Herlighetens Vei

"Herlighetens Vei" is Marthe Lea Band's follow-up to the slightly classic debut album, "Asura" from 2021. It carries on the same life-affirming energy and explores new nooks and crannies in the same wonderful universe as the first. Like its predecessor, the second album offers a lot of variety and the free approach to the compositions stands strong. Some of the tracks make it impossible to keep your dancing feet still, while others give room for introspection and reflection.

The record conveys a humble and respectful attitude to Life. That human existence is sacred and mysterious. Through an open and alert mind, the mystery will naturally grow and unfold before you.

At concerts (MLB is playing several major festivals in Scandinavia and on the continent) the audience gets to experience a working band that continuously adds spontaneity to the distinctive compositions written by Lea. The individual messages from the quintet come through clearly, with respect for traditions, they wish to stretch "jazz" in different directions.

The French jazz magazine Citizen Jazz was overwhelmed with enthusiasm for the first record, and particularly boasted of Marthe Lea's "ability to hold disparate idioms together, to mix a whole bunch of influences (whether musical or not, moreover) in the crucible of her own personality, of her own history, to bring out a great personal and extraordinary whole, a fresh and singular music which belongs only to herself.”

And this quality is conveyed throughout these 42 minutes through a series of idiosyncratic songs, each of which represents a flurry of experiences, feelings, dreams, and dialogues, secrets as well as statements, big and small.