CD Review

Artist: Kate Havnevik

CD: Melankton

Label: Universal Music Group

Website: www.katehavnevik.com

Released: March 27^th 2007  

4 Stars 

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey 

Melankton – a character in a Norweigan book, meaning ‘Black Rose.’ Kate Havnevik’s debut album Melankton has quite possibly received its best publicity by being a virtual soundtrack to the ebbs and flows of resident interns melodramas on the mega-hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy. Accumulating a substantial fistful of six songs to the world of Grey, Havnevik has also managed to make original tracks such as ‘Grace’ for the season two finale. Mind you, its not just that someone on the hit TV show likes the music of Havnevik, it is also the music itself that has brought her songs to the forefront of her success and her shy and gentle persona taking the backseat of fame.  

Melankton is truly a breakthrough collection with some giant power behind its inception, as Guy Sigsworth who is a collaborator/producer of epic music biz proportions (cite: Madonna, Britney Spears, Seal, Bjork, Sugababes, and Josh Groban for the shortlist) decided to assist in her first endeavour. Gee, what a nice guy! What you get from Havnevik’s music is probably that star quality that Sigsworth saw; she is a blend of Bjork, Enya and Imogen Heap, and has managed to fuse the elements of electronica, classical arrangements, trip-hop and ethereal surrealism into a sound all of her own. Melankton is a strongly cohesive, original work that will drive your senses to drink from a fountain of fully-fleshed and actualized musical accoutrements.  

‘Unlike me,’ both video (as seen on the AnEVibe home page this week) and song are vivid and memorable. I’ve been humming ‘Unlike Me’ for days now, it’s become ‘that song I can’t get out of my head.’ Catchy. Other tracks like ‘Nowhere Warm,’ ‘Serpentine,’ and ‘Sleepless’ are equally as intriguing and delightful to listen to. At times you hear hints of a Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries) in her vocals, but mostly Havnevik’s vocals have great depth and are a signature trademark all of her own.  

Havnevik has been trained classically, which seems to have done her proud, as most of the songs have strong classical arrangements with electronica layered ontop, such as ‘Serpentine’ which starts with an evocative cello, then a layer of piano, then bass, then electronica pulses, and as icing on the top, a sweetly emotive vocal from Havnevik. Melankton is really a stunning debut album and one that rightly had significant success so early on in the game. I suspect Kate Havnevik will last the test of time and her musical style will become as easily identifiable as when an Enya song is played everyone knows it is her at once. Pick up Melankton, or simply watch Grey’s Anatomy to get your fill of Havnevik’s original stylings.   

1. "Unlike Me" – 4:45
2. "Travel In Time" – 4:09 (UK & USA)
3. "You Again" – 3:26
4. "I Don't Know You" – 4:10
5. "Not Fair" – 5:18
6. "Nowhere Warm" – 4:59
7. "Serpentine" – 5:22
8. "Kaleidoscope" – 4:19
9. "Sleepless" – 5:05
10. "Suckerlove" – 5:56
11. "Se Meg" – 5:13 (Norway & UK)
12. "Someday" – 4:42 (Norway)
13. "New Day" – 7:42
14. "So:Lo" – 7:42 (Bonus Track, US only)