MP3: Thåström - Linnéa

Once I settled on the idea of dedicating this week to quiet/mellow-er material for my mp3 posts, I quickly realized I had way too many worthwhile qualifying tracks, but one artist stands head and shoulders above the rest and that is Thåström. Embarrasingly, I am nowhere near as familiar with his back-catalog as I should be, but I made sure snag a copy of the vinyl LP (#348/500, thank you very much) at my first opportunity since I dug Thåström's recent work with Sällskapet so much. I don't regret it one bit either -- "Kärlek är för dom" has been on steady rotation here ever since it showed up a few weeks back. For those unfamiliar with Joakim Thåström and his long career from fronting Ebba Grön to his work with acts such as Imperiet, Peace Love & Pitbulls and so on, I can only describe his current solo work as "industrial blues" though that really doesn't do it justice. Yes, it's bluesy and industrial, but it's so much more. It's funny, my wife has commented multiple times that he sounds almost like he's singing with an Irish brogue when his voice echoes out my office, despite singing in Swedish, though I guess perception from a distance can be funny that way. Regardless, it's not too outlandish a claim to be considered. I can certainly hear it; his voice has a roughness fitting for a damaged poet from anywhere.
It's hard to pick a track to share, though "Linnéa" is a definite standout, the steady pulse of the underlying synthline is so ominous and haunting. The mystery and the darkness, the questions unanswered; it hangs thick like fog. As the vocals strain and stutter, it's emphasized further, even moreso considering the restraint of the arrangement. It's all struggle without resolution. There's just one thing I don't understand: how can something so dark and powerful also be so popular? Life so rarely seems to work out like that. Only in Sweden, I suppose.

Thåström - Linnéa