Album Review: Maud – Chronicles of Maud

On Chronicles of Maud, Maud showcases her innate ability to create a body of work that is pop-driven but also so much more.

On her third album in five years, Maud – Norwegian musician Kristine Hoff – has once again written, produced, recorded, and mixed everything herself, and that independence and self-reliance play out in different ways, some unexpected, both sonically and thematically.

What you get on Chronicles of Maud is a fluid sense of sound and vision. From opener The Maze to the closing notes of Future Lover, each track has a shared tonal palette. Soft colours that reference Scandipop and club culture are a constant presence, but the production style gives those textures a wonderfully rich and expressive aspect, the balance always changing.

Not only are the vocals – sometimes organic, sometimes pitched – treated as an instrument with which to communicate unspoken emotions with the listener, but the production plays a similar role. The pop and club colours are understated but audible, allowing the listener to frame the songs within a familiar setting before being taken into a world that is personal and relatable.

But the independence that marks the recording of the album, though it must be noted that All My Waves features an appearance by Moyka, equally plays out within the lyrics. Certain sensations and themes reoccur, often looking at the nature of being alone, sometimes lonely; the end of relationships; or the seeking of someone to share things with. Impacted by the need to make a connection while following our own path, Maud seeks to navigate the shifting role of the individual – the expectation to be our best self but also follow the path expected of us all, but especially women in modern society.

Maud sings in Lonely Girl of how that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need a shoulder to cry on, the track crystalising the strands that form the basis for the album’s ten songs. Navigating life is hard at times, harder even still for women making their own way in the world, even in egalitarian cultures like Norway, and Maud examines that push and pull in a sensitive and engrossing fashion.

What stands out for me is how Maud does that without sadness, pity or anger: there are no hints of regret in Chronicles of Maud; instead, it is a series of insights into a life being lived to the fullest and the mix of desires, wants, and roles that have to be balanced to do that.

“I wanted the album to feel like different chapters of adulthood,” explains Maud. “The relationships we lose or grow through, the ways we change over time, and the quiet loneliness that can come from choosing your own path.”

“Writing and producing music on your own can feel isolating at times, which made the collaborations on this album especially meaningful to me,” continues Maud. “Working with Moyka on All Your Waves was something I had dreamed about for a long time, and it felt very natural to bring our sonic worlds together on this track. I also wanted parts of the album to feel more organic and tactile, which led to contributions from Johannes Bramness Vaage on guitar and Linnea Vestre on harp. I feel very grateful to be working with such talented musicians.”

Chronicles of Maud was released on the 5th of June, and is streaming on all major music services, including Spotify and Apple Music. For other listening options, follow this link, and be sure to learn more about the artist by heading to her Facebook and Instagram socials.

Header photo by Magnus Ytreland