Duell

Description

Duell is an album by the Norwegian folk-rock trio Kari Alf & Gregers, released on the Norwegian gospel label Cross Music in 1982, distributed by Master Music. The album was produced, arranged, recorded, and mixed by band member Alf Emil Eik at Cross Studio in Kristiansand, Norway (except track B7 arranged by Kari Saastad Lundh). All songs written by Gregers Lundh except track A5 featuring music co-written with Kari Saastad Lundh, track A7 featuring music by Kari Saastad Lundh, track B6 featuring music by Bob Johnson and Peter Knight, and track B7 written by Kari Saastad Lundh. The music of track A3 is a British trad. tune.

Lead vocals by Gregers Lundh and Kari Saastad Lundh with backing vocals by Alf Emil Eik, who also provides most of the instrumentation: keyboards, flute, bouzouki, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, and percussion. The album also features Arne Nøst of Kainos fame on saxophone, Jørgen Vennesland on flute, Ole Henrik Støren on oboe, Vilhelm Myhrstad on cello, as well as Per Kjetil Farstad on baroque guitar and lute (track A5) and Spanish guitar (track B4).

This album has symphonic overtones. The «Guds Barns Alfabet» («Alphabet Of God’s Children») is a sort of omp pa pa fun song including the moo of a cow, all three rotate the singing. «Jesus, Ditt Ansikt Av Lys er Min Lengsel» («Jesus, Your Face Of Light Is My Longing») reminded me of a soaring symphonic hymn with flourishes of progressive accompaniment. «Korsfarer» («Crusaders») is a done in a drum driven march but again there are the progressive overtones in the accompaniment. «Gi Meg Et Hjerte Som Søker Deg» («Give Me A Heart, Which Seeks You») drops back to a very delicate prayer. Then there is the hauntingly beautiful «Trekkfugl Fly» («Migratory Bird Fly»). «Glasshav» («Sea Of Glass) is an a cappella dream like Gregorial chant like piece. There are 14 songs in all masterful use of instruments, beautiful acoustic guitars and flying electric guitars. Appears to be all original songs. [RP]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Reis deg fra støvet” – 3:12
A2. “Spør ikke hvorfor” – 2:38
A3. “Guds barns alfabet” – 3:50
A4. “Jesus, ditt ansikt av lys er min lengsel” – 3:56
A5. “Korsfarer” – 2:38
A6. “Gi meg et hjerte som søker deg” – 3:24
A7. “Trekkfugl fly” – 3:04

Side Two
B1. “Løp til Jesus” – 4:36
B2. “Vår ferskeste genistrek” – 3:12
B3. “Siste vitne” – 2:58
B4. “Det er så nær” – 2:34
B5. “Hvis Herren ikke bygger huset” – 5:22
B6. “Høyt over rom og tid” – 2:54
B7. “Glasshav” – 1:22