KENNETH ISHAK

NEWS:
Interview in Zaptown, US:
http://www.zaptownmag.com/2009/04/kenneth-ishak-feature/
Join Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenneth-Ishak/27279459726?ref= ts
New reviews:
ANTIMUSIC.COM:
Now that the term "singer-songwriter" brings up the image of Jason Mraz in many a listener's mind, it's great to hear an indie solo musician who hasn't ever swiped anything from John Mayor. Or: it's great to hear one that's actually good. Kenneth Ishak takes on that role by incorporating decades of influence into each emotionally wrenching track, always nodding towards those who've inspired him but never entirely replicating them.And those who've left their mark on Ishak are as diverse a set of innovators as can be. Fleetwood Mac's bright charm shines through "New Rising Sun", all arena-rock with just the right amount of falsetto flourish. The double tracked vocals in "Snake in the Grass" are the epitome of Elliot Smith's mournful delivery. Then there's "Anytime Kid", which borrows more than a little bit of McCartney/Beatles influence in its epic cheesiness.Ishak even takes it a step further, getting a little bit '80's on "Misfits in Love", where The Cure seem to have made a bit of an influence; but it's Kid A's programmed drums that craft the song into a more modern, less cliché lament. It's been a working formula up to this point in music that if you have to rip off anybody, it better be the Beatles or Radiohead – that way critics will pretend they don't notice.Although this type of heart-on-sleeve introspection might wear thin by the end of your average singer-songwriter release, Silver Lightning stays strong through its closing lullaby, "The Sword". Elliot Smith fans should rejoice to the tune of Silver Lightning; but, of course, there's no replacing the man himself.
by Eric Loranger
NOIZEMAKESENEMIES:
The release of a solo album by the singer of a gone-by “cult indie” band can, in the worst cases, disappoint both fans of the artist’s former outfit and people unfamiliar with the singer’s past. The former will turn away in disgust at the discovery that their old hero is trying a bit too hard to distance himself from his earlier (and, of course, far superior) material, while the latter will wonder what all the fuss about this “underground cult” group could possibly have been about when the singer’s solo effort is so poor.Judging from my very limited knowledge of Kenneth Ishak’s old Band Beezewax, it’s hard to imagine “Silver Lightning From a Black Sky” provoking a reaction similar to the one just described. On first listen, it’s all there: The lulling vocals, the warm, soothing instrumentation and a hefty dose of pop. “A tall companion”, for example, displays a shrewd use of piano and flute sounds and a very catchy vocal line.Although Kenneth hails from Norway, his influences seem to be mainly American: A bit of The Decemberists here, a bit of Elliot Smith there, and a dash of Bright Eyes on top, this is a very likable, albeit not very original, mixture. Pretty much the same goes for the whole of the record. If it were a person, it would be the kind of chap you really don’t mind coming round to the pub, as long as you don’t have to spend too much time alone with him, because, quite frankly, he is a tad dull. The big hooks are missing, with the single “Don’t touch my brother” and “Anytime kid” coming close to, but not quite mastering, the magic formula combining quirkiness and accessibility as perfected by other folk pop-singers such as the aforementioned Elliot Smith or Adam Green.Someone who is looking for extreme emotions or all-out, sky-high choruses won’t have a lot of luck with this, but, as the soundtrack to rainy days spent inside, this will more than do the job.
by Matthias Scherer
THE CELEBRITYCAFE.COM:
- In the volatile realm of indie music, Kenneth Ishak succeeds where so many others have failed.With his new album, “Silver Lightning From A Black Sky,” Ishak, the former lead singer of Norwegian indie-rock band Beezewax, has created a truly excellent album. Echoes can be found from everyone from the Replacements to the Flaming Lips, and what’s best is that Ishak puts it all together in a way that doesn’t sound forced.At times jubilant and at others utterly heart wrenching, “Silver Lightning From A Black Sky” runs the emotional gamut. Ishak’s vocals carry the album a perfect mix of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Coheed and Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez. Combine them with the glistening production of Jorgen Wall as well as solid performances from the rest of his band and you get quite a formidable solo work.Without a doubt, the album’s best quality is its sense of flow. Despite the frequent shifts from upbeat tracks such as “New Rising Sun” to slower, moodier ones like “Bright Time,” Ishak and his band handle the transitions admirably, segueing effortlessly from song to song and more importantly, from mood to mood.Heaping sky-high praise on an album is something most should exercise some reluctance in doing but “Silver Lightning From A Black Sky” is one example in which such an action is completely justified. It’s more than just a great album; it’s a true experience.
by Dan Kaplan
BABYSUE.COM :
Kenneth Ishak - Silver Lightning From A Black Sky (CD, Division, Pop) This one doesn't meet our review requirement of having been released over the past 12 months (it was released in 2007)...but we wanted to give it a mention because it really sounds nice. Norway's Kenneth Ishak has already had a good deal of success in his native country and is now poised to transfer that success to the United States. Silver Lightning From A Black Sky features super slick, glossy pop tracks that are extremely hummable and accessible. It'll be interesting to see what this guy's next full-length sounds like...
