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MARIE INGERSLEV - THE OTHER SIDE

REVIEWS:

Classic Rock Society (UK magasin):

'Danish singer Marie Ingerslev's debut album released in 2006 put her firmly on the map, now this new album, a collection of songs that she has written over the past 10 years looks to cement her reputation.
With her songwriting firmly in the Nordic tradition, Marie mixes thoughtful lyrics with big symphonic sounds, and on songs like Daily Life, Save my Sound and Ice really pulls out all the stops. This is a fantastic album from a singer who has a great voice, and superb collection of collaborative musicians to do justice to her well crafted songs and her well observed lyrics.   JRT'

Sea of tranquility New York :

'The songs themselves are all instantly catchy and hummable, but not in a throwaway sense and whilst it is definitely possible to imagine Ingerslev having the appeal to make an impact on the singles chart, the eleven songs on this album are strong in substance and heartfelt in lyric. Ingerslev touches on her beliefs towards life and death across the lyrics of the songs however she does so in a way that never becomes over bearing, or maudlin and her voice is strong enough to carry the themes, but subtle enough to continually draw you in'

Arlequins / Italy :

'Four years have passed since the discografical debut of Marie Ingerslev, from the start simply called MARY and I must say it is a pleasure to rediscover her by now matured and refined voice. This her second release is despite the gap of 4 years in perfect harmony with her debut album  but  the years haven´t passed in vain  since she masters to obtain even greater mastership of her original voice and lyrics and by now presents still cleverer modulations and astonnishing ideas , if at all possible, compared with the surpising delight that I recall from listening to her first release : In  the Head of a Dreamer. Time has indeed been benevolent :  Mary´s timbre of a fragrant soft jazz supplied with brilliant and delicate arrangements has grown in warm intimacy in  the songs who at first seem to be pop but are more than that, being in it´s own right, one might say.

DPRP :

' An album that really captured my attention (not to mention my heart) in 2006 was In The Head Of A Dreamer by Mary. Mary was actually the pseudonym of the beautiful, red headed singer-songwriter Marie Ingerslev who hailed from Copenhagen and produced an engaging collection of songs for her then debut. Four years on and Marie has released the follow-up The Other Side under her own name although the line-up of support musicians remains basically the same. In addition to vocals Marie adds acoustic guitar and is joined once more by Thommy Andersson (bass, double bass, cello), Kalle Mathiesen (drums, keyboards, samples, guitar, bass) and Torben Snekkestad (saxophones). A recent recruit to the team is guitarist Jeppe Kjellberg.

Although Marie wrote all the songs, the album is mainly a collaborative effort between the singer and the multi-instrumentalist Mathiesen who is also responsible for the instrumental arrangements and production. For anyone's whose familiar with the last album, the music here will come as no surprise. The songs are mostly mellow, acoustic tinged offerings that are sometimes reflective (with a hint of folk) and at other times breezy (with a touch of jazz). Examples of the former are the tender ballad Daily Life and the haunting simplicity of Waltzing Dorthe whilst the latter style is exemplified by the tuneful Goodbye Old World and the cool (excuse the pun) jazz-swing of Ice.

My personnel favourites on the album however are the catchy Lock with its memorable vocal hook and horn samples and the lengthy title song The Other Side. Here ambient Yes style electric guitar and keyboard atmospherics are incorporated with the end results sounding quite different from anything else on the album.

Wisely, throughout the instrumental backing is kept to a minimum with the sparse arrangements allowing Marie's heavenly crystal clear voice and the quality of her song writing to shine through. The thought provoking lyrics are performed in English with no trace of accent often embellished by inventive harmonises as in Walk Along and the a cappella Save My Sound. Whilst my limited knowledge of the Scandinavian music scene means I can't name any Danish comparators, in terms of English acts I was very much reminded of 80's female fronted bands like Fairground Attraction, Swing Out Sister and Everything But The Girl. For those with longer memories there is also a touch of legendary American performers like Carole King and Carly Simon in Marie's vocal nuances.

Once again Marie Ingerslev and company have come up with another superb and very mature sounding release. Whilst elements of prog (in the traditional sense) may be in short supply, such is the quality of this album I feel quite sure that it will find favour with the majority of visitors to this site whatever their musical preferences.'

