Lights (2023)
Release: November 17th, 2023
Produced by Darling West (Mari Sandvær Kreken, Tor Egil Kreken, Christer Slaaen and Thomas Gallatin)
Recorded in FA-studio
Mixed by Kai Worley
Mastered by Karl Klaseie / Øra Mastering
Our favorite Christmas songs
Last Christmas, we performed a holiday special on Norwegian national television (NRK). The next logical step was obviously to record our first ever Christmas album. Consisting of a selection of the songs we played for the TV special, complete with a brand new original song, which has also named the album: Lights.
Credits
-
(Mari Sandvær Kreken, Tor Egil Kreken)
Tor Egil Kreken: Banjo, Fender Bass VI, vocal
Mari Kreken: Rubber bridge gitar, vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Drums/percussion
Christer Slaaen: Acoustic guitar
Torjus Vierli: Organ, Juno
Kristoffer Lo: Horns -
(Hugh Martin, Ralph Blaine)
Tor Egil Kreken: Fender Bass VI, vocal
Mari Kreken: Rubber bridge gitar, vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Drums/percussion
Christer Slaaen: High string acoustic guitar
Torjus Vierli: Phillicorda, Juno
Kjetil Steensnæs: Pedal steeel
Sivert Høyem: Vocal -
(Howard Blake)
Tor Egil Kreken: Banjo, Fender Bass VI, vocal
Mari Kreken: Vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Drums/percussion
Christer Slaaen: Acoustic guitar
Torjus Vierli: Organ, piano
Kjetil Steensnæs: Pedal steel -
(Traditional. Arranged by Darling West)
Tor Egil Kreken: Fender Bass VI, el-guitar, vocal
Mari Kreken: vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Drums/percussion, vocal
Christer Slaaen: El-guitar, slide guitar, vocal
Torjus Vierli: Organ
Kjetil Steensnæs: 12-string acoustic guitar -
(Chris Rea)
Tor Egil Kreken: Fender Bass VI, el-guitar, vocal
Mari Kreken: vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Drums/percussion,
Christer Slaaen: Rubber bridge guitar, el-guitar, vocal
Torjus Vierli: Phillicorda, Juno -
(Gordon Lightfoot)
Tor Egil Kreken: El-guitar, Fender Bass VI, vocal
Mari Kreken: Vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Acetone organ
Live Hanken: Acoustic guitar, vocal -
(Traditional. Arranged by Darling West)
Tor-Egil Kreken: Fender Bass VI, banjo, el-guitar, vocal
Mari Kreken: vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Drums/percussion
Christer Slaaen: Rubber bridge guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar
Torjus Vierli: Organ, clavinet -
(Robbie Robertson)
Tor Egil Kreken: Fender Bass VI, vocal
Mari Kreken: Acoustic gitar, vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Drums/percussion, vocal
Christer Slaaen: El-guitar, acoustic gitar, vocal
Torjus Vierli: Organ, piano
Kjetil Steensnæs: Pedal steel
Jarle Bernhoft: Vocal, el-guitar -
(Traditional. Arranged by Darling West)
Tor Egil Kreken: Banjo, vocal
Mari Kreken: Acoustic gitar, vocal
Christer Slaaen: Acoustic guitar
Live Hanken: Vocal -
(Alfred Arquilla)
Tor Egil Kreken: Banjo, vocal
Mari Kreken: Vocal
Thomas Gallatin: Vocal
Christer Slaaen: Vocal
Last Christmas, Darling West performed a stunning holiday special on Norwegian national television. The next logical step was obviously to record their first ever Christmas album. Consisting of a selection of the songs the band played for the TV special, the album is now ready, complete with a brand new original song, which has also named the album: Lights.
On Lights Darling West are Mari Sandvær Kreken, Tor Egil Kreken, Christer Gracia Slaaen and Thomas Gallatin, as per usual, with the lineup rounded out by Kjetil Steensnær on steel guitar, Torjus Vierli on keys and Kristoffer Lo on horns. They also found room for some notable guests. Sivert Høyem features on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, Jarle Bernhoft on “Christmas Must Be Tonight”, and up-and-coming talent Live Hanken joins in on “Song for a Winter’s Night”.
Compiling the band’s favorite Christmas songs across two languages, Lights includes “Walking in the Air” and the aforementioned “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” along with Norwegian standards “Kling no klokka” and “Folkefrelsar”, two mention a few. All of them wrapped in the characteristic and delightful Darling West sound. Especially “Folkefrelsar” will excite the listener, blending Norwegian folk tones, with desert blues, resulting in an original take on a Christmas song.
Of their first ever original Christmas song, lead singer Mari Sandvær Kreken says:
““Having worked on so many beautiful Christmas classics for the TV special, it felt like a terrifying prospect to write our own Christmas tune. But when we really got going, it was also very rewarding to contribute to the lovely tradition that is holiday music. The feeling of “home” is very abstract and can represent so much. It can be a room, a house, a person, a smell, the warmth from the cat in your lap, or a special group of people. It’s something we all long for, a place to feel unconditionally welcome, where you can be yourself completely.””