Louien - None Of My Words (2019)

Louien’s path to None of My Words defies simple description. Live Miranda Solberg is a Norwegian folk artist whose Soundcloud track, Demo no. 1, eventually became a sensation. The song took her to Oslo’s Americana hangout Mono, opened doors to supporting Steve Gunn and Molly Burch on tours, and an Oyafestivalen 2019 spot, all without a record out. Yet Solberg is not a complete unknown, having spent 10 years as a member of Norway’s Silver Lining. Now, with the release of None of My Words, she is gaining plenty of buzz on both sides of the Atlantic. Her music incorporates many different folk elements, from the acoustic fingerpicking style of early Joni Mitchell to string-driven elements reminiscent of Robert Kirby’s arrangements. That’s all before beginning to examine Live Miranda Solberg’s gorgeous voice and lyrical precision. The subject matter is also unique. According to Live, “this album is probably more about the first phase of a grieving process – hopelessness, isolation, anxiety and depression.”

Despite all that, moments of ethereal beauty creep in. Be Forgiven recounts a relationship long past, that for one moment might be rekindled again. Guitar, strings and drums provide a bed for a brief note of hope with the chance to “forgive and be forgiven.” Yet, life is rarely so easy as she points out, “it’s about this beautiful moment that never got to grow into something more and we never got to realize this new turn in our relationship.”

Sometimes the simple act of recording is a release, as in the case of I Follow You. Over simple fingerpicking and strings, Live deals with an array of emotions. “I remember waking one morning and looking out of my bedroom window … everything was covered in a thin layer of snow … And I was carried away with emotion spiralling out of control because everything changes and there is nothing one can do about it.”

Shades of Emmylou Harris come to mind in The Fool, while there are also touches of Angel Olsen, but in the final analysis, it’s really all pure Live Miranda Solberg. In the guise of Louien, she has created a special disc centred around relationships, introspection, as well as the grief and mourning surrounding the death of her father. Despite the pain, Solberg notes, “Grief allows for beautiful things as well.” All are on display in None of My Words.