Rebekka Karijord Releases Self-Titled Debut Album ‘Complete Mountain Almanac’
Norwegian-born, Sweden-based composer and singer-songwriter Rebekka Karijord (she/her) has released the self-titled debut album of her newest musical collaboration Complete Mountain Almanac. The group includes American-born, Italy-based poet and multimedia artist Jessica Dessner, along with her brothers Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National who co-produced, arranged, and performed on the tracks.
A marriage between classical and folk set in the intimate space of chamber music, the album showcases Rebekka’s rich vocals with delicately plucked guitars and strings in sorrowful yet cathartic folk hymns. When the foundations of each song were complete, the Dessner brothers joined in to perform, write, and record additional string arrangements with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra in an intensive five-day session to further flesh out the musical soundscape that would ultimately bring the album to life.
The project began when Rebekka reached out to Jessica and proposed a collaboration on an album addressing climate change, comprising one song per month of the year. Shortly after, however, Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer, halting the project indefinitely. To Rebekka’s surprise, months later she received a manuscript from Jessica entitled Complete Mountain Almanac, which spoke of deeply human truths on a universal scale. With complete liberty given to her over these poems, Rebekka was immediately inspired and wrote twelve songs that touch upon themes such as nature, acceptance, hope, and death.
“...An intense juxtaposition of the intimate and the universal framed in beguiling chamber-folk arrangements, with Jessica’s twin brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner co-producing and adding guitars and exquisite string arrangements to Karijord’s euphonic voice.”
- Uncut Magazine
"Simply put...a triumph of musical beauty....a fantastic record, both sophisticated and personable..."
- Sputnik Music
"A potent rumination on climate change and personal circumstances....The musical framing is baroque and subtly leans towards country. Filigreed string arrangements are vaporous. Karijord’s understated voice cuts through like an obsidian blade. Delicate yet powerful, and utterly compelling."
- Mojo Magazine
Complete Mountain Almanac is out now on all music streaming platforms.
