Ida Maria Sivertsen, like her fellow Scandinavian Lykke Li Zachrisson, has been receiving her fair share of press attention lately. Like Zachrisson, she's a young, sassy, twentysomething woman, with an impressive command of the English language and a compelling grasp of a pop melody.
Where the two differ, however, is in their approach to writing. Ida Maria shuns her contemporary's penchant for experimentation; she's is an out-and-out rock chick, and isn't afraid to show it, either. Her reputation precedes her, somewhat, too: her energetic on-stage antics - which once reportedly left her with several cracked ribs - often draw comparisons with a Lovefoxxx/Winehouse hybrid.
Vocally, Ida Maria falls somewhere between the chirpy warmth of Kate Nash and Kirsty MacColl with a 60-a-day fag habit, with a dash of Debbie Harry thrown in for good measure. In fact, Blondie are an apt reference point; there are generous sprinklings of new wave throughout Fortress Round My Heart, especially on the likeable Drive Away My Heart and the uber-enthusiastic glam of I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked.
For the most part, though, this is a succinct collection of uptempo, guitar-driven, well-played pop/rock songs, which peaks with the impossibly catchy brace of Louie and Stella - the latter, a track so familiar-sounding that it'll drive you barmy wondering where that jangly hook comes from. The Pretenders, perhaps?
Fortress Round My Heart won't win any prizes for originality or innovation, and Ida Maria does come close to 'female Jack Penate' comparisons on more than one occasion. As debut albums go, though, it's a likeable, catchy and well-produced exercise in guitar-pop.
