Anne Marie Almedal A small report on the main norwegian national news.Norwegian National News

***Translation thanks to Lauren at Paul Crockfords Office and Google****

Anne Marie Almedal? She "Himmelbl?" song? sings with the British music legend Danny Thompson on record and concert film. Photo: KRISTIN ELLEFSEN

With the same double bass which he used on the legendary disc with Nick Drake and Kate Bush, plays like the legendary Danny Thompson (70) of Anne Marie Almedals new disc.

Bernt Erik PEDERSEN 13 October 2009, updated May 13 October 2009 10:27 Since last Kristiansand artist Anne Marie Almedal released the disc, has all of Norway heard her sing - it is in fact the one who has made the title track to the NRK-success "Himmelbl?". Tonight appears Almedal with Danny Thompson at Aladdin Theater in Kristiansand, in the second of two concerts to be filmed for an upcoming DVD. Concert film to be released in conjunction with Anne Marie Almedals upcoming album winter 2010.

Danny Thompson has played in many of the plates that are in the top 20 at home. John Martyn "Solid Air" and Nick Drake "Five Leaves Left" are those who have been most important to me, "said Anne Marie Almedal, which also mentions Thompson's contribution on the plates of Talk Talk, Kate Bush and Everything But The Girl.

It was Almedals husband and musical collaborator Nicholas Sillitoe, who wrote to Thompson and asked if he would be with the Almedals new disc. Thompson said yes, and was in the studio with Almedal and her band in London earlier this year. Thompson also said yes to being on cinema tickets in Kristiansand yesterday and today. Thompson earlier this year played concerts with, among others, The Who and Mark Knopfler.

"Himmelbl?" opens doors In recent years, Almedal and Sillitoe made a lot of music for film and television, "Himmelbl?" is the best known example. Now they are betting on a live concept of concerts in movie theaters, with specially designed visual accompaniment. To release the concert on her last album "The Siren & the Sage" (2007), they played such at Frogner Kino in Oslo, and will do more theater performances around the release of the upcoming album. It comes in February - just before the second season of "Himmelbl?" starts on NRK.

"Himmelbl?" has opened many doors for me, and made that my music has reached out to people in a different way than before. I'm very grateful, "said Almedal, who has held on as artist for almost 20 years, first as lead singer of the band Velvet Belly, without reaching the big sales numbers before.

"Himmelbl?" song - originally called "Blue Sky Blue" - has not been available on any album before, so it was nice to be able to give the song a home on the new album. There is a song I am very fond of, and which I feel is representative of me as an artist, "says Almedal.

Bassen Victoria Besides "Himmelbl?"-the song will Almedals upcoming album, among other things include three tracks recorded in London with Danny Thompson and his double bass - which he has given the name Victoria.

I've had it since I was 14 and I've used it on everything I've played on since. Until recently. Now it's become so strict rules for what you may have with the flight, so I have made a special trip bass I use overseas, "says Thompson. He is full of enthusiasm for Almedals voice and music.

I like her voice. She reminds me of someone else. In England, all have a tendency to sound like at the moment. I hope we have made can give her the chance to be heard in England. I think she has anything there to do. I can see her, for me at Glastonbury, "says Thompson.

A wild life

The stories of Thompson's life in the music industry are many and sometimes would - without deterred Almedal, which characterizes Thompson as "extremely pleasant". In particular, Thompson disappeared in most parts with the recently deceased John Martyn - who increasingly mentioned as one of the most essential artists in British rock history. Martyn and Thompson recorded a series of classic records in the 70's and toured hard - they were two r?slige guys who liked to take a drink. Thompson, however, stopped drinking in 1978, while Martyn not stopped, and died in January this year, 60 years old. A large part of the place Danny Thompson has been on Wikipedia is made up of the story about the time Thompson put a diving full John Martyn in the floor of the hotel room, put him firmly under the carpet, went down in the bar again, and went back to bed. In the same hotel room. In the morning, lay Martyn strapped under the blanket and shouted to come loose, while Thompson had breakfast in bed. Still in the same room. Eh, is this true? we must ask Danny Thompson on, when we now have the chance.

Sure! It was in Brussels. He was drunk and troublesome, "said Danny Thompson gay, and tells the story again, with even more vivid detail.

John and I argued, fought, made music and had great together. To a true friendship should be. We did much over, and people would rather just hear the wild stories. But it was not the real John Martyn. He was a romantic, intelligent and well-read man. The real John can be found in his songs, which he could write lines like "you curl around me / like a fern in spring" (from "Go Down Easy" on "Solid Air"). I miss him more than I could have imagined, "said Danny Thompson.

That he died last year, was a shock. I had always thought that he should survive me - I'm ten years older than him. It gets me to put extra love to still be here, and still be asked to play. I am satisfied as long as I can get paid to play good music with nice people - like here, with Anne Marie Almedal. As long as I do not have to play with Van Morrison, I'm happy, laughing Danny Thompson.

Anne Marie Almedal