Avatars Of Love
PLZ, 2022
8/10
On his first album since moving back to Norway, Sondre Lerche finds himself in the company of CHAI, Felicia Douglass (Dirty Projectors), Mary Lattimore, Rodrigo Alarcon, and Ana Müller, among others, and it results in a double album of his most free and uninhibited work to date.
“Guarantee That I’d Be Loved” starts the listen with warm acoustic guitar and poetic singing in the timeless folk climate that possesses much prettiness, and “Dead Of The Night” follows with light drumming, breezy guitar and a hushed atmosphere that balances beauty and mystery.
Deeper into the listen, “What Makes Me Tick” tips its hat to the crooners of yesteryear with its vintage pop appeal, while the title track benefits from soaring strings amid the dreamy landscape.
Residing near the end, “Magnitude Of Love” features Mary Lattimore for an artistic and cinematic display of immense talent, and “Sunset Tower In The Rain” exits the listen bare, raw and just Lerche with a guitar in a very eloquent finish.
A listen that’s heavy on self-reflection, Lerche really allows his vision to expand here, as more than half the songs surpass the 5 minute mark, and his mashing of folk, electronic and orchestral ideas makes for a career highlight that’s quite complex, but universally enjoyable, especially if names like Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell mean anything to you.
Travels well with: Gundelach- Baltus; Rufus Wainwright- Unfollow The Rules