Pust - Huggu over vatn (2017) [Hi-Res]

Pust sounds its heavenly best — shades of early music, jazz, and an extra quality all its own combine for one of the best vocal atmospheres you'll encounter. From wordless folk tunes to graceful orginals and a well-chosen Sigur Ros cover, all of the material is perfectly selected to please.

Pust truly understands how to use the voice as an instrument, with a color all its own. While the songs with words convey plenty of feeling, those without lyrics are equally evocative. Instead of imitating other instruments, the vocal lines complement them — sometimes literally. Gjermund Larsen's fiddle offers a wonderful counterpart on the title track and Påls Innehøner, while Lars Andreas Haug's tuba sounds almost like another vocal line. How refreshing, to hear an instrument imitating a voice on an a cappella album instead of the other way around.

The tracks with the instruments have a lot more going for them than just novelty. Påls Innehøner has a lovely syncopated rhythm and some very interesting vocal textures, while Huggu Over Vatn is a straight up lovely song. Ditto the entirely vocal Folketone fra Sunnmøre, which succeeds solely on the strength of its underlying folk melody.

The wordless songs on this record satisfy a craving I didn't know I had. From the very first listen, the floating lilt of Gammel reinlender fra Sønndala had me dancing before I really noticed the record had started. Salmevals sounds to me like an excerpt from a movie soundtrack, while Molde Canticle registers as the humming memory of a carol you might have heard in a contented time long ago.

Gjer Ein Annan Mann Ei Beine is my favorite of the songs that do have words. Female voices take center stage, as a gorgeous descant overlays the main lyric and a soft underlying pulse. It's hard to describe this song without falling into new age cliches or other stereotypes — suffice to say it's stunning and you should check it out. I also love the tenor solo anchoring Fljótavík, the cover. Really there is only one song I do not connect with, the peppy 240, Tuja Og Trampoline. While there's nothing wrong with the performance, I personally find it a bit cloying, especially after multiple listens.

Tracklist:
01. Pust - Gammel reinlender fra Sønndala (3:29)
02. Pust - Huggu over vatn (3:13)
03. Pust - Dit du lengter (4:55)
04. Pust - Folketone fra Sunnmøre (3:04)
05. Pust - Uten at du veit (3:59)
06. Pust - Før vi kan snu (2:58)
07. Pust - 240, tuja og trampoline (3:16)
08. Pust - Gjer ein annan mann ei beine (3:39)
09. Pust - Salmevals (3:24)
10. Pust - Molde Canticle (5:20)
11. Pust - Påls innehøner (3:39)
12. Pust - Fljótavík (3:50)
13. Pust - Om kvelden (3:53)