Streaming playlist: Singer/Songwriters, pt. 1
DATE ADDED : 02.08.04
LAUNCH : [stream no longer available]
01. Nicolai Dunger - Hunger
from the album \"Here's my song, you can have it... I don’ want it anymore /Yours 4-ever Nicolai Dunger\"
Nicolai is already starting to gain a bit of international recognition with his last 2 albums \"Soul Rush\" and \"Tranquil Isolation\". The former had him teamed up with acclaimed Swedish jazz group Esbjörn Svensson Trio and is absolutely sublime. The backing musicians provide just the right context to accentuate his strengths, especially his Van Morrison-isms. The latter was recorded with alt-folk hero Will Oldham and isn't nearly as solid to my ears. There's some great highlights, but the relaxed, improvised feel only goes so far. If a little more time and thought went into it, I think it could've been a lot better.
Anyhow, there's a new record and a new collaboration, this time with Mercury Rev. Unlike \"Tranquil Isolation\", you can tell a lot of forethought went into this album as the arrangements and embellishments are much more involved. I don't quite rank it as high as \"Soul Rush\", but it's still damn good.
Really, what it comes down to with Nicolai is that he's an amazing talent who's unafraid to try new things. Even though I may prefer his more produced work, I know he'll never be content to take the path of least resistance and do straightforward pop records. He's constantly challenging himself and I absolutely respect that. That means he might never gain a large commercial audience, but it assures his integrity and a more meaningful body of work.
02. Marit Bergman - Girl figure skater
from the album \"3 am serenades\"
Marit's music can be deceptively simple. It took me awhile to realize that while she may seem to be yet another standard, straightforward pop songstress, there's far more depth to her than most. This song is a great example of her sweet pop skills tempered with a bit of melancholic undertones.
Aside from her music, Marit was also known around Sweden as a Madonna-like figure of relentless self-promotion. She was a 100% DIY success story up until recently when she signed with a major. I can't blame her if she'd rather concentrate on the music and leave the business side to others. New album coming very soon.
03. St. Thomas - The railroad
from the album \"Total Lee - The songs of Lee Hazelwood\"
I admit it - I'm not that familiar with most of St. Thomas' work. He kind of strikes me as the Norwegian Nicolai Dunger, except that his music is far more typical alt-country kind of stuff. Not bad, but not really my thing.
04. Thomas Dybdahl - Honey
from the album \"Stray dogs\"
I ignored Thomas Dybdahl for awhile because I thought his best-selling career in Norway pegged him as just another boring pop artist. But I was wrong - sometimes an artist is popular simply because they are good and this is indeed one of those times. Thomas has a fantastic smoky voice and a great laidback, easygoing style. The barebones instrumentation on this most recent album really suits him quite well. He sounds so natural and at ease, that it's hard not to get sucked in.
Because of his success in his native Norway, I think it's highly likely that we'll see an extended international push for Thomas. He's already scheduled to play SXSW in March in the US. Along with Sophie Zelmani, this is someone I find myself listening to a lot of lately.
05. Jens Lekman - Cold Swedish winter
live from P3 Pop 09/29/03
His studio material doesn't do much for me, but this song (as with the other two I've heard from this live set) are just amazing. But you don't have to listen to what I have to say - there's enough other people out there who are enamored with his \"Maple Leaves\" EP that I'm a minority with my vote of restrained enthusiasm. He's got such a good voice, I just think the acoustic guitar with vocals approach is all he needs.
06. Christian Kjellvander - Words in the wires
live from Sodra Teatern 02/25/2003
His voice reminds me a lot of Richard Buckner, but Christian Kjellvander is far, far more consistent both in the high quality of his songwriting and his vocal delivery. I'm often lukewarm about alt-country stuff, but Christian is a good example of Sweden doing the genre justice yet again.
People who dig this should probably start out with the \"Introducing the past\" collection he put out recently which includes material from his indierock days with Loosegoats as well as his collaboration with his brother Gustav in Songs of Soil. I would not at all be surprised to see him break out beyond the borders of Scandinavia.
07. Moneybrother - It's been hurting all the way with you Joanna
from the album \"Blood panic\"
This year's Swedish indiepop idol taking the throne previously occupied by Håkan Hellström. Moneybrother aka Anders Wednin started out playing 3rd-wave ska with Monster before he branched out on his own and scored a huge hit in Sweden with this album. He's got a great Clash-influenced reggae-rock style and he's been raking up awards one after another. The first single \"Reconsider me\" is just one of those classic tunes that sticks with you the first time you hear it and this latest one ain't so bad either. The true test of his talent will be in the strength of his next record.
08. Sophie Zelmani - Truth
from the album \"Love affair\"
Even though they squeaked out this record just before New Year's, I still consider it the best thing I've heard so far this year. Take the sound of Daniel Lanois-produced Emmylou Harris and dampen it with the quiet restraint of someone like Stina Nordenstam and you'll have the sound of Sophie's new album. I've been a fan of everything she's done, but she really nailed it with \"Love Affair\". Simply gorgeous.
09. Magnet - Last day of summer
from the album \"On Your Side\"
Magnet aka Even Johansen is a artist from Norway who is one of the new breed of singer/songwriters infusing electronic elements with their music. Both feet are still firmly planted in the guitar troubadour tradition (he covers Dylan, you can't get more trad than that), but he's unafraid to experiment with modern studio techniques. This last album has been gathering awards and accolades all over ever since it came out and it's really no surprise - he's obviously quite talented. If you like UK artist Ben Christophers, I think you'd definitely dig Magnet. He doesn't have the falsetto or Thom Yorke aspirations of Christophers, but there are strong similarities in their production and approach. Magnet's more breathy vocals are light and airy without being too whispy or weak. Definitely someone who we'll be hearing a lot more from as he constantly is expanding his audience and reach.
10. Sondre Lerche - Two way monologue
from the album \"Two way monologue\"
The ever-so-charming Sondre Lerche is a young lad from Norway who has already tasted a bit of international success, touring worldwide and opening for the likes of Elvis Costello. And you know what? He deserves it - he writes fabulous songs, very much the classic Beatles tradition and is just so eminently likable. I have no doubt that he's got a fantastic, long career ahead of him.