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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Music For People In Trouble

Susanne Sundfør

2017

Music For People In Trouble
Album Summary

This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.

Music for People in Trouble is the fifth studio album by Norwegian singer-songwriter Susanne Sundfør, released on 8 September 2017 through Bella Union. Recorded with longtime collaborator Jørgen Træen in breaks between Sundfør's travels across the world, the album represents a departure from the synth-pop of Ten Love Songs (2015) in favor of a return to her roots as a folk singer-songwriter. The album received highly positive reviews from music critics, with some calling it her best work to date. It debuted at number one on the Norwegian album charts, making it her fourth consecutive album to achieve this feat. The album was supported by two singles, "Undercover" and "Mountaineers". The first was released as the album's lead single on 6 June, and the latter, which features American singer-songwriter John Grant, on 24 July. Characterized primarily as an art pop and folk album, Music for People in Trouble also incorporates jazz, ambient, chamber pop, country, drone and musique concrète. Sundfør co-produced the album with Jørgen Træen, who could contribute through his arrangements, "such as the sounds of an old lady in her apartment and a ticking grandfather clock on 'Bedtime Story' or the spoken-word intro on 'Music for People in Trouble'." Sundfør has cited several influences on this album, including Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Elton John and Leonard Cohen. The Daily Telegraph described the album's subject matter as "dark, conflating a destructive personal relationship with environmental damage, heartbreak and climate change," while also noting that it represents an almost complete about-turn from the shiny commercialism of Ten Love Songs. The Guardian called the album Sundfør's Biophilia moment. PopMatters noted the experimental sound of the album, and thought it resonates with the music of Jenny Hval.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.12

Votes

103

Genres

  • Folk
  • Singer Songwriter

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Reviews

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Nov 18 2023
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4

This was unexpected. Honestly, I was a little bored in the first half, but the second half really caught my interest until the finale. I believe, if there is an afterlife, the last track on the album, "Mountaineers" with John Grant (who I love), will be playing as you ascend into Heaven. What a wonderful song that almost had me in tears it was so beautiful. Was a 3.5 for me at first, but easy 4. Great album.

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Nov 18 2023
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4

Chilling album. Felt like Joanna Newsom. Nice lil listen.

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Jan 08 2024
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4

The roughness of this, the voice and the simplicity, yet somehow complex structure really get to me. Nicely chosen!

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Jan 07 2024
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3

Sundfør is completely off my radar, so this record is a grower for now, close in time and to its likely worse contemporaries. But there's plenty about which I can speak glowingly. A big part of me likes to spice up science fiction - ahem, putting away childish things speculative fiction - as really about ideas, really about the present, a real source of potential and not mere entertainment. And there are two instruments which apply a space schema to country music: Synths and steel. Plenty of the former here, but understated; Music for People in Trouble time-travels, is timeless, ventures out by dabbling back. Melancholy, but there's hope in its complexity.

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Feb 04 2024
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5

You get teleported to some magical, norse fairytale with angelic singing. Lovely album to dream away

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Feb 09 2024
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5

Haunting and lovely. Would make for a good "walk in the woods in autumn" album.

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Feb 16 2024
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5

This made me feel more intelligent if that makes sense. Great add.

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Mar 28 2024
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5

At last! A brilliant album that's been handpicked. Well done whoever you are 👍

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Jan 18 2024
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4

This odd phenomenon of Scandanavians sounding like some variety of American pop singers... still I liked this a lot, other than the spoken word bits that felt a little pasted on and pretentious to me.

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Feb 07 2024
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4

7/10. This was nice, but it didn't quite hit home for me.

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Feb 16 2024
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4

Quite excellent stuff, very moody and cutting in its restraint.

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Feb 24 2024
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4

WOW. I had never heard of this artist before and from the very beginning it grabbed me. Simply sublime. Familiar-sounding yet completely distinctive. I have a feeling this will become a regular part of my listening rotation, and I will check out her other work as well. Thank you to whoever added this to the list! 4 stars.

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Jan 18 2024
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3

Pop. Folk. Melódico. Tranquilo.

