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CD
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TR 400CD
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"I dream of cities -- endless cities where I will die alone..."
Welcome to the soundtrack for the next Ice Age, home to the last survivors of the global climate catastrophe. The night is pierced by a single voice, ringing as clear as crystal between Kiruna and Trelleborg. It belongs to the Swedish singer-songwriter Kristoffer Bolander, whose second solo album is being released by the Hamburg-based label Tapete. What Never Was Will Always Be offers compelling evidence of his accession to the European elite of alternative songwriters. Moving beyond the typical spectrum of alternative folk as heard on Bolander's 2015 debut I Forgive Nothing (TR 325CD/LP), the sophomore album represents a significant evolution in sound. The wonderfully delicate, high-pitched voice of the Swedish singer is framed beautifully by his excellent band, at times quietly focused, at others ramping up distorted guitars and visceral drums. But what really makes the atmosphere of What Never Was Will Always Be unique is the introduction of electronic elements. From gentle synth pads, reminiscent of Brian Eno soundscapes, to dry, pulsating electro drums, with flashes of arpeggios. The songs range from the epic über-hit "Cities" to danceable synth pop numbers like "Animals" and classic folk tunes such as "True Romance" which features Kristoffer Bolander's voice accompanied only by an acoustic guitar. The album is a panoply of small worlds, every song occupying its own sonic dimension, produced to perfection. Add in Bolander's unique lyrical qualities and an extraordinary mood develops, his words falling like mantras from the future, with tales of lost cities and life-changing romances. The new components gently shift the music away from the tried and trusted folk album biotope into a forward-looking electro folk pop sphere. Kristoffer Bolander took care of all the arrangements by himself and Daniel Johansson, renowned for his work with the likes of Grammy winner Tommy Black, was on production duties. Together, the pair created a distinctive sound for each individual song. Bolander and Johansson's meticulous attention to detail shines through the array of instrumentation so masterfully deployed on the record, perfectly complemented by Bolander's expressive voice. What Never Was Will Always Be is a fresh, contemporary folk pop album, tempting the listener to dance, to dream, to cry. RIYL: Cigarettes After Sex, Brandon Flowers.
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LP+CD
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TR 400LP
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LP version. Includes CD. "I dream of cities -- endless cities where I will die alone..."
Welcome to the soundtrack for the next Ice Age, home to the last survivors of the global climate catastrophe. The night is pierced by a single voice, ringing as clear as crystal between Kiruna and Trelleborg. It belongs to the Swedish singer-songwriter Kristoffer Bolander, whose second solo album is being released by the Hamburg-based label Tapete. What Never Was Will Always Be offers compelling evidence of his accession to the European elite of alternative songwriters. Moving beyond the typical spectrum of alternative folk as heard on Bolander's 2015 debut I Forgive Nothing (TR 325CD/LP), the sophomore album represents a significant evolution in sound. The wonderfully delicate, high-pitched voice of the Swedish singer is framed beautifully by his excellent band, at times quietly focused, at others ramping up distorted guitars and visceral drums. But what really makes the atmosphere of What Never Was Will Always Be unique is the introduction of electronic elements. From gentle synth pads, reminiscent of Brian Eno soundscapes, to dry, pulsating electro drums, with flashes of arpeggios. The songs range from the epic über-hit "Cities" to danceable synth pop numbers like "Animals" and classic folk tunes such as "True Romance" which features Kristoffer Bolander's voice accompanied only by an acoustic guitar. The album is a panoply of small worlds, every song occupying its own sonic dimension, produced to perfection. Add in Bolander's unique lyrical qualities and an extraordinary mood develops, his words falling like mantras from the future, with tales of lost cities and life-changing romances. The new components gently shift the music away from the tried and trusted folk album biotope into a forward-looking electro folk pop sphere. Kristoffer Bolander took care of all the arrangements by himself and Daniel Johansson, renowned for his work with the likes of Grammy winner Tommy Black, was on production duties. Together, the pair created a distinctive sound for each individual song. Bolander and Johansson's meticulous attention to detail shines through the array of instrumentation so masterfully deployed on the record, perfectly complemented by Bolander's expressive voice. What Never Was Will Always Be is a fresh, contemporary folk pop album, tempting the listener to dance, to dream, to cry. RIYL: Cigarettes After Sex, Brandon Flowers.
