| Demo Recordings 1995 (Demo) | 1995 | No Label |
This demo serves us nine short tracks that show a different side of Kari than we got to know on for example The 3rd and the Mortal. As such you won't find any metal here. What she offers us are folkish pop songs of which most are un-canningly beautiful and sorrow drenched. Half of the tracks are sung in her native Norwegian language but there is also plenty of English suffering to listen to. All in all the music is rather minimalistic and it generally consists of just a synth, acoustic guitar, piano or contrabass accompanying Kari's voice.
It is hard to point out just a few good tracks, but if I must I'll say songs like 'Rapunsell', 'Forsaken' or the blood freezing 'Dead' can send shivers down my spine. It's actually that simple, if you are a fan of early 3rd and the Mortal you will love this and you will not miss the lack of metal elements at all. Brilliance!
1. The Homecoming Song
2. Våkenatt
3. The Gathering
4. Rapunsel
5. Forsaken
6. The Shadowchant
7. In Here
8. Dead
9. In A Day
Approx. 34 minutes
Re-released in 1997 with lyric's in the booklet as 'Demo recordings 1997'
| Spindelsinn (CD) | 1995 | Columbia |
All songs being sung in Norwegian but even if you can't understand that language (like me), these songs can really send shivers down your spine. Tracks like 'Agatha' or Hør min sang' are so sad and mournful I do not think any doom metal act will ever get close to them. Imagine all the sorrow, pain and mysticism of the first two 3rd and the Mortal albums but without the metal element and you'll get the idea.
It is easy to just close your eyes and float off to a mystical fairyland where trolls haunt the lands, elves and goblins hide in the forests and witches gather to dance under a full moon. And a land where the princess cuts her own wrists because her prince on the white horse died before her very eyes.
Interesting is also the remake of a track of her 'Demo recordings'; 'The Gathering' into a song with Norwegian lyrics called 'Trollferd'. This most definately is Kari at the top of her abilities. Oh what would this have sounded like if she had still been with The 3rd and the mortal!
1. I Månens Favn
2. Spindelsinn
3. Skogens Kjole
4. Agatha
5. Trollferd
6. Vintersol
7. Jeg Kommer Inn
8. Hør Min Sang
9. Som Av Meg
10. Nordnatt
Approx. 36 minutes
| Mesmerized (CD) | 1998 | Columbia |
Kari also experiments more with her voice than she perhaps should. At times she reminds me a great deal of Tori Amos on this album. And while I love Tori Amos, I am not really impressed by Kari trying to sound like Tori. If one has such a great voice like Kari has, it is a true shame to hear one screwing it up. Her attempts to write more happy lyrics also do not help, turning some songs into empty and hollow MTV worthy pop tracks, like 'A different angle'.
However it is not all "mystery and despair", or should I say, it's not all "happiness and joy"? Given enough time this album can definitely grow on you and about halfway through the quality of the songs does pick up. A song like 'Make me a stone' shows you that even when creating pure pop music Kari can still create emotional and moving music.
As such I can not write this album off completely, but I would advice you to not make it your first buy and to keep in mind that this album will require a great deal of patience from you. If you are willing to be patient with it however, that is up to you.
1. My Lover
2. All You Had In Me
3. Different Angle
4. Balcony Boulevard
5. Happy, Amused
6. Cinderella
7. Make Me A Stone
8. Borrowing You
9. «Little Low»
10. Images Of You
11. Paint My Wings
Approx. 41 minutes