Sofia Talvik
Album: Big Sky Country
Label: Makaki Music
Tracks: 11
Website: http://sofiatalvik.com/

Times are a changing for Swedish born Sofia, with a loyal US and European fan-base built upon extensive tour performance combined with large back catalogue "Big Sky Country" reflects her Scandinavian heritage through eyes and music firmly embedded on a continual love of Americana.

In recreating this sound, Sofia embarked on an almost nomadic experience on a 16 month haul across 37 US states. Her heartfelt performances have steadily found grace but this 2012 tour saw the US taking Sofia into their hearts and homes. Some of the stories and people embraced recounted on "Big Sky Country", 10 original compositions strongly conjuring the spirit of 60's Laurel Canyon and early influence of among others Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins. Stimulus further mirrored with the presence of sole cover taken from pen of Buffy Sainte-Marie. Written in part on the road and then on reflection in comfort of home before recording (in a somewhat longer instance than debut) over a period of 4 months within studio's located in Sweden, Germany and the US, "Big Sky Country" now on UK and Ireland release.

Opening the CD, blues tinged 'Aha-Aha' where Sofia revels in her Americana/folk influences to deliver sultry vocal, hauntingly inviting listener to partake in and savour the long trek across America's fiery and dusty highways. Adventure continues to find our heroine writing title song 'Big Sky Country' with her love behind the wheel, husband Jonas having quit job of 10 years for their 2012 year long sojourn in beloved SV on the "Drivin' and Dreaming Tour" where much of this album was composed. Banjo furnished lyric reveals how significant a story-teller Sofia really is, now compelling us to continue journey further and heed tell of Blue Ridge mountains, call of San Francisco sea lion, big oil fields of Texas and the open skies of Idaho. Last port of call, in song, purposely reflected on CD cover depicts an expanse of mountainous land under open skies. Closing cry of 'I'm going home' and the next song, with its country yearning ever bright 'Dusty Heart, Empty Hand' will rally those embarked on similar exploit with cause for return.

For some period of time the beautiful piano-led 'Lullaby' was performed in concert without a name. Asking during performances for audiences to christen, after receiving many titles it was in Hamburg, Germany where the song finally became known under this name.

'Starwalker' by Buffy Sainte-Marie the only cover on the album, rests comfortably with the 10 originals when pleasingly Sofia with her siren like wail exceeds challenge in her reading and give new home to the song. The atmospheric 'Bonfire' resumes Sofia's originals, a tale of love so deep raises further proof if needed of the strength in her song-writing and example she need not include cover versions however powerful the result.

Drawing us to conclusion with two songs, 'Fairground' and 'So'. The former with it's gorgeous harmonies and handsomely picked acoustic melody, the latter performed on the 100th show of the tour at Piano's in New York City, to save you looking it was May 29th 2012.

Long acknowledged Sweden can write a mean pop song, being second only to Ireland in it's tally of Eurovision winners (picking up it's sixth win during 2015 with Måns Zelmerlöw's 'Heroes') and repeatedly giving music exemplified in rise to a world platform, witnessed across the decades in artistes such as Roxette, Europe, The Hives and both Neneh / Eagle Eye Cherry. List seemingly endless, most famously capped by Abba bringing Swedish pop music to an international stage with their 1974 Eurovision success and worldwide record sales of 380 million second only to The Beatles.

Establishing a recording career in 2005, her extended repertoire thus far spans 29 recorded works, current release "Big Sky Country" will seat comfortably in her catalogue opposite end to first album "Blue Moon" (with The Tallboys) which Sofia recorded herself in a frenetic 40 hour period. Addicts of Brit-pop should grab copy of 2007's second album "Street Of Dreams" which features Bernard Butler, early guitarist and song-writer for Suede appearing on single "It's Just Love".

Make home on your CD shelf for "Big Sky Country", the latest in a collection of 6 full length albums, next to First Aid Kit recent purveyors mining similar vein with "Stay Gold" receiving measured success. Sofia's perfected craft taking her nation's abilities beyond pop, with open arms, be early bird to new opportunity and cradle Sofia standing on the cusp of, somewhat overdue, larger audiences

Tony Wilding