Oslo, Norway - Syng meg heim (Sing me home, FXCD 289) is the title of Sondre Bratland's new CD. The greatest icon in Norwegian vocal folk music has made a moving country music CD. While some might think this quite a switch, the truth is that American country and Norwegian folk music are close cousins. Some of Sondre's earlier albums also show this close relationship.

Many fans will remember "Luftslott i det bla" (Castles in the Air) on Kirkelig Kulturverkste's tribute to Hank Williams, or the version of Lead, Kindly Light on the album Atterklang (Echoes). But what is new to this record is Sondre's refined style where country music is his closest reference.

Sondre Bratland grew up in the back country of Telemark county, where Norwegian folk music still holds a special place in the hearts of the people, and where he was deeply influenced by family and folk traditions. But his idols when he was a teenager were Hank Williams and Elvis Presley and no doubt this has influenced his interpretations of Norwegian folk music.

For many years Sondre has also had a keen interest in Irish folk music. "Gje meg handa di" (Give me your hand) is a wonderful example of one of many tunes he has discovered in Ireland. The Norway - Ireland - US axis is easy to trace in country music and runs all the way through "Sing me home". The songs are from all three countries, and songwriters include such greats as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and of course Sondre Bratland, in addition to Irish and Norwegian folk tunes.

The backing band, fiddle (Einar Mjelsnes), flute (Hans Fredrik Jakobsen), dobro, lap steel, acoustic guitar and electric guitar (Knut Reiersrud), double bass and electric bass (Gjermund Silset) and drums (Jan Inge Nilsen), clearly reflects the country and pop connections between these three countries.