Danish reviews of The Walkabouts and Chris&Carla Releases

Table of contents

Review of	Media	Issue	Rated	Max rating	Lang.
Swinger 500	Gaffa	#5, May 1998	(5)	(6)
Lift Your Burdens Up/Nighttown	DR P3 - P3LIST	Week 26, 1997
Nighttown	Zoo Magazine	08 July/August 1997	(4)	(6)
Nighttown	Gaffa	June 1997	(5)	(6)
Nighttown	Nat&Dag	June 1997	(5)	(6)
Nighttown	ChiliNET	June 1997	(5)	(5)

Links to Danish web sites with Walkabouts material

• Bojsens RockPage

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Gaffa - May 1998 issue Gaffa - is a free magazine which can be found at cafes, bars, movie theatres and other places where young people hang out.

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CHRIS & CARLA Swinger 500 (Glitterhouse/MNW) Chris & Carla er selvfølgelig det musikalske ægtepar Chris Eckman og Carla Torgerson, som vi normalt kender under navnet The Walkabouts. Gruppens tre andre medlemmer holder ferie, men gæsteoptræder alligevel sammen med yderligere to ex-Walkabouts medlemmer, så man kan nok påstå, at linien mellem et Walkabouts-album og et Chris & Carla ditto er meget tynd. Swinger 500 er mere neddæmpet og beskedent i produktionen end The Walkabouts seneste udspil, det grandiose konceptværk Nighttown, men det nære og personlige udtryk og det spartanske lydbillede klæder Chris Eckman og Carla Torgerson mindst lige så godt. Swinger 500 er opkaldt efter Chris & Carlas ynglingsorgel og trommemaskine, der naturligvis spiller en hovedrolle både på albummet og på sangen af samme navn. Som altid er sangskrivningen helt i top, og Carla Torgerson er en af verdens absolut bedste countrysangerinder, hvilket hun atter beviser på pladens bedste sang Blue Winter Snow. I øvrigt giver Chris Eckman en flot tilbagelænet udgave af Willie Nelsons Funny How Time Slips Away. Swinger 500 er et must for The Walkabouts' fans. Peter Studstrup, Gaffa

CHRIS & CARLA Swinger 500 (Glitterhouse/MNW) Chris and Carla is of course the musical couple Chris Eckman and Carla Torgerson who we normally know as members of The Walkabouts. The three other members of the Walkabouts are 'on vacation' but guest appear together with 2 ex-members of the Walkabouts, so you might say that there is a thin line between a Walkabouts album and a Chris & Carla ditto. Swinger 500 is more low-key and modest in production than the latest Walkabouts album the grandiose Nighttown, but the personal expression and the spartan sound suits Chris Eckman and Carla Torgerson just as well. Swinger 500 is named after Chris & Carla's favourite organ and drum machine, which naturally plays a significant role on the album and indeed on the song of the same title. As always the song writing is superb and Carla Torgerson is one of the world's best female country singers. And she proves this on the best song of the album Blue Winter Snow. Chris Eckman gives us a beautiful reclining version of Willie Nelson's Funny How Time Slips Away. Swinger 500 is a must for a true The Walkabouts fan. Peter Studstrup, Gaffa Translation by Jørgen Rasmussen

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Danish National Radio Programme 3 - DR P3

THE WALKABOUTS
Nighttown
Lift Your Burdens Up
(VIRGIN)

Lift Your Burdens Up was amongst the 15 tracks of the P3 special list of week 26 - June 23rd to June 29th 1997. This list focuses on new bands - especially Danish bands - and also focuses on bands which P3 would like to give extra attention. Average airplay per week per track: 2 - 3 times.