Leonards Lair UK :

'With a mass of red hair and a voice which dovetails at the point where Karen Carpenter and Minnie Riperton meet, Marie Ingerslev really should be better known than she is now. Her first album was recorded under the band name of Mary; presumably to capitalise on interest outside her native Denmark. Certainly, it was a fine album and 'The Other Side' continues the upward curve with a record that soothes the heart and the head.

Equally well equipped to deal with soul, jazz and folk music, Ingerslev's main calling card seems to be Carpenters-style soft rock. The first three tracks are arranged imaginatively; 'Goodbye Old World' and 'I Search A Place' feature the brightest of choruses whilst the song which divides them, 'Lock', meanders through a psychedelic soul journey.

On other tracks Ingerslev meanders just a little too much; take the over-emoting on 'Daily Life', for example, or the lengthy title track; which moves pleasantly through ambient waters but its experimental nature doesn't make the best use of her talents. To make up for it there's always the warm, jazzy textures on 'This Glow' to enjoy, which serve as a fabulous showcase for her relaxed but powerful vocals and for 'Ice', she proves capable of carrying the melodies with her voice alone.

'The Other Side' falls short of perfection but it's a mark of Ingerslev's quality that even on the most unambitious settings she still sounds classy; her performance never overbearing but always capable of transmitting spine-tingling spells with the minimum of effort. To be fair, though, her band are just as important in creating a record with an authentic aura of a time which often gets overlooked by today's artists.'

Progressive Rock Brasil:

' Marie Ingerslev is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Copenhagen, Denmark. She has been writing poetry and performing her own music since early age. In 1993 she was admitted in a special Music School, and latter received a scholarship from the Danish Art Foundation. To put into action her gifted voice and talented musicianship, Marie Ingerslev assembled the band Mary in Copenhagen. Besides Ingerslev (vocals, acoustic guitars, percussion), the band counts with participation of Kalle Mathiesen (drums, percussion, strings, keys, bass), Thommy Andersson (bass, double bass, cello), Jeppe Kjellberg (guitars), and Torben Snekkestad (saxophones, bass clarinet). Marie Ingerslev released her debut CD - "In The Head of a Dreamer" ? in 2006 (Matchbox Recordings Ltd. - UK). Since then, the Mary band has performed before large and small audiences, also working with musicians from all around the world. Now, her second release "The Other Side" (2010, Gateway Music) is finally coming to light. Marie Ingerslev's songs feature poetical lyrics questioning about the meaning of life. The instrumentation is based on acoustic guitars and vocals. The harmonies are delicate, and adorned by gentle melodies of keyboards, piano, and wind instruments. Her voice is soft, yet firm and personal, reminding me of "Annie Haslam", "Joni Mitchell", and "Anneke van Giersbergen" ("Agua de Annique"). Her music is influenced by different genres, like Folk, Modern Jazz, Modern Rock, and Bulgarian Women Choirs. Her favorite singers and musicians are "Joni Mitchell", "Bjørk", "Cassandra Wilson", "Bill Frisell", "Keith Jarret", "John Lennon", "Elvis Costello", "Peter Gabriel", "Jeff Buckley", "Nick Drake", "Bach", "Radiohead", and "Egberto Gismonti". The presence of Brazilian "Egberto Gismonti" among her influences explains something that surprised me when I listened to "The Other Side" for the first time: Marie Ingerslev is a Danish singer that reminds me of many Brazilian singers, namely "Adriana Calcanhotto", "Marisa Monte", "Ithamara Koorax", "Zizi Possi", and "Jane Duboc". In fact, songs like the opening "Goodbye Old World", "I Search a Place", "Daily Life" (predominantly made of acoustic guitars and piano), the beautiful "Ice" (marked by clapping hands) and "Waltzing Dorthe" (with acoustic guitars and intimate vocals that remind me of "Adriana Calcanhotto") bring a Brazilian flavor on the rhythm of the acoustic guitars, on the light percussion, and on the sensuality of the backing vocals. Even when Ingerslev blends different influences, like on "Walk Along" (a dreamy piano ballad with "Renaissance" airs) and "The Other Side" (a long ambient piece with Indian flavors), that Brazilian cheerful feeling is present on the backing vocals. This unexpected "Brazilian spirit" of Ingerslev is precisely what imprints originality to her music, distinguishing her from other female singers of the European Folk-Pop circle. That distinction will surely help her to achieve success among music lovers. But as the sun does not shine so often over Denmark as over Brazil, Marie Ingerslev also saves some sadder ballads for the rainy days, like "Save My Sound" (similar to "Buckley" and "Drake") and "Lock" (although only the beginning is sad, the song turning to a modern pop afterwards). A cool jazzy mood is present in "This Glow" and "My Word Still Stands". The later is a folk song disguised in modern rhythm that will please "Annie Haslam" and "Anekke van Giersbergen" fans. Marie Ingerslev is really a gifted artist, and deserves attention also from the Prog community.'

