Soundtrack Review: I Let the Music Speak by Anne Sofie von Otter

By Douglas Strassler Feb 16, 2007, 0:17 GMT

Calling all ABBA-philes: I Let the Music Speak is Anne Sofie von Otter’s tribute to the music of Swede Benny Andersson, both in and out of the famed 1970s pop group, whose music has inspired countless tributes, most notable the film Muriel’s Wedding and the musical phenomenon Mamma Mia.

Anderson has a catalog spanning more than 40 years of music, and covering such genres as folk, pop, disco, and film and theatrical soundtrack.  ABBA songs include “I Am Just a Girl” (originally written in ABBA’s nascent days, when it went by the name of Jarl Kulle) and such sour tunes from the foursome’s ending days as “The Day Before You Came” and “The Winner Takes It All.”

Von Otter claims that the reason for putting this album together is because of her admiration for his music.  “I sing things that I like and that touch me in some way…I think this music is fantastic.  I love it.”  She also sings selections from the musicals Chess and Kristina fran Duvemala.  All of the arrangements are clear and simple, and von Otter has a way of really getting to the core emotional elements of each song.  (Buyer beware: most songs are rather downbeat and sorrowful).  “Heaven Help my Heart” and “I Walk With you, Mama” are perfect examples of her nuanced work.  As if all this were not enough, Andersson himself appears on two tracks – and there is a bonus number, to boot!