Astrid Swan
Poverina
Delphic Recordings
Since female singer/songwriters from Finland don't exactly grow on trees, I pay special attention when one comes along. Astrid Swan has just released this debut CD, and it's a pretty strong effort. Swan has one of those voices that sounds real familiar, yet I can't readily compare her to anyone else. She's got a flair for the dramatic; in fact, the first two tracks "They need you if they think you love them" and "Poverina" sound like they're from some Broadway musical. I can easily picture Astrid onstage, belting out the tunes to the audience and making excited hand gestures. Swan plays fluid grand piano (often accompanied by slick backing vocals) throughout the disc; strong examples include "Rock 'n' roll blonde" and the lively "Good girl", which has a nice hummable chorus. My favorite songs are "The kinda tea you like to cry in", which has competing musical pulses from keyboard and guitar that give the tune a strong rhythmic thrust, and the haunting, minimalist "Daddies". "Life in a container" is also a cool tune. Some of this disc is a little too slick and commercial for my taste, but it's a pretty meaty debut, and Swan's obvious passion marks her as a talent that bears watching in the future.
- Kevin Renick