Iris Bergcrantz - Young Dreams (2020)

Iris Bergcrantz voice has a unique disarming quality, a warm and innocent voice that at time radiates bell-like, folksy tones, sometimes reminiscent of the phrasing and the vocal spectrum of British Annie Haslam from the folk-prog group Renaissance. But her clear voice is engulfed by a loud and dramatic, fusion era production that stresses the authoritative. effect-laden trumpet of Anders Bergcrantz, the atmospheric keyboards of Anna-Lena Laurin and the propulsive rhythm section, especially on the melodramatic title peace..

Such massive production leaves you with the disturbing thought of how Iris Bergcrantz commanding and assured delivery would have sound if she would have opted for a much more modest production. Maybe even an acoustic one that would have focused on her vocal qualities. This thought lingers on as she sings such a gentle melody as «Time Was Spent» or the suggestive lyrics of «They Say». (Eyal Hareuveni)

Iris Bergcrantz Quartet/Quintet
Calle Brickman, piano
Anna-Lena Laurin, piano
Anders Fjeldsted, e-bass
Andreas Svendsen, drums
Andreas Fryland, drums
Anders Bergcrantz, trumpet
Vindla/KVARTS String Quartets
Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra
Ingar Bergby, conductor