Hanne Hukkelberg - Rykestrasse 68

Genre jazz Publisher Nettwerk Records External Links Official Hanne Hukkelberg MySpace

The definition of addictively fresh air is Hanne Hukkelberg. Hailing from Kongsberg, Norway, she recreates the 40s-70s eras all in one on her 2008 sophomore album Rykestrasse 68. The product of Hanne's striking, ribbon-like voice comes from beginning her singing career at the age of three, and developing the range of her tone by lending her voice to rock, jazz and metal while in high school bands. If Hanne's album had to be placed into a category, it would be its own, "New Age Dusty Jazz." After spending six months in Berlin, she was inspired to created Rykestrasse 68.

The song that caught my ear first was "A Cheater's Armoury" in which she speaks of a cheater (perhaps use "former lover" or "rogue" to break up the use of the word "cheater") and how sneaky and underhanded the cheater is: "You gamester/you tell us our/fortunes by your cards and you're rubbing/yourself deep into our wounds.". Wrapping her voice around each word, I could not help become hypnotized by her soothing voice which will make any listener feel like a child again.

Hanne's voice is comforting, yet also alluringly otherworldly. Hanne brings the eerie quality of her voice to the forefront in "The Pirate" in which she croons about a victim on a pirate's ship that is forced to walk the plank and dive into the water. To accompany her ethereal vocals on this track is the sound of an accordion that sent a chill down my spine. She makes me not want to listen to this particular song in the dark with lyrics like: "A dive into Infinity, eternity/ God's haven/ A dive into water/ The rocks pull His body down/But brings his soul Even higher/Even higher.".

Lyrically, the songs on the album are quite original with simple words which Hanne enhances through the passion of her voice accompanied by her homemade instruments. Her lyrics are nowhere near complicated which makes the album an easy listen. Musically, Hanne doesn't do anything overly elaborate which is the trademark of a great live performer.