Per Gessle
En händig man
EMI
It's a shame that the only artist from my hometown ever becoming really famous is Per Gessle (of Gyllene Tider and Roxette fame, if you're German I'm sure you know who I'm talking about). It's him and maybe Michael Arnott (Spiritual Beggars / Arch Enemy / Carcass). When I was around 6-7 years old, I was a big fan of Per Gessle's music, and listening to his latest album "En händig man", I can sort of see why I dug this guy all those years ago. The lyrics are often pathetic, but there's a nursery rhyme-feel to both them and the music that explains why they would appeal to someone who plays with Tranformers and spends most of his days drawing birds (cuckoos, specifically, not girls as in English slang) in various sci-fi warrior uniforms. It's sort of sad that Per Gessle, who seems like a nice guy that likes some great music, only will be remembered for making pap like this. "En händig man" is a dreadful album, even worse than the best material Gessle's ever written.
- Simon Tagestam