passengers', 'You Know So Well' and 'Sleep On Needles' all taking on extra gravity in the spare arrangement. Similarly, one cannot help but come away with respect for how powerful an instrument Lerche's voice really is.
Provided the choice, be sure to start your Sondre-collection with 'Faces Down'. But a side-helping of love, loss, and longing rarely tasted this good.
Artists in this article: Sondre Lerche
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