Top tens for 2010: It's a Trap!

Dear Euphoria
This night will flee
Given Productions/Herbivor Music

The term euphoria couldn't really be more appropriate to represent what Stockholm native Elina Johansson does. Listening to the art she creates is a truly enigmatic experience. Where the vast majority of music is specific to mood, Johansson's output draws you in and has profound effect regardless of your current demeanor: if you're up it saturates the senses and genuinely heightens euphoric states; if you're down it rests gently on your shoulder and comforts you as an old friend, reassuring and promising. It's probably best described as "music for all moods" and it's without doubt some of the most beautiful music to ever emerge from Sweden. "This night will flee" is a four-track EP that builds on Johansson's previous releases, the "For everything of worth" and "Heal my violence" albums and, while retaining the characteristic elements of Johannson's output, sees her progress in a slightly more pop vein, albeit with dark undertones. This EP is not unlike something you would expect fellow countrymen Paatos to release and Johansson's vocals are quite reminiscent of their singer Petronella Nettermalm, another outstanding Swedish vocalist. Standout track on here is undoubtedly "Coming down" and is actually the song closest to Paatos in terms of vocal style. It's almost as if Dear Euphoria have taken the best bits of Paatos, Massive Attack, Kate Bush and Portishead, stuck them in some kind of musical blender and come out with a track that, to these ears at least, easily stands equal with any of the aforementioned acts. That, together with the title track (which is possibly the most haunting few minutes that Johansson has ever revealed), are the most epic songs on the disc, with the others -- "Rescue" and "No more time to weep" are more in line with what we've come to expect from Dear Euphoria. An absolutely sublime record that has the potential to profoundly touch everyone it reaches.
- John Norby