The Bell Tower [VINYL]

From early on in her artistic journey, composer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Rebekka Karijord, has been fascinated by the human voice. Known for her sweeping film scores (like for the Hulu Greta Thunberg documentary I Am Greta) as well as her work with artist Jessica Dessner and The National's Bryce and Aaron Dessner in the group Complete Mountain Almanac, she brings a unique musical perspective and skillset to every one of her projects. The Bell Tower, her seventh solo album, is one of her most ambitious records to date. The Bell Tower is many things at once: it's an ode to our planet in peril; it's a missive from a mother to her children; it's a meditation on humanity and our place within the natural world. On top of that, it's also an experiment, something that evolved from a tiny idea into an all-encompassing work that touches upon 19th-century poetry, environmental activism, and the cross-section of digital and organic instrumentation. There's admittedly a lot to unpack, which becomes even more impressive when you actually give the album a spin and realize that Rebekka has managed to stack all of these ideas and moods into something that is balanced, harmonious, and at times, even calming. One reason for this is the way she has produced the album-which features voice only-in a way that is as engaging as it is innovative. It takes a great deal of technical knowledge to successfully create experimental or ambient-leaning music, and The Bell Tower's many complex layers are solidly built by Rebekka's expertise.