Madrugada - Deep End (CD)

All Music Guide

The Deep End is majestic beast of a record, even by Madrugada's nontoohumble standards. This album, their fourth since their 1999 debut, managed to establish them as an awardwinning, platinumselling thinking man's arena rock band in their native Norway. Think a rockier, darker version of R.E.M. circa 1992. The first track is the instant classic "The kids are on high street", a slow but grand epic where Sivert Høyem sings in a slightly higher pitch than his usually bassy croon, giving the vocals newfound intensity and urgency. Its huge guitar leads are of the epic westernmovie variety, producing an almost cinematic feel.There are also several great soulful ballads here, using Høyem's compelling voice to great effect. The elpiano and slide guitardriven "Sail away is a good example of this, even better is the aptly titled "The lost gospel", a slowburner whose sound is dominated by a beautifully played Hammond organ and tremolo guitar, making it possibly one of Madrugada's finest recorded ...moments to date. Unlike its predecessor, 2002's Grit there are few inyourface Stoogesstyle rock tunes on The Deep End, and all for the better, really.The sound is definitely bigger here than on any of their previous albums, with many of the songs featuring Hammond organ, Wurlitzer piano and pedal steel guitars plus plenty of guitar tracks by the eversolid guitar twanger Robert BurÃ¥s. Read more Less