Rebekka Karijord – We Become Ourselves

It's the female singer-songwriter cliché: Rebekka Karijord's soul is laid bare on her fourth LP. The icy Scandinavian atmosphere of these songs will be more than familiar too, but there's a certain composure in the arrangements; there's soulfully lavish, groove-orientated numbers on the front end (Prayer, Your Love) as well as minimalist, piano-driven pieces in the album's last stretch (Bandages, Ode to What Was Lost).

Part of We Become Ourselves' allure lies in this ability to simplify and bring back when required; nothing ever sounds overly bloated or showy despite the earnest nature of the vocal delivery, as well as the inclusion of several stringed instruments and male choirs. The mood throughout is typically solemn, but there's always the odd shard of light peering through the gloom. It's an ambitious project – especially considering it's the first half of a conceptual whole – but this is hard to fault when Karijord delivers with such maturity and grace.