Maria Lithell is a singer and songwriter from Stockholm, Sweden. As a child she was put through classical music school which led her to start off her musical course as a classical singer. For twelve years she has worked as a member of the Royal Opera Choir in Stockholm. Her urge to write and sing her own music, however, made her give up her classical career and start working in her own recording studio. Her lyrics are often poetic and philosophical in their character. Although she has a powerful voice it shows no signs of her classical background. Only her arrangements with bassoon, cello and strings apart from bass, guitar and drums gives the listener an idea of her influences which also are the singer-songwriter tradition. Inspiring artists are P J Harvey, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Stina Nordenstam, Aimee Mann and Bjork. On this album also Fleshquartet (www.fleshquartet.com) features on two tracks. They play electronic strings and have written music for both ballet, film as well as released several albums. Also the Swedish queen of electronica Sophie Rimheden (www.sophierimheden.com) features on the track Flowers, where the classical instruments blend with her electronical sound and Maria Lithells clear and sonorous voice. For contact and information please send an e-mail to info@marialithell.se and check out the website www.marialithell.se. Review from "It's a trap!" Maria Lithell - Blessing & curse (Little by Lithell) This classically trained Swedish singer/songwriter has pretty much summed up her own album (her second, I believe) with that title. It's actually sort of a grower; I don't want to start off by criticizing it. Lithell is a thoughtful lyricist, apparently haunted by memories of her childhood and disturbed by the oft-impersonal nature of modern life. In the appealingly honest song "Free society," she sings: "For hours in a row/I've walked these lonely walks/Where everyone's on the phone/And no one really talks/Mobile - but not free/Eyes wide - but cannot see...This progress is no solution/It alienates us instead..." Gosh, I've been waiting for SOMEONE to write a song about the social downer of rampant cell phone and iPod use; thanks, Maria! That's one of the few rhythmically upbeat tracks on this otherwise rather stately, richly orchestrated chamber pop collection. Elsewhere, strings and things dominate, like Marco Chagallo's fine violin on "I'm still me" and the perfect orchestration on "Will I ever learn," a tune where Lithell shows off her vocal range but somehow fails to inject enough emotion to truly put it over. I suppose that's my main complaint: Lithell's technically solid as a singer, but about half these tunes are missing the extra emotional edge that the lyrics demand. Where it does kick in is on the last two songs: "The ice is singing," a hauntingly spare tone poem featuring Fredrik Hermansson's stirring piano, and "Freeze the frame," an undeniably poignant song about wishing you could stay young, eternally enjoying the quiet magic of nature and simpler times. That one might make you cry, but some numbers like the title track and "Bed full of flowers" are a bit bland by comparison. "Have I asked the right questions?/Have I got the answers right?" sings Lithell on the latter tune. Well, Maria, I'd say your lyrical concerns are quite thoughtful and most of the arrangements are lovely. Just turn up the "emote-o-meter" and try varying your vocal approach a bit more, and I'm sure your NEXT record will be an even greater blessing. - Kevin Renick It's a trap!