Bel Canto (band)
| Bel Canto | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tromsø, Norway |
| Genres | Dream pop, synthpop, new-age |
| Labels |
Crammed Discs Nettwerk Records IRS/MCA Records Columbia/SME Records (France) Dali/Chameleon/Elektra Records Lava/Atlantic Records EMI Records |
| Associated acts |
Vajas Biosphere |
| Members |
Anneli Drecker Nils Johansen |
| Past members | Geir Jenssen |
Bel Canto is a Norwegian music duo, originally a trio, fronted by vocalist Anneli Drecker, and signed originally to Crammed Discs.
Biography
The group's first two records were licensed to Nettwerk Records Records in Canada and its second album was licensed to IRS/MCA Records. Its style evolved over time from an ethereal dream pop sound to synth-based pop influenced by world music. The group won the Spellemannprisen award twice, in 1992 and 1996.
During the years from 1985 to 2009, Bel Canto occasionally took breaks in order for Anneli Drecker to pursue a solo career and to perform with other bands and artists, as well as performing in films and theater plays. Nils Johansen composed music for film and television as well as working and performing with his other band, Vajas. Despite these hiatuses, Bel Canto still performs together, 24 years after the band was founded.
In 2007 Bel Canto continued to work together, both by writing new material and by doing more gigs. At the same time, both Drecker and Johansen continued on other projects, Johansen with Vajas and Drecker on her solo work. Side-Line reported in March 2007 that Bel Canto would start work on a new album.[1]
On 6 February 2009, Side-Line reported about a planned double album package called Maskindans: Norsk synth 1980–1988 that was to be released on Hommage Records.[2] This release holds 158 minutes of music, 41 tracks, of which only one song was released on CD before. Included is also one previously unheard Bel Canto song, "Flowerbeds," which dates from 1988.
Discography
Albums
- White-Out Conditions (1987)
- Birds of Passage (1989)
- Shimmering, Warm and Bright (1992)
- Magic Box (1996)
- Rush (1998)
- Dorothy's Victory (2002)
- Retrospect - compilation album (2001)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR [3] |
US Dance [4] | |||||||||||
| 1988 | "Blank Sheets" | — | — | White-Out Conditions | ||||||||
| "White-Out Conditions" | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1989 | "Dreaming Girl" (CAN only) | — | — | |||||||||
| 1990 | "Oskoreï" (FRA only) | — | — | single only | ||||||||
| "Birds Of Passage" | — | — | Birds Of Passage | |||||||||
| 1991 | "A Shoulder To The Wheel" | — | — | |||||||||
| 1992 | "Shimmering, Warm & Bright" | — | — | Shimmering, Warm & Bright | ||||||||
| "Unicorn" | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1996 | "Rumour" | 19 | 8 | Magic Box | ||||||||
| 1998 | "Images" (FRA only) | — | — | Rush | ||||||||
| 2002 | "Feels Like I'm Already Flying" (NOR only) | — | — | Dorothy's Victory | ||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. | ||||||||||||
Drecker's solo albums
References
- ↑ World-music project for Bel Canto musician and more
- ↑ Previously unreleased Bel Canto track to appear on Norwegian rarities double CD compilation 'Maskindans: Norsk synth 1980-1988'
- ↑ "Norwegian chart - Bel Canto". norwegiancharts.com. 30 December 2014.
- ↑ "US Dance Club Play Chart - Bel Canto". billboard.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
External links
- General
- BelCanto.no – Official page
- AnneliDrecker.com – Official fan page of lead singer Anneli Drecker
- Official profile on Myspace
- Official Anneli Drecker profile on Myspace
- Discographies
- Bel Canto discography at AMG
- Bel Canto discography at Music-City
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tre Små Kinesere |
Recipient of the Pop Spellemannprisen 1992 |
Succeeded by Pogo Pops |
| Preceded by deLillos |
Recipient of the Pop Band Spellemannprisen 1996 |
Succeeded by Velvet Belly |