Now that Bellman is ready with ten new songs, he steps elegantly on the sustain pedal of his career.
Already one year after the critically acclaimed debut album Mainly Mute (C C Records, 2009), he
confirms that the most important activity in the music industry is to create new music. Something which
often is easier said than done, given all the distractions we face every day. For Bellman, the time in the
wake of the Mainly Mute-releases; comprised of a CD, vinyl album, remix-CD, and live CD and DVD,
have been quite hectic. And thankfully so. He has been busy with live gigs, at clubs, festivals and events.
While others might be put of by that level of activity, often contributing to writer‟s block or resistance, it
has only inspired and energised Bellman. The compositions, lyric writings, and recordings have taken place in intense time periods. – To me, writing songs is a combination of pure discipline and creative
flow, he says.
The inspiration that followed the strong, creative birth, not least concurrently with his fresh family
situation, also contributed to what he calls „the tragic loss of his overshadowing tristesse.‟ He adds: - It
provided the songs of the Curse (C C Records, 2010) with a lighter sound. But when something dies,
something new comes to life. This has provided me with an opportunity to explore the lovely universe of
pop.
The music was further shaped by an accidental acquaintance with producer/bass player Even Ormestad, one of the founding members of Jaga Jazzist, and who has helped out artists like Marit Larsen, Thom Hell, Bertine Zetlitz, Rockettothesky, Christer Knutsen and Hanne Hukkelberg. On the production side, Ormestad also worked closely with one of his closest associates, producer/sound engineer Audun Borrmann. According to Bellman, the recording process was fresh, creative, and intense, and created an atmosphere that got the best out of everyone who worked on the record.
Bellman has also, in collaboration with his record company peer, been explorative in industry-
/marketing-related ways, by building bridges between thinking anew, creating continuity, and doing things in a little bit of way like the industry forefathers did: for example, in the sense that the debut came
out in many different formats, to reach different fans. And now when this new record comes out, it proves
to not necessarily need to be as ambitious as 15 or 23 songs on a double CD, but rather as sober as one
could expect in the old days: 10 songs (five on each side of the LP). When the album, just like the debut,
comes out via the same record company, it is a promising, healthy and natural sign of longevity, where
the artist is given time and space to be both productive and able to plot his next moves without spending
time and energy on getting to know a new company.
At the same time, he enjoys the benefit of not having been over-exposed or chewed up by old-fashioned
media. Which fits in very well with the music: Bellman provides us with breathing space and distance to
everything that is easy and mediocre. Thus, the music becomes both timeless and current, and a relevant
weapon for those among us who have a need to be spared for the tyranny of the moment. Subsequently,
this is music which is beneficial to carry along with us in the present, and which can turn out to remain a
good friend for the future.
- Kai Lofthus, Oslo, October 5th, 2010
BELLMAN IN A NUTSHELL
RELEASES:
2010 - The Curse
2009 - Mainly mute (Also released in denmark)
2009 - Mainly mute REMIX
2009 - Live at Sliperiet (Also released in denmark)
2009 - Live at Sliperiet DVD (Also released in denmark)
2008 - Shockadelica - 50th Anniversary Tribute To The Artist Known As Prince
2008 - Kurt blir grusom, soundtrack
2004 - Spell your name - Flying Edward (Guest vocalist and songwriter)
RADIO:
Spaceship, move slow!:
A-listed on P3 12 weeks in 2008
Norsk-listed on P4 2009
Celestine:
B-listed on P1 7 weeks in 2009
MOVIES:
The song "All that is beautiful" was in 2006 on the soundtrack to the movie "Fritt vilt" by Roar Uthaug
Several of Bellmans songs was used in Ole Jacob Andersens touching tv-documentary "Et vakkert liv". Shown on NRK in march 2010