The-Mag :

'Goodbye Old World' is reminiscent of The Carpenters, with a bit more Sixpence None The Richer thrown in. There is a hint of melancholy in the middle of the chorus, but surrounded with such sweetness you'd hardly notice.'

   

                                                                          

                                                                               

 REVIEWS - MARY IN THE HEAD OF A DREAMER :

            

The Mag - Music Magazine / UK - Marie Ingerslev won 2 prices for best album and best band at 'The-Mag awards':

'On a journey across territory which is by turns as dreamy as Wonkaland and as nightmarish as the most cragged mountain pass. / A classy, detailed debut that sets high expectations for the angelically voiced Marie.'

 

AudioXposure.com: ' The title of MARY's debut album, In the Head of a Dreamer, couldn?t be a more perfect fit. The new age, modern jazz, and folk combination amounts to music that's nothing short of being the perfect soundtrack to a dream.'

 

Leonards Lair / UK :  'Rich, natural vocals /excellent and genuinely heartfelt recording'

 

Sea Of Tranquility / New York :  'The music on the CD is breezy, jazzy, dreamy pop music, with Marie's gorgeous and alluring vocals leading the way over sparse instrumentation'

 

Dutch DPRP progressive rock page : 'Hidden strengths began to surface, displaying a refreshing individuality that was hard to ignore/undeniable qualities '

 

Jydske Vestkysten / danish newspaper :

Garvet debutant spiller flot ud

Jazz : Mary - In The Head Of A Dreamer 

Af Ole Sørensen

Marie Ingerslev har prøvet lidt af hvert - blandt andet sunget til tegnefilm, men med sin debut-cd, "In The Head Of A Dreamer" er hun helt sig selv - som frontfigur i bandet, Mary.

Og musikken er lige så universel som navnet. Der er internationalt swung of de jazzede popsange, som Marie Ingerslev afleverer med sødme og sikkerhed. Især en sang som "Try in my heartland" kan man lige så stille gå hen og blive forfalden til. Hæs saxofon fra gæstesolisten Torben Snekkestad og så Marie Ingerslevs dejlige stemme. Det er klasse.

 

ENCRUCIJADA-MELODIC / Argentina : 

(Read english translation:)

TOP ALBUM OF THE MONTH   5 out of 5  

When I listened for the first time to this CD I was really surprised by the excellent quality of composition and sound that it has. But when listening to it repeated times, I could discover manifold details that make it still more attractive. MARY is the solista project of the singer and Danish guitarist Marie Ingerslev, composer of all the compositions of "In the head of a dreamer". Apart from Marie, the band consists of Kenneth Hansen (rhodes, strings and keyboards), Thommy Andersson (bass), Kalle Mathiesen (drums - strings - keyboards) and Torben Snekkestad (Saxo - Clarinete). Marie already has participated together with Kalle in other musical projects, but this solista work just was sent on sale this year by the British seal Matchbox Recordings. The MARY music crosses to a large extent experimental sounds and become very related with the more modern Progressive Rock, although in fact it is not strictly Progressive Rock... On the opposite, MARY has a sound that could well classify like Melodic Rock, but with a so personal touch that the labels are left boys. All the subjects take to the format song and turn in rededor of the sweet voice of Marie. This voice must like basic characteristics be very smooth and to explode at those vibrant moments of melodías. There is a right balance between the voice of the girl and melodías that comes off all those instruments, like result in a perfect harmony that makes the music practically pleasant in all sense and as atrapante element as delicate. In fact, Marie has a privileged voice that single can be compared with Anneke van Giersbergen, Tori Amos or Sara McLachlan. The songs that surely go to emocionarte are "" Will you be there "," Flaws and wrinkles "(with acoustic guitars of bottom)," He went into a painting "," Reality is only imagination "and" In the head of a dreamer ". But without doubts the best piece of the disc is "A prayer from god", where the voice of Marie reaches the highest registry and a very complex technique. The lyrics of "In the head of a dreamer" (all composed by this girl) speak about the life and the death. In short, it is an attractive disc, after listening to it, able of envolverte in the sweet voice of Marie and the musical quality of the set. Essential!

