Agnes Obel

Listening to Myopia right now and it's effectively filling the void that PJ Harvey's White Chalk left behind.

Echoes of Stina Nordenstam, too.

What are her previous albums like?

I only know Citizen of Glass, I'm not sure why I haven't listened to her earlier albums before, because I really like that one. Simply didn't get around to her latest yet. She's remarkably big o'er here, drawing large crowds to concerts.

I would've never squared her with PJ Harvey - not based on what I know of her at least - but it's an interesting comparison. I don't feel it applies to CoG, it's too singular for that. It's a very enjoyable, moody and suspenseful album though, with lots of space and subtle touches of a great variety of instruments, with cello (played by Kristina Koropecki) the obvious stand-out. Not surprisingly, one of the songs was used as the theme song for Canadian detective series 'Cardinal'.

Going to give Myopia a spin right now.

I was only thinking of White Chalk in terms of the spectral piano-led sound, at least on Myopia.

I had no idea she was so huge in certain parts of Europe. I just came across her name for the first time a couple of weeks ago. And I've never heard of Cardinal, which makes me a bad Canadian, I guess.

I should think they won't bar you from Canada for not knowing a tv show ;) Her wiki tells me her music is used quite a lot in tv shows btw.

On first listen I'd say Myopia doesn't differ a great deal from Citizen of Glass - perhaps the new one is even more sparse - so can recommend the latter. Enjoying this.

I've been loving Agnes Obel since her second album, Aventine, came out. Right away, I caught up with Philharmonics, which Ned praised on AMG. (She looks like a young Julie Andrews on the cover!) I really enjoyed her Late Night Tales comp, too.

Her first two albums were even more monochromatic in sound and mood than either Citizen of Glass or the new one. I need to spend more time with Myopia before I can say whether it's an advancement or beginning to get stale.

As for comparisons, I hear a little Kate Bush or Bat for Lashes in spots, but I liken her more to film soundtracks than to other singers.

In recent years I've heard her music used in ads or NPR segues. I hadn't realized she was so big in Europe.

I hadn't heard of her but she's listed first on the poster of the Days Off festival this summer at the Philharmonie de Paris.

DG's PR game must be really strong (they signed her a couple of years ago, apparently).