Album of the month :
November 2003
WYNONA (DK) :
" Santiago "
( Glorious )
Released in april 2002 to unanimous critical acclaim, Wynona's debut " Lost hill" proved that alt. country could easily stray from its native North-Amerivcan prairies and get acclimated to the green Scandinavian landscapes. Voted " Danish country album of the year" ( ! ) in the local press, it was not yet an achievement though, but more the promising first steps of an up-and-coming young band.
Coming one year and a half later, " Santiago" shows a stunning improvement and brings the Danish five up to an excellence level that was somewhat hinted but never quite acquired in the past. Not as deliberately country-oriented as its predecessor, this second album displays an engaging stylistic variety, exquisite arrangements and gorgeous female vocals, not forgetting a batch of memorable tunes that effortlessly outshines the " Lost Hill" collection.
Here, Wynona's talent stands out on every track. The four-song opening series, for instance, is absolutely compelling. It starts with the majestic After The Downfall, coming complete with pedal-steel and accordion to make a link with the previous album. The pace speeds up as mandolin and harmonica join the spell on the ultra-catchy ( single ?) Three Roads. Then come Santiago and Strange Wings in their heart-stopping beauty, both displaying a perfect harmony between the warm acoustic instrumentation and Camilla Munck's stellar vocals. Obviously, her stunning performance contributes a lot to the album's fascinating atmosphere. It is also a proof of how she has progressed since the first album: never before had her voice sounded so rich and full of nuances. Sometimes, like on the misty Northern Wind or the beautifully restrained Shooting Stars In August, it is hardly more than a simple whisper. At others, like on the upfront In The Woodlands, it sounds well-assured and confident. And when she mixes both styles in the same song, it gives birth to jewels like the jazzy and impassionated Early Morning. Added to the immaculate compositions by Jesper Tullin - Wynona's songwriter and producer - and the subtle arrangements provided by the rest of the band, this turns " Santiago" into a dazzling success that can easily compete with some of the best productions by North-American bands like The Walkabouts or The Cow-Boy Junkies.
If you're into this kind of music, you'd be well advised to lend an ear on this outstanding album. If you're not, do it anyway, just to check that - as the saying goes - only idiots never change their mind.
BAND:
LABEL:
AGENCY:
http://www.theagencygroup.com/