Ane Brun
Album: Rarities
Label: Balloon Ranger
Tracks: 20 2xCD
Website: http://www.anebrun.com

Following her 'Best Of' album, "Songs 2003-2013" Norwegian, Ane Brun has followed that up with a collection of rare and previously unreleased tracks. As a fan of the Swedish based artist, it was a compilation with some anticipation and I was exceptionally pleased to discover that it didn't let me down.

In a strange way, this is an album that gets more into Ane than that greatest hits compilation does. One of the reasons for that is the cover versions spread liberally across the two cds. Most of the covers were done for projects that Ane was involved with, but it also gives an idea of the range of activities that inspire her to take part.

Cover versions on the album are as diverse as Odetta and Depeche Mode, the latter, "Fly On The Windscreen" recorded with Vince Clake, Bob Dylan and Bjork, Beyonce and the Eurythmics, amongst others. These are mixed in with previously unreleased songs and a few alternative of her own songs.

"Rarities" highlight Brun's ability to get into the heart of a song, not only her own, but those from other people. Arguably the only link that runs through all of the material on this album is the strength not of the ability to wring every last ounce of the songs, but to focus on songs that have been so well written.

Her previously available canon of work have always shown Ane Brun to be a deeply expressive artist, one that can recognise the excellence of other musicians she encounters, it's always lead to interesting and different things from her. In fact my only real disappointment with Ane Brun has been caused by the frustrations of not being able to see her perform live more regularly.

Brun has been a key part of bringing the wider music of Scandinavia to a broader audience. An artist that has taken the cards dealt her and created a hand that ensured she reached a wider audience where she could showcase her talents, particularly song and voice.

"Rarities" can only enhance that reputation. Ane Brun is a mercurial, but like quicksilver, it always remains bright and rarely does what you expect it to do. "Rarities" is pop, it's country, it's gospel, it's narrative and instrumental. "Rarities" isn't a 'for the fans' album, it's an album that showcases an artist with a real depth of talent and is as capable of opening the eyes and ears of a newbie to Ane Brun as "Songs 2003-2013", either way it will be unlikely that this will be the only Ane Brun album that you buy.

Neil King