THE WALKABOUTS Vigtigt : The Walkabouts giver koncert i Pumpehuset i København 24. september 1997. I 1996 udsendte The Walkabouts albummet "Devil’s Road", der nærmest var opbygget som en road-movie. Det ny album "Nighttown" går videre af de samme stier som forgængeren, men denne gang er handlingen henlagt til storbyens sene nattetimer med sange mellem tusmørke og solopgang. The Walkabouts kommer fra Seattle, men var aldrig oppe på grunge-bølgen, som de fleste andre bands fra den by. Derimod har akustisk rock, folk og country stået på dagsordenen, siden debut-albummet "See Beautiful Rattlesnake Gardens" udkom i 1988. Gruppen tegnes af sangeren Chris Eckman - af visse kritikere betegnet som en af USA’s førende sangskrivere - og sangerinden og cellisten Carla Torgersen. De øvrige medlemmer er Glenn Slader (keyboards), Terri Moeller (trommer) og Baker (bas). Kærresteparret Chris & Carla har også udsendt et par duo-plader undervejs. Singlen "Lift Your Burdens Up" er hentet fra det ny album "Nighttown", produceret af Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave, Luna, Beth Orton), der også var bag knapperne på det forrige album.

THE WALKABOUTS Important : The Walkabouts in concert at Pumpehuset in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 24th, 1997. ...The band members are the singer Chris Eckman - of some critics regarded as one of the USA's leading songwriters - and the singer and cello player Carla Torgersen... Translation by Jørgen Rasmussen

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Zoo Magazine - 08 July/August 1997 issue Zoo Magazine is the most serious Danish magazine dealing with rock music and other kinds of progressive music.

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Rating scale: A Masterpiece Eminent Excellent Good mediocre Bad

THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) Hører man til de, som for nogle år siden afskrev The Walkabouts' folk-inspirerede rockmusik, er det på tide at glemme, hvad man dengang hørte, for The Walkabouts spiller i 1997 med på den bølge, hvor langsomme stemningsfulde sange fremføres med heftig brug af strygere, trompeter, klaver og orgel som et supplement til de mere traditionelle rockinstrumenter. Hvor The Walkabouts' interesse for denne genre er opståret, er svært at sige, men det er næppe tilfældigt, at den ene af gruppens to sangere, Carla Torgerson sang duet med Stuart Staples fra Tindersticks på dennes Second Album. Selvom The Walkabouts er mindre melankolske og dystre end Tindersticks, minder specielt brugen af storladne strygeflader om det, man kunne høre på Second Album, der dog også har en større spændvidde end Nighttown, der, uden at det skal opfattes som en negativ kritik, har mere enslydende melodier. Disse melodier baner sig til gengæld let vej ind i hjernes afsnit for musik, som man bare ikke kan få ud af hovedet, og som hos Tindersticks vokser The Walkabouts for hver gang, man lytter til dem. Det stinker simpelthen af uimodståelig stemning, og i numre som åbningsnummeret 'Follow Me An Angel', 'Lift Your Burdens Up' og det overskønne 'Prayer For You' sammensmeltes på en gang sørgmodig og romantisk melodi med The Walkabouts' to sangeres ufattelig dybe og varme stemmer. Produceren Victor Van Vugt, som stod bag Nick Caves Murder Ballads og Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, har helt sikkert sin del af æren for dette fine album, men det er sanskriveren og sangeren Chris Eckman, der sammen med Carla Torgerson hører til blandt mine helte. Ulrich Lauridsen, Zoo Magazine

THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) ...These melodies make their way to a special part of the brain which stores music you can never forget, and as is the case with Tindersticks, the songs of The Walkabouts grow each time you listen to them... ...It reeks of irresistible atmosphere, and in songs like 'Follow Me An Angel', 'Lift Your Burdens Up' and the very beautiful 'Prayer For You,' a melancholic romantic melody melts together with the two deep and varm vocals of The Walkabouts... Producer Victor Van Vugt (the man behind Nick Cave's Murder Ballads) and the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra have made significant contributions to this album, but it is the songwriter and vocalist Chris Eckman, together with Carla Torgerson, who are up there amongst all my heroes...Webmaster's note: The Warsaw Philharmonic played wonderfully on "Devil's Road" but they do not appear on "Nighttown." 'The Nighttown Orchestra' plays the orchestral arrangements on "Nighttown." Ulrich Lauridsen, Zoo Magazine Translation by Jørgen Rasmussen

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Gaffa - June 1997 issue Gaffa - is a free magazine which can be found at cafes, bars, movie theatres and other places where young people hang out.

