Bel Canto is a Norwegian music duo, originally a trio, fronted by vocalist Anneli Drecker, and signed originally to Crammed Discs.
Biography Bel Canto was formed in 1985 in Tromsø by Geir Jenssen (keyboards, synthesizer, programming), Nils Johansen (synthesizer, violin, bass guitar, guitar) and vocalist Anneli Drecker. Asked about early influences, Drecker mentioned OMD, David Bowie, 4AD-artists, Clannad, Kate Bush, Laurie Anderson, David Sylvian, YMO and Ryuichi Sakamoto, Depeche Mode, and the Blue Nile, among others.
Bel Canto was one of the first Norwegian bands to sign a record contract abroad. The trio moved to Brussels in 1986 and had their debut album White-Out Conditions released by Crammed Discs the following year. After a second album, Birds of Passage (1990), Jenssen left the band for a solo career as Biosphere. The group had a commercial breakthrough with Shimmering, Warm and Bright in 1992, and won the Spellemannprisen award twice, in 1992 and 1996. Their style evolved over time from an ethereal dream pop sound to synth-based pop influenced by world music, also including influences from classical music, traditional nordic folk music and trip hop.Bel Canto Store norske leksikon
During their career Bel Canto occasionally took breaks in order for Anneli Drecker to pursue a solo career and to perform with other bands and artists such as Röyksopp, 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.
In 2007 it was reported that the original three-piece line-up of Bel Canto had reunited and was working on a new album. But the project was not completed and founder member Geir Jenssen left the band again.
In 2009, a previously unheard Bel Canto song, "Flowerbeds", which dates from 1988, appeared on a Norwegian compilation album called Maskindans: Norsk synth 1980–1988 released on Hommage Records.
In 2017 Bel Canto performed at Øyafestivalen in Oslo, playing some of their careers best known songs in a near hour long set. In an interview Anneli Drecker said that the band was keen to do more live work and possibly record new songs.Bel Canto live review and Anneli Drecker interview Side-line.com 16 August 2017
In June 2022, Anneli Drecker and Nils Johansen announced that they were working on a new Bel Canto album. The album was released on 26 April 2024 with the title Radiant Green, the duo's first album in 22 years.
Discography Albums White-Out Conditions (1987) Birds of Passage (1989) Shimmering, Warm and Bright (1992) Magic Box (1996) Rush (French release titled Images) (1998) Dorothy's Victory (2002) Retrospect - compilation album (2001) Radiant Green (2024)
Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album NOR US Dance1988 "Blank Sheets" — —White-Out Conditions "White-Out Conditions" — —1989 "Dreaming Girl" (CAN only) — —1990 "Oskoreï" (FRA only) — —single only "Birds Of Passage" — —Birds Of Passage1991 "A Shoulder To The Wheel" — —1992 "Shimmering, Warm & Bright" — —Shimmering, Warm & Bright "Unicorn" — —1996 "Rumour" 19 8Magic Box1998 "Images" (FRA only) — —Rush2002 "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) Rocks and Straws (2015) Revelation For Personal Use (2017)
References
External links
General BelCanto.no – Official page AnneliDrecker.com – Official fan page of lead singer Anneli Drecker
Discographies [ Bel Canto discography] at AMG Bel Canto discography at Music-City