William Hut
William Hut Versus The End Of The Fashion Park

Judging by the photos on Bergen-guide.com, Bergen, home at one time to composer Edvard Grieg and author Henrik Ibsen, is a romantic, fishing village set among the Norwegian fjords, a place which undoubtedly inspired William Hut’s beautiful third album.

Despite the lush arrangements and polished production, ‘William Hut Versus The End Of The Fashion Park’, is a hopelessly romantic record of love, loss and longing. Hut is an accomplished singer/songwriter with an ethereal voice that will draw comparison to Paul Simon or Michael Stipe.

Indeed, REM’s influence runs through the core of this record with ‘It’s The Breeze’ and ‘End (Fashion Park Station)’ two choice examples. Yet, one wonders if Stipe and co would dare end an album with an oddly moving clarinet/trumpet face off which graces the close of ‘I Remember Late December’. Trumpets abound on this album with some top quality Mariachi-style playing on ‘In Your Division’ lending the song a forlorn air which will leave the listener sighing in wistful admiration.

‘William Hut…’ then, is, at times, a sad album but never a depressing one. It’s a deeply gorgeous, soulful record and it demands your attention. If there’s any justice, Bergen may just have found itself a new famous resident.