In 2006 Norway-based guitarist Steinar Gregertsen
released a relaxing CD that features his acoustic
and electric lap steel guitar on a number of instrumental
and vocal tracks. With a multitude of lap steel guitar
complexities, track 8, "Poet On The Radio"
is pure guitar genius. A swampy, bluesy and rootsy
mostly instrumental lap steel album, Southern Moon,
Northern Lights combines Steinar's love of guitar
music-from the Mississippi delta to the Norwegian
fjords.
20th Century Guitar magazine - June 2006,
paper edition only.
- "Guitarnoise"
review by David Hodge
Breathtaking and exhilarating lap steel guitar music
from Norway! Whether laying down some gritty original
rock or delicately re-crafting an old gem like the Beach
Boys’ God Only Knows, Steinar displays incredible
musical sensibility and taste. ...
Steinar's music and playing is wonderfully mature and
stylized, flowing with identity and skill... This release
showcases his effortless, inspired notes and tones,
always with purpose and within the framework of great
tunes. Beautiful production and tones through out this
musical journey from a deeply soulful cat...
Greg V, session guitarist (Double
Trouble, Buddy Miles, Melissa Etheridge and others),
on CD Baby
- Awesome debut from a real
talent
It's not very often that a musician comes along who
can do it all and yet has the maturity to do so with
such taste and restraint.
Although Steinar Gregertsen could have used his impressive
talent as a songwriter, instrumentalist and vocalist
to "shock and awe" us like so many others,
his debut CD "Southern Moon Northern Lights"
showcases his talent in a more refined, mature way
that continues to keep the listener coming back for
more.
Steinar is obviously a musician who has been honing
his craft for a long time, and it shows on this recording.
He has a knack for playing the perfect part on all
instruments, whether it be his flawless lap steel
playing, haunting fretless bass, or tasteful electric
guitar parts.
You can hear some of his influences in his playing
(David Lindley, Hendrix, Eberhard Weber) but ultimately
his is a unique voice. His own compositions are inspired,
as are his covers of "God Only Knows", "Midnight
Hour" and "Bad Moon Rising". My rating:
5 BIG stars!
"slackandsteel", CD Baby
- Rich and warm with substance and depth
This is a wonderful CD. The overall feel of the disc
is of a really fine soundtrack to a great movie. It
has a mix of rich atmospheric songs along with some
vocal numbers, both original and covers. I generally
find soundtrack CDs disappointing but in this case I
would hope the movie lived up to the soundtrack.
Southern Moon sets the rich, warm atmosphere that lets
you know you're in for a treat. You aren't let down
as you listen to the rest of the disc.
There are several songs on here (Waltzing Elisa and
Northern Lights for instance) that are just too beautiful
for words... thus they don't have any lyrics. Seriously,
there are some songs that are so rich and emotional
that you just want to melt with the notes. Soulful is
probably the closest word.
Speaking of soulful, but in a different way, Steinar's
voice is a soulful surprise. It works! John Fogerty's
song Bad Moon Rising was always an upbeat rockin' song
for me. Steinar turns it into a thoughtful beauty...
someone should build a movie around it.
As I listen to the disc I hear nods to Jimi Hendrix,
Lowell George, Bonnie Raitt, David Lindley, the laid
back side of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jaco Pastorious and
even a bit of Frank Zappa. I know there are others but
I can't place them yet. Overall, it's definitely Steinar.
As I said, they're more like nods, not "oh, now
he's copying...". It's like he has spent years
listening to them and he can't help but be influenced
by them. He seems to have good taste!
I have had numerous friends interrupt conversations
to ask me what/who we're listening to when one of Steinar's
songs shuffles to the forefront during a dinner or a
party - always a good sign of great music.
Excellent work Steinar, keep 'em coming!!!
David Siegler, CD Baby
- Get this CD!
Inspired writing, fresh interpretations, flawless execution
and lush tonalities all seamlessly combined to produce
a slide player's delight. The more you listen to it
the better it gets.
Very highly recommended!
John Subik, CD Baby
- If you haven't ordered a copy, do yourself
a favor and order one now!
Absolutely beautifully crafted arrangements and tasteful
playing from beginning to end. A true joy to listen
to. The lap steel.... placed in a musical environment
where you wouldn't normally find it and blending perfectly.
Steinar plays with such feeling I still have goose bumps.
If you haven't ordered a copy do yourself a favor. Outstanding
piece of work Steinar, thank you!
Mark White, CD Baby
Just getting 'round to listening today. Wonderful CD
Steinar. I especially enjoy the way you let the electric
guitar and steel textures have their space; notes hang
around against the harmony in a beautiful way. You integrate
the sound of the steel into the music in an organic
way ... that's really, really rare.
Andy
Volk, TV producer, writer for Acoustic
Guitar Magazine and author of the Lap Steel
Guitar book, on the Steel Guitar Forum
I love this CD. Lush, tasteful playing, very original
writing, killer arrangements. And the return of melody
to instrumental recording! Just the steel playing would
be exceptional, the fact that Steinar did all of the
playing on the CD is amazing. This album is in *heavy*
rotation at the Tyack household......
Thanks for releasing this, Steinar. I look forward to
playing with you one of these days.
Dan
Tyack, session musician, solo artist
and producer, on the Steel Guitar Forum
Thanks for the great music, Steinar. As Kevin mentioned,
your recording is a labor of love. I like the "blue"
ambience that you create and the various moods of the
songs. My favorites include "God Only Knows"
and your original, "Northern Lights." Brad
Sarno did an excellent job mastering your project, and
I like the moody cover of the CD. You really take the
lap steel in a new direction.
Chuck Lettes, the Steel Guitar Forum
Listened to it several times today and agree that this
is an exceptional album. The songs are great and the
musicianship is outstanding. And for us steel players,
the playing and tone is to die for. It's going into
heavy rotation on the iPod for sure.
Buy this CD and support one of our own. I assure you
that you will be happy you did.
Bill Leff, the Steel Guitar Forum
WOWWOWWOW,
Just wanted to drop a line to let you know my CD arrived
today. Wow and Wonderful ! Beautiful and touching. It
hits the spot, scratches my itch, whatever you want
to call it, I truly appreciate and thank you for shedding
some Northern Light down on me. I've seen the Southern
Moon.