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Jan 25 2024
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3

Weird. Beautiful. Weird. I have loved a few songs, especially 'The Sound of War'

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Jan 29 2024
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3

C'est doux et c'est bon. C'est scandinave a ce que je vois et je ne suis pas familier avec l'artiste mais c'est Un style que j'aime vraiment. 3.75

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Feb 05 2024
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3

Chill, mellow, and folksy. An after-dinner mint.

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Apr 25 2024
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3

I really loved the voice and atmospheric vibe on this album and enjoyed listening to it.

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Nov 18 2023
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2

ugh, more twee waify folk. I'm sure it's very sophisticated and stylish in Scandinavia but boooooooo hiss. 2/5.

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Apr 26 2024
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2

Beautifully sung and mostly very sparse arrangements. Starts well, like a purer Lana Del Rey, then, for me, just gets a bit boring. However, i can see why it has been submitted as a strong “album to hear before you die” in the same vein as fellow Scandinavian Bjork’s minimalist folk albums.

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May 20 2024
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5

This album is stunning. Suzanne Sundfør’s voice is powerful and arresting and her lyrics are thought provoking and exploratory. There are moments of pure minimalism punctuated by lush synthesized arrangements that provide the perfect complement. This is folk/chamber pop at some of its best. The album is just absurdly beautiful. It is one of the best records I’ve heard in a while.

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Jul 28 2024
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5

It's a rare treat to find an album with a twist. Up to five minutes into the fourth track, 'The Sound of War', this is a really nice straight singer songwriter album. Then the listener is hit by a three minute sound collage, followed by the ambient spoken word title track. It stays brilliantly weird from there. Atmospheric soundscapes form the basis or context of the remaining songs and enhance the emotional heft of the record, making a fascinating and affecting listen. The sounds wash over the listener, bringing them into the album's world. A triumph of ambition, creativeness and sequencing. I can only see the record getting even more interesting with further listens. Rating: 4.5 Playlist track: Noone Believes in Love Anymore Date listened: 30/07/24

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Sep 28 2024
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5

Well this was just lovely. Excellent choice!

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Sep 28 2024
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5

Norway? Hell yeah, Norway! At first I just thought this was very lovely, but maybe not super distinctive, and then it proved me wrong by going to some very interesting places. Moog?! I love this lots!

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May 08 2024
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4

Great find. Thanks for adding the album.

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Jun 05 2024
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4

Never heard of her before. Right from the start, I knew this was something I would really like. Thanks to the submitter of this album. I think it is amazing. I would definitely listen to other albums by her as well. I look forward to getting to know this album better over time. 4/5

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Jul 25 2024
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4

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Mantra, God luck bad luck, The sound of war, Undercover

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Sep 28 2024
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4

This was very low key - a bit too much so maybe at times - but mostly lovely listen.

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Apr 25 2024
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3

This was a pleasant listening experience.

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Jul 16 2024
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3

Chamber folk. Relajante. Ni fu ni fa.

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Jun 26 2024
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2

This was already going to be an uphill battle as I’m not usually one for slower singer-songwriter efforts, but Sundfør’s predilection for sub-60 BPM tracks across the entire LP made this one a slog. Next to no rhythmic or dynamic contrast, cloying lyrics, and straight love songs across the board meant this was well outside my wheelhouse and honestly kind of annoying. Susanne may have a killer voice, but 45 minutes of boomerish whining about how nO oNe BeLiEveS iN lOvE AnYmoRe would be a tough sell even if it was coming from a choir of angels.

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Aug 09 2024
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2

This feels like a lot of the modern pop music that I’ve been forced to listen by my SO however this one is a bit less up beat and more melodramatic. Something about foreign artists that have good vocals that really enjoy having a melancholy style of music. I’d be more inclined to listen to Benee or some other pop artists than this album. It wasn’t terrible, but it’s just not my taste. 5.3/10

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May 05 2024
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1

Some of it was decent. There were parts that were super weird. Not sure why someone would want to add this, I will round down.

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