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THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) The Walkabouts står ligesom på forgængeren Devils Road i den storladne popmusiks tegn. Nighttown er en sangcyklus, der som titlen antyder bevæger sig i storbynattens kølige blå univers blandt de elskende og de ensomme. I det fem mand høje nordvest-amerikanske folkrock ensemble er det parret Chris Eckman og Carla Torgerson, der skriver sangene og deler vokalarbejdet mellem sig. Sådan har det været i de mere end 13 år The Walkabouts har eksisteret og således også på Nighttown. Trods de mange år har the Walkabouts formået at bevæge og udvikle sig tilstrækkeligt til hverken at gentage sig selv eller virke gammeldags. Med tungen lige i munden klarer The Walkabouts linedansen mellem selv-højtidelig patos og ironisk kitch, der altid er faldgruberne i storladen pop, selvom man kunne indvende, at Nighttowns mange duetter giver rigelig sødme. Man tror næppe, at det er før så knastørre Chris Eckman, der giver den i svulmende Nick Cave croonerstil. Den seneste forvandling må i høj grad tilskrives producer Victor van Vugt, der før har arbejdet med netop den australske rendestens Sinatra. Det er dog især Carla Torgerson, der mestrer stilen ærligt og hendes store mørke countrystemme går lige i hjertekulen specielt på pladens bedste nummer, det Tindersticks-agtige Harbour Lights. Nighttown er en sød dessert, der bør nydes i små portioner. Peter Studstrup, Gaffa

THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) ...The Walkabouts stand for grandiose pop music... ...The Walkabouts have shown an ability to change and develop themselves throughout the years, and so they don't seem to repeat themselves nor do they seem 'old-fashioned'... ...The change of the music should indeed be credited to the producer, Victor van Vugt... ...Especially Carla Torgersen masters the crooner style and her large, dark country singing voice hits you right in the heart on the album's best song, the Tindersticks-like Harbour Lights... ...Nighttown is a sweet dessert, which should be enjoyed in small portions... Peter Studstrup, Gaffa Translation by Jørgen Rasmussen

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Nat&Dag - June 1997 issue Nat&Dag (Night&Day) - is a free magazine which can be found at cafes, bars, movie theatres and other places where young people hang out.

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THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) Det har altid været de skæve og ensomme eksistenser med de mange brudte drømme, som har befolket Chris Eckmans fremragende sange. Med sin nærmest filmiske sans for at observere de små detaljer i et poetisk ladet hverdagssprog er Chris Eckmans fortællende sange mere beslægtede med forfattere som John Steinbeck og Raymond Carvers noveller end hans samtidiges sangskrivning. Også musikalsk har Eckman og hans cellospillende og medsyngende kone Carla Torgerson altid skilt sig ud. Mens deres labelmates på det Seattlebaserede Sub Pop-pladeselskab sidst i 80'erne havde travlt med at (gen)opfinde grungemusikkens mudrede lyd, så holdt The Walkabouts fast i en folkemusik-inspireret indierock, som de på sidste års Devil's Road forfinede og tilførte lyden af et helt symfoniorkester. Strygerne er der stadigvæk - denne gang måske blot endnu bedre integreret i bandlyden - og ligeså fortællingerne om de skæve randeksistenser, så på den led er der intet nyt under solen på The Walkabouts' nye cd, Nighttown. Men som titlen antyder, har Eckman og Torgerson denne gang forlagt sceneriet fra ødemarkens forblæste vidder og forladte moteller til storbyens stål- og glasramme i timerne fra dusk to dawn. Resultatet er en samling foruroligende mørke sange, der med deres slæbende tempo og Eckmans dybe stemme mest af alt får en til at tænke på Leonard Cohen i hans mest dystre hjørne. Eller for den sags skyld den Nick Cave, som The Walkabouts i 1993 indspillede coverversioner af. I juni følges Nighttown op af en europæisk miniturné med strygerorkester, og selvom Danmark tilsyneladende ikke er med på ruten, så kan det varmt anbefales at rejse langt for at få den oplevelse med. Svend Rasmussen, Nat&Dag

THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) It has always been the odd and lonely characters with the many broken dreams who have been the focus in Chris Eckman's excellent songs. With his filmic sense for observing the small details, told in a poetic, everyday language, Chris Eckman's narrative songs are more in line with novels from the likes of John Steinbeck and Raymond Carver than with the work of his contemporaries. Also in a musical sense Eckman and his cello-playing, co-vocalist spouse Carla Torgerson have always stood out. While their labelmates at Seattle-based Sub Pop in the latter part of the 80's were busy (re)inventing the muddy sound of grunge music, The Walkabouts then held on to a folk-inspired indie rock which they refined on last year's album Devil's Road, to which they added the sound of a symphony orchestra. The strings are still there - this time even better-integrated in the band sound - and the stories of the odd, on-the-edge characters are still there, so in that sense Nighttown does not represent anything new. But as the title suggests, Eckman and Torgerson have this time changed the scene from the great wide open of the windy wilderness with the abandoned motels to the steel and glass settings of the big city in the hours from dusk to dawn. The result is a collection of disturbingly dark songs which, with their slow tempo and the deep voice of Eckman, most of all make you think of Leonard Cohen in his most gloomy passages. Or even Nick Cave, which The Walkabouts covered in 1993. Following the release of Nighttown The Walkabouts embark on a European mini-tour in June accompanied by a string section, and even though they don't seem to visit Denmark it can be highly recommended to travel a long way to attend one of these concerts. Svend Rasmussen, Nat&Dag Translated by Jørgen Rasmussen.

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ChiliNET - June 1997 issue ChiliNET is a free magazine which started out as a paper magazine, later progressed to a CD-rom multimedia e-zine and finally launched a web-site. ChiliNET reviews music and movies, writes about trends, style and fashion and much more.

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Rating scale: (masterpiece). to (bad)

THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) Luften er tung af storbyskæbner og nattemørke stemninger på The Walkabouts seneste album. Udover at have skrevet en række fremragende sange har den amerikanske kvintet benådet Nighttown med tilstedeværelsen af strygere, der bidrager med episke vingesus og romantisk svulmen. En sublim baggrund for Walkabouts' alternative folkblues, der udfolder sig roligt og manende - pletvist suppleret af orgel, enkelte blæsere, få elektroniske klangflader. Her er mindelser om Nick Caves skæbnessvangre sumpblues, Tindersticks' anløbne weltschmerz, Lloyd Coles orkestrerede croonersang, Tarnations varmblodede længsel. Og teksterne: "The clocks have lost their hands. The clouds take off their shirts and show their scars to me", synger Carla Togerson mens månebelyste orgeltoner duver under hende. Det lykkes kvintetten at fastholde en intim, bekendende tone via Chris Eckmans og Togersons stemmer, der hvisker dunkle bekendelser i lytterens ører, mens de højt svungne stryger-arrangementer danner velourbløde, dramatiske lydkullisser. Med Nighttown har The Walkabouts spillet sig ind blandt de vigtigste moderne, amerikanske traditionsfortolkere. Man sidder tilbage med en fornemmelse af at høre hjemme i hver eneste sang, at have hørt det hele før og alligevel opdage en ædel sangskat i hver eneste strofe. Ralf Christensen, ChiliNET

THE WALKABOUTS Nighttown (VIRGIN) And the lyrics: "The clocks have lost their hands. The clouds take off their shirts and show their scars to me", Carla Togerson sings while moonlit organ notes float below her. The quintet succeeds in creating an intimate confessing mood through Chris Eckman's and Torgerson's voices, which whisper obscure confessions in the audience's ears while the string arrangements create a soft but dramatic sound setting. With Nighttown The Walkabouts have joined the company of the most important contemporary American interpreters of tradition. You are left with a feeling where you feel at home in every song, having heard it all before and then nevertheless discovering a precious treasure of song in each line. Ralf Christensen, ChiliNET Translated by Jørgen Rasmussen.

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