Ida Maria - Fortress Around My Heart (Waterfall Records)

Norwegian singer Ida Maria is marking her independence from Sony BMG with a re-release of her 2008 debut album, Fortress Around My Heart. It comes complete with new artwork, two new recordings, 'In The End' and 'We're All Going To Hell', and a changed track listing. All of which, according to the artist herself, reflect the way she wanted the album to be in the first place.

The LP is a combination of styles and genres. There are a great many up-tempo, jump-around-the-room, garage rock/pop punk tunes which sit nicely with the more reflective sombre acoustic tracks towards the end of the record; they create a nice balance to the whole album. One thing that is evident throughout is Maria's vocals, which are extremely versatile and adept in a variety of styles; they serve as a testament to her undoubted vocal ability.

The album opens with the single ‘Oh My God’ - probably one of the catchiest songs you will hear this year. It comes complete with snarling vocals, fast-paced drums and brash guitar riffs. The furious tempo continues with ‘Morning Light’, 'Queen of the World’, ‘Stella’ and ‘Forgive Me’. Things slow down a notch during ‘Leave Me, Let Me Go’ - a track with much more maturity and raw emotion than the previous few.

The general swift pace continues with the exception of the slightly mellower ‘Keep me Warm’, ‘In the End’ and ‘We’re All Going to Hell’, which finish the album off very nicely; they complement the surge of energy the album opens with.

On the whole, Fortress Around My Heart is a fun, listener-friendly and undemanding listen. This sound is not necessarily a bad thing, but it certainly lacks punch. It may not be a very welcome addition for those who obtained the first issue, but for others discovering her for the first time it makes a mildly enjoyable listen.

Rating: 3/5

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Artist: Ida Maria Title: Fortress Round My.. Released: 14/04/2009 Buy Now \| View Details	Artist: Ida Maria Title: Bach for Breakfast:.. Released: 13/06/1995 Buy Now \| View Details

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Ida Maria's official website
http://www.idamariamusic.co.uk

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Ida Maria on MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/idamaria

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Published: 30/01/2009 at 00:24
Author: Barry Healy
Links: Permanent Link