Cat No BE015

”Survival Kit” is Norwegian singer-songwriter Siri Gjære’s second solo-album, released on the, Bergland Records - a label based in her home town, Trondheim - and it’s an immediately likeable indie rock album full of strong songs, intriguing lyrics, solid musicianship and a thoughtful production. Her first album, ”Love Seriously Damages Health”, was released in 2001 and gained great acclaim from the press in Scandinavia and beyond.

The songs on ”Survival Kit” are all about surviving different kinds of experiences - especially the more rough and troubled ones. Some of the songs offer tips on how to survive, some are about having survived. Siri believes listening to music can be a way of surviving, and hopes this album can do that for some who hear it. Her song is about the “Loveless Café” - apparently a great stopping place for breakfast - about an hour’s drive from Nashville. Its name and location is also a good indication of some of Siri´s musical influences and lyrical universe.

Producer/guitar and bass player/record company owner Gunnar Andreas Berg puts his sonic imprint all over this record, in the way he wraps electric and acoustic instruments around Siri Gjære’s expressive and flexible voice. He joins Siri along with other top-notch Norwegian musicians, Tor Haugerud on drums, Maria Kannegaard on Fender Rhodes, Jarle Bernhoft on vocals, guitar and mandolin, Thomas Dahl on guitar, Ola Kvernberg on fiddle and Kirsti Huke, vocals - not big names in the UK, but Google any of them and you’ll get a better idea.