Bel Canto

The atmospheric, melancholy, somewhat medieval soundscapes of Bel Canto (Italian for "beautiful song") mix an essentially synth-based chamber rock sound with a wide range of orchestral and folk instruments. The group hails from Norway and began as a trio consisting of ethereal vocalist Anneli Drecker plus Nils Johansen and Geir Jenssen (aka Biosphere). Bel Canto have claimed to draw their inspiration from powerful energy fields, including those of the female and the Earth's gravitational pull. Debuting in 1987 with White-Out Conditions, they started out with a sort of abstract synth pop style, gradually incorporating more neo-classical and dance elements on subsequent efforts like 1992's Shimmering, Warm & Bright. Following a few releases that delved into trip-hop rhythms, like 1998's Rush, Bel Canto went on hiatus, eventually returning in 2024 with the lush, majestic Radiant Green.