Per Øystein Sørensen

Per Øystein Sørensen
Background information
Genres New wave music, Pop rock
Occupations Singer, Songwriter
Years active 1983-present
Labels daworks
Rune Grammofon
EMI
WEA
Universal
Virgin
Associated acts Fra Lippo Lippi
Website Official Site
Official MySpace

Per Øystein Sørensen is a Norwegian singer and songwriter, best known as the vocalist of the New Wave/synth pop band Fra Lippo Lippi.

Contents

Biography

Per Øystein Sørensen raised the bridge for Fra Lippo Lippi to cross from desolate goth rock to a piano-laden amalgam of new wave and light jazz.

When Fra Lippo Lippi formed in Norway in the late '70s, the group seemed obsessed with the droning rhythms and morose lyrics of Joy Division. In fact, Fra Lippo Lippi's debut album In Silence was so bleak that it could have been mistaken for a Joy Division record. However, by Fra Lippo Lippi's second LP, Small Mercies, Sørensen's sweet tooth for pop began to brighten the band's somber mood. While Small Mercies was still a sad album, hooks and melodies started to penetrate the group's initially impermeable wall of gloom.

On Songs, Sørensen found his voice - and so did the band. No longer limiting himself to the ominous tones of Joy Division's Ian Curtis and Bauhaus' Peter Murphy, Sørensen's vocals became more soulful on Songs, equally capable of expressing joy ("Come Summer") or emotional resignation ("Coming Home"). The lyrics gained clarity as well.

Fra Lippo Lippi ceased recording in the early '90s. However, in 2000, Fra Lippo Lippi performed in the Philippines, a country where the band landed numerous hits during the '80s.

Aside from Fra Lippo Lippi, Sørensen has also worked with Trine Rein. In 2009, Sørensen launched his official MySpace profile, featuring songs from Fra Lippo Lippi and his solo works. His first solo album Våge was released in Norway on September 28. The album is completely in Norwegian - a first in Sørensen's career. An English version of the album is currently in the works.[1]

Discography

Fra Lippo Lippi

Solo career

References

External links