INK 19 :
On his third solo disc, Silver Lightning from a Black Sky, Ishak is ready to make his mark on the U.S. and based on just the sheer diversity, he's going to make a splash.Ishak sounds a lot like a resurrected Elliott Smith on the beautifully melancholy "Snakes in the Grass," while he brings his best John Vanderslice on "New Rising Sun.""Misfits in Love" sounds like a more accessible version of Radiohead's "Kid A." The tinny drum kit and piano chords make for something that is less avant-garde and more mainstream, but equally as brilliant.Ishak takes on his demons on "Don't Touch My Brother," as he deals with growing up being half-Norwegian and half-Malay. The song is like taking The Lemonheads and transporting them back to the '70s.Ishak's lyrics are also top notch. The chorus of the mid-tempo "Highway of Madness" takes you on the "neon highway of madness/ And I don't mind cause reality is not what it's supposed to be." Save me a seat. On the beautifully quiet "The Sword" he tackles a relationship where "you were the good one/ And I am the sword cuts and scars/ Courtesy of the boy I was/ Before the black bliss that I had to kiss/ To see who I loved more."Kenneth Ishak is a little bit of a lot of artists, but on Silver Lightning from a Black Sky he proves that he is also completely unique from all of his influences and that he is ready to make his mark on the U.S.
by Tim Wardyn
BIO:
Silver Lightning From A Black Sky is the product of Norwegian Kenneth Ishak and his experiences through over 10 years of touring and recording both solo and with his old band Beezewax. 5 band albums, 2 solo albums, countless tours that brought him everywhere from South-East Asia, to the US, to Japan and of course Europe. From handmade record sleeves to major-label release.
He's band was hailed as the Norwegian Posies, Teenage Fanclub and even Replacements, but his two first solo albums brought him first to early Elliott Smith and Stereo/Mono era Paul Westerberg, and then to Jim O'Rourke and a bedroom version of the Flaming Lips along with a dash of Lemonheads. Silver Lightning From a Black Sky brought him closer to him self, his roots and his record collection.
It might be easier to say what it doesn't sound like, but i'll try to sum up all of the influences here. You've got some classy and lush orchestrated folk-pop that will send your thoughts towards Judee Sill and Nick Drake, a couple of songs that Neil Young would be proud of. There also some soul-rock that sounds like Ted Leo being produced by Curtis Mayfield, like on the anthemic "Don't Touch My Brother" where Kenneth deals with growing up and living with multi-ethnic heritage (being half Norwegian and half Malay). There's also the ever so present Elliott Smith and Evan Dando influences, and some song arrangements that sound like a 70s soundtrack with that special kind of french feeling. And it all fits perfectly and strangely together, so well that it actually earned him a nomination to the Norwegian Grammy and two radio-hits.
So here it is, Silver Lightning From a Black Sky, Kenneth Ishak's third solo album. And as allways, Kenneth Ishak is planning to pack his bags and guitar and play as many shows around the world as possible. Both large venues and small living rooms. So keep your eyes and ears open, and prepare yourself for Kenneth Ishak and his Silver Lightning From a Black Sky".
Reviews in norwegian:
5/6 "Ishak skriver nydelige og elegante sanger, med harmonier og stemninger som kan få selv den mest hardhudede til å smelte.(...) For dette er nesten perfekt.”
VG
5/6 "Det platekjøpende Norge er herved varslet: Denne er det regelrett teit å gå glipp av."
LYDVERKET (NRK 1 og P3)
5/6 "Dette er en plate det tok meg et par uker å virkelig sette pris på, men etter hvert har sang etter sang tatt steget fram fra halvmørket og vist seg fram. Bare hør nyansene han klarer å legge inn i en tre minutter lang låt som «SÖS»."
STAVANGER AFTENBLAD
”I boken om norske genier er det plass til flere linjer om Kenneth Ishak.”
DAGENS NÆRINGSLIV
"Uten svake øyeblikk, aspirerer "Silver Lightning From A Black Sky" så definitivt til tittelen ÅRETS NORSKE ALBUM!"
PULS.NO
"Popsølv. Den perfekte, krystallklare stemmen og de treffende utleveringene. Kenneth Ishak har alltid rørt ved perfeksjonismen når han har spilt inn sangene som har bygd hans allerede imponerende karriere. Jeg tror rett og slett mannen har skrevet sine beste låter, så langt. Og artisten Kenneth Ishak har definert seg selv så godt, at det ikke burde være noen tvil lenger."
GROOVE.NO