Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
When Norway and the U.K., or more specifically Liverpool, collide, the artistry that seems to come pouring out like the water than finds its way past inlets and the fjords in a timeless motion of breath taking beauty, is surely one to sit back, take in and be astonished at the sheer grace and abundance of story-telling and music accompaniment.
Liverpool and Merseyside have always had such a strong connection with Norway and since L.I.P.A started the connection has got deeper and more valuable to both communities. Another one of the success stories to have come out of both camps, the Norwegian art of recounting legend and fable tightly bound with the know-how of Liverpool’s industry like approach to loveable music, is Nora Konstanse.
If the start of the afternoon had been enjoyable inside The Baltic Social with SheBeat and Caroline England waving the flag for great music by women then Nora Konstanse, alongside Andreas Voie Juliebo on drums, Eirik Hansen on Electric Guitar, Marius Rekstad on keyboards and Andreas Molde on bass, took the evening in the realms of near ecstasy, the story telling mastery that seems to be so imbedded in the Norwegian people came tumbling out of the speakers and filled the Liverpool Acoustic stage to the gentle but wonderfully cunning heartbeat of the next generation of fans of acoustic powerful music.
The style and poise of the performance was very much in evidence as the band tore through a set with the speed of a Gazelle in full flight but with the beauty of a Red Flanked Bluetail or Muscicapidae’s plumage being adoringly seen. Even in a short set such as the one performed it was impossible to ignore the stirring passion that resided in each technically gifted note and in tracks such as Higher, We Are, All the People and the set closer Wonder, the future enjoyment of a full set being taken in by an audience somewhere in the city of Liverpool will be one to be keenly anticipated based on this set at The Baltic Social.
A cracking set by excellent musicians, the surprise in the day, gift wrapped by all at Threshold.
Ian D. Hall