Pop/Electronica - We first got wind of Norwegian duo Susanna Wallumrød (vocals) and Morten Qvenildon (keyboards) in 2006 with their audacious covers album Melody Mountain (the perfect album title for someone named Susanna and The Magical Orchestra), featuring a positively eerie, stripped and moody version of Joy Division's "Love  Will Tear Us Apart." (See video after the jump) From AC/DC to Prince to Dylan to Kiss (!), the pair deconstructed songs and reassembled them with care, wit and not a small amount of inspired electronic panache -- and Wallumrød's wonderful vocals.

New album 3, releasing September 1, keeps the style mostly intact but moves on to mostly originals this time, save for a glorious, stunning verson of Roy Harper's "Another Day" and Rush's shadowy "Subdivisions" (! again). The album has already received strong critical response with Mojo ("beautiful, spare, hynotic") and Uncut ("a dolorous delight") each awarding 3 four stars. But the truly amazing revelation is - again - Wallumrød's splendid, at times chillingly good vocals. There's a richness and luxuriant loveliness to her tone and an extraordinary naturalness that is almost indescribable. On "Someday", the voice emerges from an electronic noise bed with sublime presence and clarity, taking a dreamy ballad to unheard of heights. One of the nicest surprises of the year...Recommended.

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