David´s Angels
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David´s Angels

Stockholms kommun, Stockholm, Sweden | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE

Stockholms kommun, Stockholm, Sweden | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2014
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"Critical jazz"

“www.kopasetic.se is a relatively new record label focusing on jazz and other improvised music coming out of Sweden and the surrounding area. While some may argue that the label is somewhat of a spin off of ECM, there is a huge difference in the ambient flavor of the music involved.
To begin we have Sofie Norling on vocals, Maggi Olin on rhodes, piano, and double piano, David Carlson on bass and additional drum work, Michala Ostergaard-Nielsen on drums and percussion and a guitarist starting to make a name for himself in the United States, that being Torben Waldorff. The end result of the sound is a rich color palette, eclectic yet deceptively subtle in approach. There is a spatial grandeur that fills the gaps the music does not. Organic and brilliant are words tossed around so much that they have lost all meaning. Norling's pristine vocals and the subtleties of the drum work of Michala Ostergaard-Nielsen fill an elusive musical void that few voice can carry off with such abstract yet accessible feeling on "What It Seems." The tune "Differences" (Too fast, meaning, learning) is another intimate piece, morose but dancing on the edge of melancholy. "Go" begins with an aCapella opening that virtually no singer could pull off today with equal vocal dexterity.
David's Angels is a sonic enigma. Transcending genre while embracing the more organic state of mind there is little doubt this is a most impressive effort to come out of Sweden since anything off the ECM label.
Tracks: What It Seems; Rid Of You; Differences; When It Starts; Magica; Go; Risking Hearts; Sailors; Visions; Differences.
4.5 Starts which is as close to perfect as you can get. Stellar performances by all ensemble members from start to finish.” - by Brent Black


"Rotcod zzjazz.com"

“David’s Angels – WHAT IT SEEMS:
There are forms of jazz/art that invite you to delve deep – & this 10-song
release features some super-strong jazz vocal work (from Sofie Norling) that will give you cause to pause... as evidenced by one of the strongest (& freshest) vocal pieces I’ve heard in the last 10 years, “Rid Of You“! One of the reviewers called their particular form of exploration “new arty death jazz”... while that may be true, the “upside” of music like this is what merits mention – the beautiful Rhodes work (Maggi Olin) on my favorite track, “Magica“, will transport you to the other side of the ether and make you realize that – “yes, it is worth it”! I give David’s Angels
a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.8.
Get more information the David’s Angels FB page (& be sure to tell them we sent you their way)!” - by Rotcod Zzaj


"by somethingelsereviews"

The allure of Danish-Swedish quartet David’s Angels comes from their uneasy truce among chanteuse jazz, avant-Prog and indie rock, and the tension that creates. The attraction also comes from the minimalist arrangements creating plenty of exposed moments, and music that’s direct. And lastly, it’s the amazingly adaptive vocal of Sofie Norling.
For their new, second album What It Seems, she sings like Judy Collins of the self-titled first track, a polish with just the right touch of feel. On the second track, she shows us much more. “Rid Of You” is funky not in the James Brown way, but in the stop/starts at the
end of each measure kind of way. Maggi Olin launches the vamp on her crackling Fender Rhodes, and electric bassist David Carlsson and drummer Michela Østergaard-Nielsen establish the stuttering gallop that temporarily softens up only to return with an even greater tightness. Norling sings not over it but with her bandmates, at times pouting as deeply soulful as Joss Stone and at others, grunting and sweating like, well, James Brown.
About four and a half minutes in, when you’d expect the song to peter out, Olin pivots over to piano and sets in motion a new motif, and the flogging of the drums with a nasty, distorted bass sends the song off into a Ben Folds Five direction until it just falls completely apart at the end.
The range of emotions one goes through when trying to make a clean break from a relationship all come flowing out of the voice of Norling. The swagger and unpredictability she and the rest of the band brandishes makes an impression, too. All of this instills a truly human character into “Rid Of You.”
What It Seems was released last April by Kopasetic Productions.” - by somethingelsereviews


