After 4 years of silence Heidi Mortenson releases new music, the EP titled Mørk (Dark), a work coming from a vastly different place than the extroverted, electronic, upbeat universe she has previously been known to inhabit.

THIS SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES 3 REMIXES.

"The music is inspired by a bleak and dark time in a stagnant chaos. Mørk is a landmark of my earlier works, but the sound and aesthetics are radically different. It is more analogue, mature, and, interestingly, the texts are in Danish. I feel it's a whole new beginning for me."

The result of this reinvention of expression is an EP split into two sides.

Side A is characterized by dreamy vocals, acoustic horns and a tight sound built upon a foundation of heavy electronic beats. Beautiful melodies and dark lyrics intertwine with Mortenson’s musical ferocity and fierceness.

In contrast, Side B is driven by floating acoustic surfaces, reverb and minimal pieces. Where the previous set of tracks induces the urge to run out and experience the world, this side conjures reflection, patience and profoundness. Here Mortenson uncovers her demons, angels and the fragile aspects of existence in ways that capture the listener with intimacy.

In both sides a Scandinavian sound shines throughout, but there is a clear and nuanced interaction with other musical traditions and cultures, making Mørk in many ways an indefinable lovechild of unknown parents.

After 12 years abroad, where English and Spanish were her main languages, the change to Danish lyrics have a special significance for Mørk. "The words are rooted deeper in my system than those of the English language, in which the contents may be distanced by the language being secondary." The near-primal contact with language here helps bind the music and lyrics to one another and delivers a sense of honesty and immediacy.


Press:

On this EP Heidi Mortenson is unfolding as Denmark's uncrowned queen of gloomy electro. In a handfull of extraordinary strong tracks she is showing new sides of her talent. [...] Mortenson's dark compositions certainly have international potential. (5/6) - SOUNDVENUE (DK)

Die fünf neuen Stücke sind, das gleich vorweg, ganz und gar fantastisch, putzen sämtliche pseduo-hippen traurigen Künstler an Klavier und Gitarre von der Erdoberfläche, revolutionieren den altehrwürdigen Chanson, grabbeln verhärmten Schwarzträgern am Bart, gehen mit einem Sound um wie mit einem Neugeborenen, starten durch, bremsen sachte ab, sind leer, voll, gerne gleichzeitig, überlegt, latent hektisch, werfen sich der Technik vor die Füße und rappeln sich doch immer wieder hoch. - DE:BUG (DE)

Utilising her native Danish for the first time, Mortenson's vocals retain this strange, surreal sensibility, that lies attenuated under a layer of subtly melodic reverberation. Electronically charged phrases whisper and whirr below stunning horns, their every breath billowing with icy persuasion into this cold January morning. - MUSIC DISSECTION

...while I’ve no idea what she’s singing about, there is definitely a sense of (slightly warped) tradition; perhaps of a particularly unpleasant Danish fairy story, set to a lurching, skitty industrial score. It’s equal parts Brothers Grimm and Soap & Skin – brash, disturbing, and oddly compulsive. - THE LINE OF BEST FIT (UK)

Characterized by it's mature essence and pensive vocals in which Heidi Mortenson reconnects with her native language, Mørk is a powerful combination of ferociousness and utmost delicacy. - AiAiAi (DK)

Heidi Mortenson is unfolding as the missing link between Under Byen and Fever Ray. ...the atmosphere on 'Dele Af Kroppen' is alluring dark, yet whimsically light thanks to the acoustic horns. An aesthetic and stylish number with solid beats and fine melodies topped by Mortenson's distinctive vocals. - SOUNDVENUE (DK)

This 2 min. 45 sec. short film underlines a coolly haunting electronica score by Danish musician, producer, artist Heidi Mortenson. This piece is in the remote galaxy of Fever Ray, but features native tongue, more fuzzy sfx, and tighter, heavier beat production. I expect wonderful things from her in the future. - iHeartIngmar

Heidi Mortenson covers a lot of ground in just twenty-one minutes on a five-song EP that, on more than one occasion, lives up to its Mørk (Dark) title. Four vocal songs (sung in Danish) and one instrumental are presented, with all of them distinguished by A radical and eccentric sensibility, especially where arrangement is concerned, and a wilful openness to experimentation. Lyrically, the songs' moods are by turns downtrodden (“Each day / One piece less of you”), reflective, and intimate (“All in all / You in me”), and horns, cello, piano, and pump organ are some of the elements that make up her eclectic sound-world.
- TEXTURA (CAN)

God popmusik finder man alt for sjældent, og endnu sjældnere finder man musik, der har poppens indbydende kvaliteter, men er gjort af et andet og mere egensindigt stof. Sådan er det med Mørk, hvor der synges på dansk, og produktionerne er dystre og fantasifulde. (5 / 6)
- GAFFA (DK)

For nogle år siden var Heidi Mortenson med i Laurie Andersons remiksprojekt, og netop den amerikanske avantgardist er et Godt pejlemærke for Mortensons nye sange. På samme måde som Anderson kan Mortenson fremmane en dunkel stemning, der ikke lover godt. Men hvor Andersons små sangforedrag ofte har sigte på samfundet, bevæger Mortenson sig ad de indre linjer, hvor noget er gået i stykker og ikke kan repareres. - POLITIKEN (DK)

Med Mørk har Heidi Mortenson formået at lave et gennemarbejdet og yderst vellykket comeback. [...] Hun har selv skrevet, produceret og mixet EP’en og med den opgave fuldført ganske overlegent, er hun uden tvivl en af Danmark og Europas dygtigste og mest inspirerende elektroniske musikere. (5 / 6) - LYDTAPET (DK)

En krøllet hjernes poesibog. Heidi Mortensons arbejde er kunst med alt hvad det indebærer af særheder og fascinationsfremkaldende mystik.
- PROUD (DK)

Vel er albummet excentrisk, ja, avantgardistisk i omgangen med de populærmusikalske skabeloner, men det bærer sin egen smittende og umiddelbare skønhed med sig. Som bliver siddende. Meget længere end de fleste fuldlængdealbum. - Berlingske (DK)

And it's a pleasure to hear Mortenson sing in Danish. Her lyrics are inventive, peculiar and tickle the curiosity. - MusikMigBlidt (DK)

This is the sort of record I love as it surprised me several times. 8 / 10
- Whisperinandhollerin

...et fem track-snapshot af en musiker, der pludselig har slået nye døre op i sit kreative liv og ikke mindst i sin sangstemme. Træd nærmere, træd nærmere. - INFORMATION (DK)

When Heidi Mortenson sings those words as urban soul, it's music to the ears. […] The courage to sing in Danish is matched by the progression from groovy dubstep bubbles to introvert piano composition. In the course of well under half an hour, the 'Mørk' EP will tickle your mind for hours. On all five tracks the music is defragmented. Stripping away the electronic beats and shutting up to ultimately play the piano, this EP is the Steinway to Heaven when you want a little extra with your urban dance music. - PennyBlackMusic (UK)

She understands - quite easily, it seems - to get a melody together, which at the same time, is rhythmically catchy, heavily towing and unpredictably playful, and that's something of a great achievement in my eyes. - Undertoner (DK)

... the Danish language suits the sombre and evocative track 'body parts' without doubt. - KOLORFUL (DK)