{"title":"Torgeir Waldemar","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"love-2","title":"Love","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter releasing one furious, political album and an introspective, existential one, Torgeir Waldemar concluded that the world hadn’t improved too much. In turbulent times, where walls are erected and hate and xenophobia seems widespread, what should be the main message for the new record? The answer was simple, almost banal – the most important thing we have is one another – love. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollowing the success of his two previous albums, the melancholy Torgeir Waldemar (2014) and the loud, fuzz-drenched No Offending Borders (2017) Waldemar has established himself at the very forefront of Norwegian rock and roll troubadours. For the mini-album Jamais Vu (2018), he combined the two personas, stripping down the rock songs from the second album, while rocking up the acoustic songs from the debut. There’s a common thread running through Waldemar’s music, where the new album Love is the obvious continuation – rocking, but not as rough, loud but with more focus. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn the record, Waldemar says: «Love is the driving force behind all our actions. But love isn’t necessarily beautiful or pleasant – it contains too much – everything from self-destruction to crimes of passion. Vi need to take care of one another, but also the world around us. We have been acting out of love, even if it’s love of money or status. As a consequence, the ocean is dying and the forests are burning. If this is the way of showing future generations what love is… Love requires commitment, and also has consequences. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEveryone who’s experienced Torgeir Waldemar live, knows that he fronts a powerful orchestra, effortlessly mixing seventies hard rock, psychedelic jams and groovy americana. It is this band-feel he wanted to replicate on Love – while at the same time relaying the lyrics, message and heart that he’s known for. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInspired by the Brian Wilson song «Love and Mercy» – in which Wilson describes a wicked world and on the chorus sings «love and mercy, that’s what you need tonight, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight» – Waldemar landed on the title. On Love Waldemar is more ambitious than ever before with a message of unity and the music to match. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50424109957451,"sku":"1084816","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_ae564e9a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1731237954"},{"product_id":"mercy-12","title":"Mercy","description":"\u003cp\u003eTorgeir Waldemar is an extraordinary artist with a multifaceted output. This has never been more apparent than on the sister albums Love (2020) and the new “sister record”, Mercy. Love was a grandiose rock-album with layers upon layers of guitars, vocals and effects, but on Mercy Waldemar pursues the grand in the smaller tings. Only two musicians in the room, straight to the point and recorded directly to tape. Torgeir Waldemar says: “Mercy is the companion to Love. The two of them are connected in an inseparable kinship. As the Old and the New testament, as hate and love, day and night, sun and moon. And last but not least, as good and evil. It’s about what we as humans struggle with. What we’re confronted with every single day.” With Mercy, Waldemar wants to celebrate imperfection. Hardship and friction are themes, both musically and lyrically. Where we normally avoid discomfort and seek convenience, Mercy wants to confront what’s unpleasant, in the belief that it sharpens us as humans. At the base of everything is the belief in humanity and compassion. Musically the record is reminiscent of the greats, such as Townes van Zandt, Gene Clark and Neil Young. Mercy was recorded to 1\/4” tape, on two tracks with no overdubs or tampering of any form after the takes were completed. It’s the closest thing to capturing the sound of the room. It is the total opposite of the former album Love – lots of musicians in a huge production. On Mercy there’s only two people, one guitar, one fiddle and one room. Mercy was created in close collaboration with violinist, singer and songwrier Michael Barrett Donovan and with Waldemars long-time musical partner Anders Møller. The result is perfect in all its imperfection – naked and honest, and intimate as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jansen","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50531435643211,"sku":"2216793","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/a3679565174_16_d1f8b0af_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728108498"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/torgeir-waldemar.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}