The eight songs on the Norwegian musician Jenny Hval’s latest album, “Classic Objects”, are purposely dreamlike. They are more atmospheric and rhythmic than narrative and follow tangents into unexplored places. As both narrator and protagonist, Hval starts in a waking state and then lets the songs float away into unknown territory. The results suggest our primal urges and our conscious thoughts are out of balance. “Life could be a dream”, as the Chords sang us so long ago on “Sh-boom”. But then it wouldn’t be real. Hval implies that we need to find a way to incorporate our dreams into our everyday life but to be wary. Hval’s ethereal voice suggests that her art serves a higher purpose. Her role is that of a doula to help the listeners release their inner selves. The specifics of her experience help ground us.
Norwegian musician and novelist Jenny Hval releases her new album “Classic Objects” a map of places; past places, like the old empty Melbourne pubs Hval’s band used to play in, public places Hval missed throughout lockdown, imagined, future places, and impossible places where dreams, hallucinations, death and art can take you. It is interested in combining heavenly things and plain things.
“Classic Objects” is Hval’s version of a pop album. Every song has a verse and a chorus. There are interchangeable moments of complexity, interesting melodies throughout, and a feeling of elevation and clarity in the choruses. Heba Kadry mixed it to sound as though it’s played through “a stereo in a mysterious room.”
‘Year of Love’ by Jenny Hval is taken from new album ‘Classic Objects’, out now via 4AD records.
Performers Vocals Jenny Hval Keys and vocals Jenny Berger Myhre Bass Håvard Volden Keys Johan Lindvall Drums and percussion Kyrre Laastad Guitars Daniel Meyer Grønvold
The Fat Angel Sings 