Songs You May Have Missed #811

The Last Hurrah!!: “Melodie Grand Prix 63”

This catchy, enigmatic tune I found in my special little drawer of Norwegian pop mp3’s sent me searching the usual sources to hear more of the band’s music.

It was a frustrating experience as all I could find was a straightforward, steel guitar-based country band with the same name.

H.P. Gunderson

Then more scrolling revealed the fact that the “country” band was a more recent incarnation of this Bergen, Norway-formed H.P. Gundersen project. The later lineup featured a combination of Norwegian and American musicians.

Apparently exploring lavish arrangements melding West Coast psychedelia, Nordic pop and Asian folk and employing drone guitar with open tunings, tambura and bouzouki wasn’t interesting enough.

The sound of steel guitar and fiddle was calling.

Anyway, even the country-influenced material sounds interesting in the hands of Gunderson. But this song, with Heidi Torsvik on vocals, is from the earlier incarnation of this ever-evolving band.

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