(OR)

List Of Lights And Buoys RCD 2034 2004
Melody Mountain RCD 2057 2006
Rune Grammofon (台灣代理)
心碎不是一種本能、低迴也不是剛剛產生，蘇姍娜(Susanna Wallumrod)與她的御用神奇交響樂團(Magical Orchestra)再次歸來已事隔兩載，秋高像是薄膜般覆蓋著四周，只剩下幾口冷冽的深呼吸。兩年前我愛死了蘇姍娜與神奇交響樂團的冷與初綻的微光，再度相遇竟是聆聽她娓娓道來KISS樂團的Crazy, Crazy Nights、Leonard Cohen的Hallelujah以及Joy Division的Love Will Tear Us Apart，只是如今物換星移、改弦易轍。

表面上蘇姍娜與神奇交響樂團像是一支足以靠著激昂浩蕩的音樂來打動人心的豪華樂團，而事實上多年來除了大家將帳全記在蘇姍娜身上之外，亦不容忽略了其被後的神奇鍵琴手Morten Qvenild，也就是前Jaga Jazzist、現職In The Country的年輕鋼琴家，素有挪威版的Paul Bley美名。若再加上同樣與Jaga Jazzist、Deathprod淵源甚深的吉他、鐵片琴演奏家Andreas Mjos，肯定是個音樂上的黃金鐵三角。

蘇姍娜與神奇交響樂團上一張專輯【List Of Lights And Buoys】來的不急不徐，樂符間輕盈地帶過了鄉村女伶Dolly Parton給予人的質樸與悸動。蘇姍娜纖弱的嗓音雖算不上是得天獨厚，卻依稀隱含著Bjork那冰冷而顫巍的特質。翻唱自Dolly Parton的首支注目歌曲Jolene，在Morten Qvenild刻意座落於優雅古典樂與織細電子聲響的鋪陳之下，流動著一股深遂、低傳真，寓意甜美的轉折。陣陣猶如Bjork般鬼魅電子碎拍切割而來的Friend，聽見蘇姍娜的歌聲在原野裡迴盪地如此廣闊與浩瀚。Hello則是另一首叫人深記於內心的幽閉花園，每一回往深處逛去都能留連再三。Sweet Devil彷彿是女性堅強的反撲，透過陣陣華麗而灰黯頹敗的琴音勾勒出心底的暗顫。Baby的精煉簡潔，貝斯的低吟與嬉鬧，連原來如此正經的Morten Qvenild也跟著頑皮了起來。【List Of Lights And Buoys】留下了許多前所未見，也是屬於女性的低迴與細吟，它不是聖歌、也絕不落入俗套。

【Melody Mountain】是蘇姍娜與神奇交響樂團闊別兩年的全新作品，卻也是一回翻唱歌集錦。選曲上如稍早提及的KISS "Crazy, Crazy Nights"、Leonard Cohen "Hallelujah"、Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart"，就連Depeche Mode被奉為經典名曲之一的"Enjoy The Silence"也收錄在其中。繼上回領教過蘇姍娜翻玩桃莉巴頓(Dolly Parton)的"Jolene"的能耐之後，相信【Melody Mountain】絕對是一部清幽悵然、婉約而易碎的女性詩篇。將老成的Hallelujah幻化成一篇優雅精緻的古典樂曲，彷彿幽了Leonard Cohen一默。這首專輯中最早完成的試聽帶作品據聞也是蘇姍娜與神奇交響樂團現場演出時的秘密武器。倒是翻玩自Depeche Mode的Enjoy The Silence，別期望能再次隨著機器人起舞；Morten Qvenild沉穩地付予了歌曲重生再造的陰鬱與低迴。倒是KISS的Crazy, Crazy Nights在蘇姍娜與神奇交響樂團手裡變得更加甜美動人，除了搖滾歌迷記憶中熟悉的副歌Crazy, Crazy Nights之外，其餘都變成了蘇姍娜小妮子的慢板練習曲。一步、接著一步，別太急。【Melody Mountain】應當是在某個沉寂的下午，一個人的小步舞曲，亦或是點歌集。
Susanna and the Magical Orchestra's site
Listen on Myspace
Downlaod MP3
(Kiss) crazy crazy nights
(AC/DC) It's A Long Way To The Top
(Depeche Mode) Enjoy The Silence
(Leonard Cohen) Hallelujah

Singer Susanna Wallumrød has a unique way of making a song her own, and to fill the lyrics and melodies with the emotional content they require. This was made very clear with her stunning interpretation of Dolly Parton´s classic "Jolene", recorded for the duo's debut album "List Of Lights and Buoys" (2004). A song covered by many artists, but seldom with such heartfelt sincerity. With "Melody Mountain" they have chosen to do an album of only interpretations, some quite radical, of mostly well-known songs, all personal and moving performances with Morten Qvenild´s naked and to the bone playing an important part in the overall soundscape. Full track list includes "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen), ”It´s A Long Way To The Top" (AC/DC), "These Days" (Matt Burt) "Condition Of The Heart" (Prince), "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Joy Division), "Crazy, Crazy Nights" (Kiss), "Don´t Think Twice, It´s All Right" (Bob Dylan), "It´s Raining Today" (Scott Walker), "Enjoy The Silence" (Depeche Mode) and "Fotheringay" (Fairport Convention).