Plate: Jackie Leven – Defending Ancient Springs

Short, benevolent record review: a predominantly melancholy, resigned mood lies over the album. The opening cover of “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'” sounds good but does not stand comparison with the Righteous Brothers; “Single Father”, by contrast, is probably the most beautiful song Leven has ever written (grey weather, fog, lost love, vanished industrial jobs), and “I Saw My Love Walk Into Clouds” is Scottish soul at its best. Notice of the concert on 1 March at the Bergen venue Den Stundesløse (“Stundik'en”).