"All about Jazz"

by Eyal Hareuveni/all about jazz:
“David's Angels has proven in its debut release, Substar
(Kopasetic, 2010), its ability to encompass emotionally charged issues with expressive, storytelling musical articulations. The sophomore release puts this approach in a more demanding test. What It Seems chronicles the demise of a meaningful love affair and its protagonist, singer-songwriter Sofie Norling making the peace process with its emotional implications, the feeling of betrayal, loneliness, anger but also the needed
sense of liberation.
Norling's songs contrast her soulful, melodic delivery with their honest yet brutal content, emphasized with the dark sounds produced by the keyboards
of Maggi Olin. Olin usage of distorted, electronic sounds of the Fender Rhodes is often more suggestive of the dramatic emotional distress than the angelic vocals of Norling. Bassist David Carlsson and drummer Michala Oestergaard-Nielsen gently frame the emotional substance of these songs.
Norling most convincing declaration of independences are delivered in the songs "Rid Of You" "When It starts." On "Rid Of you" her vocals expose the spectrum of her emotions, from the fragile to the angry, distant and the vain.
The funky-soul reciting of the lyrics is concluded with distorted, rock steady beats. "When It Starts" is a play on a waltz theme, but this time the singer-protagonist realizes that she prefers to dance alone. After establishing her independent statue Norling allows herself to express a fleeting regret over the loss of its lover on the songs "Sailors" and "Visions." She contemplates on "Sailor" the thought of surrendering to the stream of events, reuniting with her partner, and believes that "the sea will lead our way" and on "Visions" she reminiscences fondly her partners significant role in her emotional world.
David's Angels expresses beautifully one of the most tasking experiences in any one's life, in an honest, brutal but finally a comforting manner.” - Eyal Hareuveni


"The New York City Jazz Record:"

"Swedish vocalist/lyricist Sofie Norling’s new CD What It Seems (Kopasetic), with bassist David Carlsson’s group David’s Angels, is a series of beautiful original songs written in collaboration with pianist Maggi Olin, demanding rugged listening boots. Trek on her off-road sonic geography and hear Norling’s bluesy voice build from soft understatement into powerful cries. You may recognize some genre signposts - jazz, rock and avant garde...as they fuse and fall away.
Evolving simultaneously and intersecting with American tradition, the international ‘thread’ in vocal jazz is the new terrain of the tradition. There is nothing lost in this translation, only new sounds to be found." - by Katie Bull


"Bebop spoken here:"

“When I was handed this CD I was told it was good in parts.
But I loved it, all of it, with its 8 rather dark love songs and 2 happier numbers. Perhaps it’s my many years of listening to long folk
ballads of murders and intrigue, which has left a mark.
The band is Swedish, and the CD has come out just when many things Swedish,
such as crime stories are popular.
The style of music shows influences from jazz, rock and minimalism, with repeated riffs, spare drum beats, rasping guitar sounds, rather than the chorus and solo forms of jazz. The musicians are accomplished, a mostly female band, and the singer
performs with sweet-voiced sensitivity and gutsiness.
‘Dark sounds
and pure melodies, angel like and brutal, says the CD insert.’
I agree. And all original songs, written by Sofie and Maggi.
We start with melancholy piano, slow, loads of space and Sofie singing ‘obviously there was someone else, I don’t feel anything at all’, light percussion and snare, cries of pain from the singer. This is effective late night listening, if you don’t scare easily. This is followed by Rid Of You, the track I liked best, with staccato drums and interludes of happier vocalese in between the singer’s complaints ‘It’s when I’m rid of you I’m starting to breathe – Huh.’ When It Starts has a pleasing Latin rhythm, and in Go the vocalist shows her abilities well with a capella singing about a lost love, the rest of the band entering later. Sailors, one of the happy songs, is a repeated phrase of ‘stay with me’ sung over beats from the band rather than an actual tune.
I hope this gives readers a sense of what this CD is all about.
You can see a video of Rid Of You on YouTube.
David’s Angels: What It Seems is released on a Swedish label Kopasetic Production in
Spring 2013.” - by Ann Alex


Discography

"Substar", Kopasetic Recordings 2010
"Go", single, Kopasetic Recordings 2012
"What it seems", Kopasetic Recordings 2013

Photos

Bio


David's Angels Band Biography

David's Angels started out in 2009 as a collaboration between pianistMaggi Olin and vocalist Sofie Norling. The other twomembers, Michala stergaard-Nielsen (DK) on drums and electric bassist David Carlsson joined shortly. As the members are born in the 60's, 70's and 80's their musical influences include a wide palette of styles.
They rapidly formed a unique sound together and the recording of their debut album Substar, featuring NY based trumpet star Ingrid Jensen, followed shortly after, later in 2009.
As Substar got a lot of attention nationally and internationally, the band started touring and got several concerts broadcasted by Swedish national radio.

In 2011 the band released a single Go, and in 2012 recording of the second
full album What It Seems took place. This was released spring 2013.

The band was selected to represent Sweden at the Jazz Ahead convent in Bremen (April 2013). This showcase created a lot of good contacts and opportunities to play at international venues in Europe and overseas.
The 2013 release tour included the Stockholm Jazz Festival.

Sofie Norling: vocal

Maggi Olin: piano, rhodes

David Carlsson: electric bass

Michala stergaard-Nielsen: drums, perc

Band Members