Bel Canto

Bel Canto is a Norwegian music duo, originally a trio, fronted by Anneli Drecker, and signed originally to Crammed Discs.

Biography

Their first two records were licensed to Nettwerk Records in Canada and its second album was licensed to IRS/MCA Records. Its style has evolved over time from a gothic, ethereal dreampop sound to synth-based pop influenced by world music.^{[citation needed]}

During the years from 1985 to 2009, Bel Canto occasionally took breaks in order for Drecker to pursue a solo career and to perform with other bands and artists, as well as performing in films and theater plays. Nils Johansen has composed music for film and television as well as working and performing with his other band, Vajas. Despite these hiatuses, Bel Canto is still performing together, twenty four years after the band was founded.

In 2007 Bel Canto continued to work together, both by writing new material and by doing more gigs. At the same time, both Drecker and Johansen continued on other projects, Johansen with Vajas and Drecker on her solo work. Side-Line reported in March 2007 that Bel Canto would start work on a new album.^[1]

On 6 February 2009, Side-Line reported about a planned double album package called Maskindans: Norsk synth 1980-1988 was to be released on Hommage Records.^[2] This release holds 158 minutes of music, 41 tracks, of which only one song has been released on CD before. Included is also one previously unheard Bel Canto song, "Flowerbeds", dating from 1988.

Band membership

• 1985 – 1989 line-up: Anneli Drecker, Nils Johansen, Geir Jenssen (later aka Biosphere)
• 1989 – present line-up: Anneli Drecker, Nils Johansen

Discography

• White-Out Conditions (1987)
• Birds of Passage (1989)
• Shimmering, Warm and Bright (1992)
• Magic Box (1996)
• Rush (1998)
• Dorothy's Victory (2002)
• Retrospect - compilation album (2001)

Drecker's solo albums

• Tundra (2000)
• Frolic (2005)

References

External links

General

• BelCanto.no - Official page
• AnneliDrecker.com - Official fan page of lead singer Anneli Drecker
• - Official profile on my space
• - Official Anneli Drecker's profile on my space

Discographies

• Bel Canto discography at AMG
• Bel Canto discography at Music-City