Larry Klein's Strange Cargo With Universal Music Unveils First Signing

Strange Cargo, the new label created by renowned music producer, bassist, songwriter and multiple Grammy Award winner Larry Klein, in partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG), announces its first signing: one of Europe's most talented singer-songwriters, Thomas Dybdahl.

The Norwegian musician's work has been compared to that of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake. His Strange Cargo debut album, "Songs," is due this spring.

With three platinum albums to his credit in his homeland, Thomas Dybdahl will launch "Songs" with a series of concerts in Europe, beginning in early May. He has a growing international following, notably in Holland, France and Belgium. Before the European dates, he will be showcased to the US market during March.

Strange Cargo is marketed in the US by Decca Label Group, and by Universal Music Group International in the world outside North America, excluding Denmark.

Larry Klein has produced critically acclaimed work by Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, Melody Gardot, Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, Madeleine Peyroux, and Steely Dan's Walter Becker, among many other stellar artists. He has been recognized with five Grammys, including those for Mitchell's 1994 "Turbulent Indigo" and Hancock's 2007 "River: The Joni Letters," which he co-produced. Klein has also worked with such superstars as Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Don Henley, and Bonnie Raitt.

Larry Klein said: "I'm honored to be a part of bringing Thomas' music to the rest of the world. His work has an intrinsic emotional power, and reflects an attention to subtlety that I rarely hear. I couldn't imagine a more exciting artist to be Strange Cargo's first release, as I'm a passionate evangelist when it comes to what he does. I'm grateful to Max Hole and Universal Music for giving me the opportunity to create a home for music that I love, and for creating a situation where I can work with the talented people at Decca/Universal to do so."

Max Hole, Chief Operating Officer, Universal Music Group International, commented: "I'm delighted that we could persuade Larry Klein to bring his Strange Cargo to us. He is a remarkable, prodigious talent, and to have such a unique, gifted artist as Thomas as the label's first signing is great news. I know that Decca and our companies worldwide are looking forward to working with this artist and all Strange Cargo's projects."

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