Search - Lene Marlin :: Lost in a Moment

Music's hidden angel shines for a third time

Steven Ooi | Singapore | 01/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lene Marlin is my favourite musician, period. In an English-language market dominated by the Americans and Brits, the best artist is really one for whom English is not her mother tongue. But she brings a gentle, soulful Norwegian touch to the English language, and the two cultures and vibes blend beautifully to produce something truly rich.



A couple of tracks on her third album, on first listen, may sound like humdrum commercial pop. But give it more time and you'll find that songs like "My Lucky Day" and "How Would It Be" possess an emotional honesty and depth that lift them above the ordinary. And they have grown on me; now they are very special songs too.



Most songs on the album are very good; but the best songs are an absolute masterclass. "Leave My Mind" is oceans deep and undulating in its elegant sadness and fluid rhythm. The guitar playing is excellent and unusual in its feel as well. The beat is fascinating as it features an occasional skip, and the way Lene wraps her voice and soul around the words "If I" in the chorus is luxuriant.



'If I...

had a choice I'd leave it all behind'



"All I Can Say" features a rich guitar sound that conjures a glorious sun that soon becomes accompanied by a few thoughtful clouds. It sees Lene at her most tender, albeit a more mature tenderness than before. She lingers on the notes in the chorus with that familiar theme of guilt for breaking someone's heart inadvertently -- but it is guilt awash with tenderness, unlike earlier guilt-laden songs like "Maybe I'll Go" and "Unforgivable Sinner".



"When You Were Around" is an unplugged-style song, just guitar and voice, a style in which Lene excels. Its sheer simplicity of melody and lyric stand out in the increasingly complicated music and world of today. You feel like you're in Lene's garage, and she's playing and singing on a lazy, rainy Saturday afternoon -- just for you.



"Hope You're Happy" is another of my favourites on the record. It is another walk on love's dark shores by Lene, and her lyrics are exquisitely simple, yet rich in meaning and feelng. Much ambivalence and irony lie in the words:



'I'm sorry that I could not be

As perfect as you wanted me

Just wondering, what's going on in your

mind

I sure hope you're fine

I hope your conscience is clear

Hope you're happy'



No one makes sadness more beautiful than Lene Marlin. It is redemptive music by an artist who has the rare courage to truly bare her soul and share her deepest hurts to contemplative people who love music, and love honesty.



E-mail: elias_stars @ yahoo.com (Remove the spaces)

Your thoughts are most welcome."

The legend rolls on...quiet as can be

Gosu | Korea | 08/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though being an avid Lene Marlin fan, I have only just discovered that she has released a 3rd album. My first impressions are that 'Lost In A Moment' is a significantly superior album to her 2nd compilation, but slightly inferior to her original work. Of course, 'Playing My Game' is one of my favourite albums of all time, so that is hard to better.



Once more, Lene Marlin follows a formula that has brought her the quiet success of the past. Probably one of the most under-rated singer/songwriters of our time.



This is an essential addition for any Lene Marlin fan."

The problem with this album...

Pl Amundsen | 09/28/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"...is that the hit of "Lost in a moment" titled "How would it be" is so promising, and it's another stunning composition where Lene is playing on safe strings (-and her skills in songwrititng indeed shines through) that it is nearly impossible not to feel a bit let down by the rest of the material on this rather poor album. I admire Lene as both a performer and a songwriter, and I really wanted to like this album. But, to be honest, this is boring. And perhaps the worst; So average as in list-pop. She does not sound matured, it sounds as if this release was completed way too fast. And what a shame. Her previous "Another day" (a much better album, and far more "Lene") did not turn out to be the comeback the fans had hoped for. But it sounded of a higher effort than "Lost in a moment", and was at least a worthy "sequel" to the fantastic "Playing my game". Lene has a certain style, a natural and beautiful voice -and her writing is full of personality and charm. Of course it is important for every artist to develope, and it's not that I don't recognize Lene in "Lost..." -it's just that the gasps between the highlights are many, and already after first round on my stereo I was bored out of my mind. It's as if this entire production is relied on the "one" really good song on the album, "How would it be". There is a reason why the rest of the repertoaire seems already forgotten. The second song after the pathetic opening is the "next best thing", but sounds written for a girlband/boyband.



The opening does not suit Lenes' voice nor style, the "na-na-na-na" itself sounds un-natural and misplaced. Of course these are my ears, and my taste -but I usually like Lene (and as I've already mentioned). So not a good start, but I thought I would get used to it. But no. After the fresh and promising "How would it be" I'm running out of reasons for why I should (or how I could) recommend "Lost in a moment". Is it horrible? Not at all. But I expected more, and this was a disappointment. 3 out of 6 stars to be more accurate. Good luck on the next project, Lene! But take your time!"