Ane Brun

Changing of the Seasons

(Rough Trade)

Record Review by Thomas Hillard

Songs from Changing of the Seasons are honest and clear. Ane Brun's latest record is not a 20 layer production, and it has no reliance on vocal doubling or synthesizers. Just guitar, piano and vocals holding our attention. Her guitar picking is folksy and hypnotic. Ever so tastefully simple string instruments back her arrangements like italics in a passage of text. Her voice is crisp then warbly then melodic all clearly chosen with the precision of brain surgeon. She uses tensions like her back pocket secret weapon, smoothly sailing between comfort and dissonance without apology.

Her songs are an early morning drive through the countryside on what 
will be a hot day, the peripheral thoughts of impending battles that lay ahead. The determination to take them by the horns - head on - with conviction and confidence. There is no fear in Brun's voice. She is prophesizing. Speaking from experience, she tells it like it is.  She is your good friend laying down the hard but true advice. Start with “The Fall”, then (no pun intended) fall deeper and deeper in; she won't drop you.