Pablo B.

 

The English magazine Classic Rock Society:

31 year old Mary Ingerslev is a Danish singer/songwriter based in Copenhagen. The band MARY have Mary up front and a full band with Kenneth Hansen on Keys/Strings, Thommy Andersson on bass/doublebass, Kalle Mathiesen on drums/strings, and Torben Snekkestad on saxophones ans bass clarinet. It is an album full of surprices with gentle songs matched by upbeat pop rockers augmented by jazzier numbers. Mary has a beautiful voice, sometimes having a Bjork about her but never as eccentric. Her perfect English helps to bring out the best in her original material and it does help surrounding yourself with fine musicians too ! This is not no big anthemic rock album but a gentle stroll through dreamy situations and real life and one for a sunny evening with a nice glass of 'red' in you hand !

McCullough Crane

 

Jessica Attene from Arlequins in Italy:

(Read english translation:)

One can never know what passes in the head of a dreamer, it is instead true that such music can help to dream, like happens for the debut of Marie Ingerslev's band, singer and author of all the songs of this album. Without doubt the songs are based upon the singer's seducing voice but the winning choice has been to enrich the gentle vocal lines with delicate arrangements, made of vintage sounds. The result is a truly delicate symphonic pop, with romantic and solar atmospheres, refined and dreaming sounds. The music is never pretentious and sometimes the semiacoustic accompaniments are preferred.

There are some retrievals to early Genesis, especially for keyboards parts, even if everything is very tenuous and distant, with influences that one can nearly sense between the lines. There is a kind of a nordic feeling with shaded folk echoes but the feelings are always velvety and serene, ending at a high level to a sweet melancholy, never so osbscure but always open to pleasant feelings, like in the soft "Try in my Heartland", where only the brass instruments are used as accompanyment in an intriguing way.

Marie's voice is crystalline and always in foreground, well modulated and with a pleasant tone. It's all about songs, in their simple garment, that open however to never banal rhythmic and melodic solutions. Sometimes we have a more decisive change towards pop music but in a way that does not compromise the success of the album. If you don't dislike airy and light music which does not fear pop and song-oriented contaminations and if you have a positive and romantic spirit, this could be the album for you.

Carlos Vaz from Progressive Rock Brasil: 'All the instruments are clear and send the music into outer space / indispensable work, highly recommendable... '  (To read the review scroll down the page)

 

Guitartools / UK : 'An outstanding lyrical and guitarbased spectacle all the way from Denmark. / They are very broad in their style, bringing together songs from several different genres of music to produce a well balanced and flowing album.'

 

The Ectophiles' Guide to good music: 'My favourite song is the title track, which is rockier than many of the tracks here, but the reason it particularly catches me is the layering of vocals in the chorus. Another stand-out track is the almost progressive-rock-like "He went into a painting"?it's dreamy, impressionistic, and highly listenable.'

 

Luna Kafé : 'The jazz influences rear their head here and the vocal owes something to Kate Bush. / The philosophical slant to "Reality is Only Imagination" is intriguing.'

 

German website Musiksuche :

(Read english translation:)

'Frontsinger and songwriter Marie Ingerslev has been writing own songs from childhood, her expressionfull and colourrich voice sets its mark on this modern and troughout dreamy Rock-Pop-jazz-Indie Album. Aetherial, Effectfull and transparent arranged songs to lean back and simply enjoy.'