Sondre Lerche has made no secret of who his influences are; in interviews and in his own candid online diary, he often praises the likes of Elvis Costello, Prefab Sprout, Chet Baker, and even Steely Dan. He praises them all for good reason, of course. Lerche’s previous two albums, Faces Down (2002) and Two-Way Monologue (2004), were quirky pop creations that illuminated the depth of his songwriting abilities and the sweet qualities of his voice. In his latest release, Duper Sessions, which he created with The Faces Down Quartet, our favorite little Norwegian takes a quick side trip into jazzy, retro-sounding fare inspired by some of the musicians he admires. The result is certainly enjoyable but doesn’t really add anything new or revolutionary to the genre. If the greatest form of flattery is imitation, Sondre Lerche’s predecessors should be pink in the cheeks.

Duper Sessions is comprised of catchy but mild original tunes and a few covers, including Costello’s “Human Hands” and a minimalistic rendition of Cole Porter’s “Night and Day.” Lerche is undoubtedly a talented songwriter, but most of these songs don’t fully reflect that. Perhaps they’re not meant to. This project simply grew out of a desire to pay tribute to some of his musical heroes, and Lerche will soon be releasing a proper pop-rock album. Nevertheless, Duper Sessions is not without its merits, namely Lerche’s delicate, crooning voice, which always conveys a maturity beyond his years despite the simplicity of the lyrics. We’re particularly partial to the lazy Sunday ballad “Minor Detail” and the piano-driven “You Knocked Me Off My Feet.” They’re the kind of songs you’d kick back to while sipping on a nice glass (bottle) of Pinot Noir, which is something we like to do as often as possible.

Duper Sessions is smooth and breezy, albeit somewhat bland and predictable. Which is kind of a contradiction in terms, we realize, but Sondre is just so gosh darn darling that we can’t help but be charmed by pretty much everything he does.

Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down Quartet
Duper Sessions
Astralwerks
US Release Date: March 21, 2006
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