Rikke has released her new album and it’s billed as an album of conflicts, goodbyes, and new beginnings.
With that as a premise, it intrigued me enough to want to do a deep delve into this.
- Always A Part Of Me
This is an acoustic number that goes for the heartstrings from the first line:
“A long time ago,
We were more than friends”
It’s sung in the past tense, so obviously it’s a relationship that’s over now, in the lyrics Rikke revisits memories like camping out in the rain, you could just picture this happening and I’m sure that anyone that’s been in a long term relationship can relate to this. For me, the poignant line is:
“Now I know, now I know
You’re always gonna be part of my ghost
Now I know
You’re always a part of me.”
Instrument wise, this goes from guitar into synthesisers, as well as an electronic drum machine, digital sounding giving it a late 80s-90s vibe. Having grown up and made music in that era it connects very well for me.
What a lovely way to open the album!
- Horses In The Moonlight
Oh.
Okay.
This is just the second track, and I’m already thinking this is my favourite track on the album!
This starts with the one note under Rikke’s voice played in on a synth and then Rikke’s voice is at tempo already, so where I initially thought this was a ballad it isn’t.
All the instruments come in at 0:20, synthesisers, piano drums bass and guitar, really lifting the song. I love the 808 toms on this – that’s always nice to hear!
I like the presence of the bells to break up the tones in the instrumentation.
One thing I’d like to note is that Rikke knows how to tell a story with her lyrics, you can almost picture everything that she’s singing about here, riding in the moonlight probably in the middle of nowhere, you could almost see a VH1 friendly video where there is someone on a horse riding through the night and it’s all backlit with fog… Very Wuthering Heights if I may say so!
The layered harmonies also had my attention, this is definitely a strong contender for my favourite track for sure, and I haven’t listened to the whole thing yet!
- What Does It Matter?
This song is full of good advice. It’s a song about standing up on your own two feet, and not letting the b*stards in! Straight and to the point.
I love the arrangement on this, the layered percussion along with the harmonies. There are stops and starts that make it stand out.
I reckon when this was recorded, they were thinking about how it could work live – cymbal clutches, transitions from EQ, and subgroups.
This would be a crowd pleaser!
- We Collide
I like the way this begins. There’s an ominous string sound, and then it switches up with all the instruments coming in at a steady tempo. The way Rikke phrases her words are worth paying attention to as the beat is straight but the way she emphasises we collide lifts the song up. It’s a good way to hammer home the point of the song.
I think this is my favourite vocal performance on this recording.
- Those Who Never Were
Ahhh some kitsch drum machines! You have the 808 toms, with a clave, playing a beguine rhythm, over that there is a piano which is phasing in and out. It sounds like as if it’s recorded on old tape, which is a great idea given the dreamlike quality of the song. There are references to rapid eye movement, which makes me think that this song is a really cleverly written one, you rarely get references to such things in songs, my initial thought was that it was a reference to the band, but not in this case.
Another strong contender for my favourite track.
- Circles
Nope. No. No no no no.
No.
This is it. This is the song. This is my absolute favourite song on the whole album.
WOW!
I just can’t.
The way it starts out is so atmospheric, but at the same time quite frantic to match the way the lyrics are.
Rikke talks about running about in circles in the first verse, but then it slow s down for such a gorgeous chorus where strings are added.
But that’s not the bit that got me, it happens at 2:42, building into this beautiful harmony sending it to end the song.
Very soulful.
I just felt like crying when I heard this.
This is definitely my contender for my favourite track of the year.
- Dependent On You
The tempo goes back up on this next one, and this has a bit of a soulful tinge to it, I like the drums especially because of the ghost notes on the snare. It’s what caught my attention initially. I also like the synth part on this, there are little earworms that keep me wanting to rewind and listen again.
Lyrically this song questions why you should feel bad about being independent, and making the break away from depending on someone and waking up to the realisation that the situation needs to change.
It’s taken me 7 tracks to realise that this whole album is about changing what has always been the way and making choices however painful for your own good.
- High Horse (Be Gone)
I actually reviewed this back in 2024. This is what I had to say about it back then.
This track has an off kilter beat and that’s what caught my attention initially! The drum intro, then a funny little bass run coupled up with a muted guitar played an octave up gives you a modern jazz feel with a little bit of pop in there too. This is a slick bit of production and arranging for sure!
Rikke is a newcomer to my ears and I love her playful vocals, you can tell she’s influenced by 80s and 90s pop stars, dare I say Janet Jackson with a tone like that?
The lyrics are barbed, digging at disrespectful behaviour possibly in a potential lover or friend, who’s self centred. No one needs that kind of negativity in their life and it seems that Rikke (Quite rightly) won’t stand for it.
For example, in the first line she points out the subject of the song’s lack of awareness:
“I bet you’re not even aware up on your high horse,
Content with your day’s work
Advising people on everything you’ve heard.”
The gossips come under attack with that latter line and it’s delicious!
All in all this is funky, the harmonies really lay it out for me, and it makes me want to hear more from Rikke.
Rikke is a household name in Norway having appeared on reality show “Hver gang vi mØtes”, having performed with John Legend at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. She’s also worked with Madcon and Emma Steinbakken. This is the first single from her upcoming album “Not Even Air Can Come Between Us Now”. This reminds me of a phrase that Ghanaians use – “No water pass” which means the friendship is tight. Nothing can break that bond.
- Flowers
On the surface this song could be about flowers, and it probably is, but when you dig a little deeper this song is about meeting new people – get out there and admire their diversity and beauty on the inside as well as the outside. The strings play a big part in this song, if Rikke was to take this and remix this as an alternate version I’d say take out all the instruments and leave the strings with her vocals because it will still have an impact – I love this song and this close to the end I am upset that this album is almost done.
10. New Beginnings
The last track, this one is upbeat and is a love letter to Rikke. It’s all about starting again, it feels like the kind of song you’d listen to at the beginning of the day, a note to say hey, it’s okay to move on, whichever direction that takes.
Lyrically it speaks about making mistakes and knowing you can recover, losing control and not having to question yourself about what people think and just going with it.
This is a strong song to finish on, for me it’s deeply satisfying as to how this planned out, it’s like reading a book that’s got a really good ending or a tv series that’s not been rushed but they’ve planned out the ending so you know that there’s no chance of a reboot – the story is done.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Rikke would say the same.
