Cover album is the new material by a Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun. Leave Me Breathless is her eighth album, released under her own Balloon Ranger label. The concept of the album was initially triggered by her new romantic relationship, so Brune wanted to show her subjective experience of love and intimacy. In a way, it is a dedication to the new person in her life. The relationship ended during the recording of the album, yet Ane did not give up on finishing what she started artistically.
Her mellow, sensual, touching, melancholic and affectionate vocal is goaded with many emotions on this record. Sadness, pain and disappointment are conspicuous in her voice, but we can simultaneously hear her calmness, acceptance and even nerve. The songs she selected were chosen based on her perception of ideal love relationship, so we are dealing with love classics here. Some are more expected, some less. However, they have been transformed in a new version through the filter of pop-folk and ample utilization of acoustic guitar.
Musicians whose songs Ane chose include Bob Dylan (a bit predictable, there are three covers of his songs; the first one is She Belongs To Me from his 2013 album Rarities), Maria Mckee, Nick Cave, Tom Petty, Radiohead and Sade. Album's special moments are By Your Side and How To Disappear Completely, which she first performed at the funeral of Crispin Bevington who tragically lost his life in terrorist attacks.
I Want To Know What Love Is opens the album and introduces us to its concept. Combination of emotionally charged vocal, acoustic guitar and echo goad all the senses, so it's quite difficult to be indifferent to such emotional spectrum. Following Always On My Mind is equally powerfully vulnerable in delivering the message of intimate reveal in relationship. These two songs already show the spiritual, emotional and physical involvement of Ane Brun.
Convincing, precision and simplicity of her vocal manage to tear apart resistance one might have towards sentimentality and strong emotionality. Hero, Show Me Heaven and In My Arms are the best evidence for this disarming quality. The strength of these songs is not just in vocal interpretation, but also in artistic and personal interpretation. Ane's investment is palpable; it's as If her voice cracks before turning into a gentle scream.
Dylan's numbers Girl From The North Country and Make You Feel My Love are probably the closest to her original musical expression, while Lucinda Williams' Right In Time is the least modified track that stands as a typical country folk acoustic jam. The album wraps up with Big Yellow Taxi, originally performed by Joni Mitchell. Personal ambivalence in juxtaposition with her peaceful vocal is the perfect manner to put an end to painful stories.
Leave Me Breathless is an album that will both leave you smile and make you cry.
