SONGBROKER SONG OF THE DAY : Sven Olsen's Brutal Canadian Love Saga 'Chimpanzee'

Sven Olsen’s Brutal Canadian Love Saga is a 15 piece pop orchestra from Lyall bay Wellington who have released two acclaimed mixed media album/books. 2010's Songs From the Bottom of a Hilltop (double album and illustrated 80 pp book) and 2014's The Almanac (108pp illustrated book and 5 albums on an orange USB drive attached to a flyswat).

The Sven's are the brainchild of Nigel Beckford who writes the lyrics and works up the music with Clyde Clemett and Cath Haley. The Svens gather most Sundays with a revolving cast of live players, including: Nigel Beckford (songs, words, book writing, singing, guitar, keyboard/electronics), Clyde Clemett (guitars), Kath Gebbie (violin), Janet Thomson (singing), Megan Brownlie (flute), Dave Currie (bass) Mike (mandolin), Cath Haley (keyboards, guitar, singing), Mike Hogan (mandolin), Tim Robinson (drums/percussion), Amanda White (Vocals), Sarah Donovan (singing), Heather Miller (violin), Bethnay Miller (vocals), Roger Miller (vocals), Emily Bacon (cello), Mike Fitzsimons (singing), Joel Miller (viola), Mike Fitzsimons (vocals), Andy Tate (mandolin), Nina Tate (cello), Mike Hogan (mandolin), Brenton and Belinda Veitch (cello and violin), Lee Gibson (violin), Annabelle McIntyre (singing), Grant Hannis (trumpet),Ged Taylor (multimedia), and John Fletcher (piano/keyboards).

As Graham Reid of culture blog Elsewhere noted "... these lyrics are delivered with a slightly melancholy, reflective feeling over deliciously memorable and charmingly simple melodies and songs which are lightly embellished with strings, French horn, trumpet, mandolin and steel guitars. Lovely arrangements."

'Chimpanzee' is no exception, at once engaging with it's pure but melancholy delivery and simply executed instrumentation. Enjoy.