Mention Thomas Dybdahl’s name in his native Norway and everybody’ will know who you’re talking about. After all, his first solo album from about fifteen years ago went gold there. Those lucky enough to see him live, already know why and probably have all of his albums so far. Nothing will change in that respect with his news one, Great Plains. If you’re wondering why just take a listen.
First of all, Dybdahl didn’t run into recording just out of the blue, since he started out with a Norwegian acid jazz outfit Quadraphonics. And although many would instantly classify his solo music as singer/songwriter Americana, things are definitely not that simple, and the new album shows. Those funky/jazzy elements seem to be always present, whatever style Dybdahl takes on in a particular song. The opener here, Paradise Lost, sounds like something Prince and Isaac Hayes wrote together. But the fact that Dybdahl’s music is always easy to the ear, even if it has no touching ground with easy listening, has a lot to do with the fact that he has an almost magpie voice that can fit perfectly fit into any musical style he wishes.
But that is not to say that he jumps from style to style, there is always a connecting musical element the makes his music cohesive, something that has been a characteristic of all his albums, including Great Plains. What is also something that ties the things together is his thematic cohesion expressed through his lyrics. There’s always a melancholic element prevailing which gives Dybdahl’s music a specific appeal, whether it is the very radio friendly Baby Blue or more West Coast soft rock style of No Turning Back. And as is the case with quite a number of artists that are able to span a wide musical range, Dybdahl usually can and does play a wide range of instruments, with his guitar playing being the most prominent one.
The whole of Great Plains as was the case with almost all of previous Dybdahl albums relies on an easy flowing connection between his possibility to write down a catchy melody that is rooted in at least two or three musical strands and to adapt it to his voice and lyrics. Listening to it, you are not surprised he has gold albums back home in Norway. Should be elsewhere too.
