Bel Canto (band)

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Bel Canto
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 dreampop sound to synth-based pop influenced by world music.[citation needed] 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

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

  • Tundra (2000)
  • Frolic (2005)

References

  1. World-music project for Bel Canto musician and more
  2. Previously unreleased Bel Canto track to appear on Norwegian rarities double CD compilation 'Maskindans: Norsk synth 1980-1988'
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External links

General
Discographies
Awards
Preceded by Recipient of the Pop Spellemannprisen
1992
Succeeded by
Pogo Pops
Preceded by Recipient of the Pop Band Spellemannprisen
1996
Succeeded by
Velvet Belly

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