PUST: “Julero” (Christmas Calm)

The cover showing a road winding through a pristine winter landscape and some small country houses with golden light in the windows illustrates the content of this Christmas album. The six singers in PUST let us sink into a peaceful and harmonious world of idyllic reflection, but with the occasional faint undercurrent of playful unrest that tingles under the luscious arrangements and in some of the lyrics. 

Absolutely all the sounds you hear on this album have been produced by the human voice. Everything has been recorded directly – no overdubs. Everything is pure, deliciously relaxed but in no way antiseptic. The singers’ personalities shine through the music, particularly in their solos. 

PUST is Anne Hilde Grøv (soprano), Jorunn Lovise Husan (mezzo-soprano), Elisabeth Anvik (alto), Jostein Hasselgård (tenor), Håvard Gravdal (baritone) and Mads Iversen (bass). 

Most of the arrangements have been made by the members of the group. They have also written several of the new songs which supplement the well-loved Christmas repertoire, adding both solemnity and glimpses of humour. 

Among the well-known Christmas standbys on "Julero" you can hear "Silent night", "A Child Is Born in Bethlehem", "Beautiful Saviour", "Northern Norwegian Christmas Psalm", by Trygve Hoff, and "Romjulsdrøm" (Christmas Time dream) by Alf Prøysen. Some of the new songs on the record, such as "I et lite hus" (In a small house) and "Mens byen gleder seg" (While the town delights) focus on the contrast between the traditional idyll of Christmas and modern urban life. 

The album was produced by Erik Hillestad and recorded in Jakob Church of Culture by Martin Abrahamsen. 

Track list: 

1. Deilig er jorden                                                           3:37

2. Et barn er født i Betlehem                                         3:18

3. Vidder                                                                         1:21

4. Kling no klokka                                                          3:34

5. Jeg synger julekvad                                                  3:37

6. Romjulsdrøm                                                              3:51

7. O helga natt                                                                2:29

8. Nordnorsk julesalme                                                 3:53

9. I et lite hus                                                                 3:21

10. Mitt hjerte alltid vanker                                           4:13

11. Hverdagssorgene, glem dem alle                           1:06

12. Mens byen gleder seg                                             3:33

13. Sæle jolekveld                                                          2:55

14. Himlens nåde                                                           4:34

15. Stille natt                                                                  3:21