Search - Anna Ternheim :: Leaving on a Mayday

Dark, Brooding, and Beautiful

j.s. | Bloomington, IN United States | 09/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was milling around Barnes & Noble yesterday and just HAD to ask one of the booksellers, "What album is playing in the store right now?" The sexy drums, haunting strings and detached vocals were striking and catchy. Turns out, the the album is "Leaving on a Mayday" by Anna Ternheim.



This Swedish singer's voice sounds like a mix of Beth Gibbons (lead singer of Portishead) and Emiliana Torrini. Some of the strangely filtered tunes, too, slightly reminded me of Portishead's "Third" album. However, Anna Ternheim is more mainstream than Portishead.



I appreciated the moody atmosphere that infected the whole album. It manages to be dark but not depressing. I actually found myself dancing in the car listening to these beautiful tracks.



Any complaints? Well, sort of...The first song (and single), "What Have I Done," is amazing. The rest of the album doesn't really live up to the promise of that song, BUT it is still great. I hate when a first song affects you so much that the rest is a letdown...because this whole album is truly wonderful. It just doesn't match that first note.



Recommended to fans of Portishead, Emiliana Torrini, and other indy pop/alternative singers looking for something a little dark and fun."

THE NEWEST SWEDE TO HIT THE U.S.

Margaux Paschke | New York | 10/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have never heard of this singer before but she was recommended as something different for me to try. After listening to the whole album, I was impressed.



The drum and string background on most tunes blends well with Anna Terheim's lush singing voice. I found this album very appealing although the same could not be said for every song. "Damaged Ones" and "What Have I done?" are my favorite songs. I seem to be in a mini explosion of Swedish exports and this artist is my newest favorite "indie" discovery."

A mix of foreboding and anticipation.

John W. Dunner | Atco, NJ United States | 10/01/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This should be the Stateside breakthrough album for this Norse night owl. Ternheim's tales of melancholy remain consistent, one to the next. From lacy laments ("Summer Rain") to quavering resolution ("Make It on My Own"), Ternheim builds on the cymbeline styles of Suzanne Vega, Joni Mitchell, and Stevie Nicks, creating an aurora borealis of ephemeral emotions and hardened memories. Most tracks include quietly thrumming tom-toms and light string accents that give a mix of both foreboding and anticipation. On most releases, Ternheim's cover art has tended toward blue-gray -- patches of night sky, windmills, and storm clouds. And it's left vague whether the storm has come or gone."