Viktoria

Personnel: Liz Edwards, David Woodcock, Perry Montague-Mason, Patrick Kiernan, Boguslav Kostecki, Everton Nelson, Emlyn Singleton (violin); Vicci Wardman, Peter Lale, Bruce White (viola); Frank Schaefer, Anthony Pleeth (cello).
Recording information: British Glove Studios, London; Dryhill Studios, Oneonta, NY; Fjoset Lydstudio; Huset På Prærien; Ocean Sound Recordings; Sporslyng Studio; Studio Ekkaberg; Studio in the Park.
Photographer: Agnete Brun.
Arranger: Martin Sjolie.
Three years after her 2008 Grammy-winning record Cause and Effect, Norwegian pop singer Maria Mena released her fifth studio album, Viktoria (Mena's middle name, after her great-grandmother). Throughout the 11 tracks, Mena presents mostly quiet, melancholy ballads with a few darker moments and some uptempo numbers. The album, which was produced by Martin Sjolie and features Danish singer/songwriter Mads Langer as a guest on the track "Habits," entered the Norwegian charts at number five and peaked at number two a week later. ~ Christian Genzel