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LP+CD
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TR 325LP
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LP version. Includes CD. Kristoffer Bolander, the Swede with the heavenly voice, has been touring from Gothenburg to Italy for since the mid-2000s as the head of the alternative folk band Holmes. Bolander now presents his first solo album, I Forgive Nothing. The opening bars of the album immediately immerse the listener in Bolander's sound -- his gentle and wisely thoughtful songwriting carried by a voice that evokes comparison to Neil Young. The whole thing is supported by a pulsating bed of sound that sporadically swells and retreats to just an organ and Bolander's delicate voice over the course of the album. The deliberate setting of these counterpoints creates the album's most stirring moments. The reduction of the sound is the key factor on I Forgive Nothing and is what differentiates this album from Bolander's previous work. It was a deliberate decision not to produce all songs with a full band lineup, to create new space within the compositions and bring the fundamental elements of the songs -- the poetic lyrics and vocals -- to the fore. With that in mind, Bolander worked for two years to write the songs on I Forgive Nothing. He also decided to work in a different studio for this production; in cooperation with producer Anders Lagerfors, he recorded the entire album mostly live in just six days at Nacksving Studios in Gothenburg. This approach preserved the intimacy of the pieces and can especially be appreciated during the album's quieter moments, when Bolander's voice is accompanied only by an acoustic guitar ("The Rings Above") or an organ ("Something Wrong"). For the songs that were arranged with full-band accompaniment, such as the epic "I Forgive Nothing," Bolander called upon old companions and friends, all of whom hail from his hometown of Vänersborg. As a result, not only does the greatest lap steel guitarist on that side of the Atlantic appear on the album -- Johan Björklund of Holmes -- but so does his brother, drummer Michael Björklund, best known from the Swedish punk band Affordable Hybrid. "I forgive nothing" is a paraphrase from Samuel Beckett's 1951 novel Malone Dies, a book that serves as a major inspiration for Kristoffer Bolander. Beckett's lyrical tone runs through the 12 tracks on the album like a red thread. In combination with the musical setting it brings an extraordinary depth and overwhelming atmosphere that is truly unparalleled.
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CD
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TR 325CD
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Kristoffer Bolander, the Swede with the heavenly voice, has been touring from Gothenburg to Italy for since the mid-2000s as the head of the alternative folk band Holmes. Bolander now presents his first solo album, I Forgive Nothing. The opening bars of the album immediately immerse the listener in Bolander's sound -- his gentle and wisely thoughtful songwriting carried by a voice that evokes comparison to Neil Young. The whole thing is supported by a pulsating bed of sound that sporadically swells and retreats to just an organ and Bolander's delicate voice over the course of the album. The deliberate setting of these counterpoints creates the album's most stirring moments. The reduction of the sound is the key factor on I Forgive Nothing and is what differentiates this album from Bolander's previous work. It was a deliberate decision not to produce all songs with a full band lineup, to create new space within the compositions and bring the fundamental elements of the songs -- the poetic lyrics and vocals -- to the fore. With that in mind, Bolander worked for two years to write the songs on I Forgive Nothing. He also decided to work in a different studio for this production; in cooperation with producer Anders Lagerfors, he recorded the entire album mostly live in just six days at Nacksving Studios in Gothenburg. This approach preserved the intimacy of the pieces and can especially be appreciated during the album's quieter moments, when Bolander's voice is accompanied only by an acoustic guitar ("The Rings Above") or an organ ("Something Wrong"). For the songs that were arranged with full-band accompaniment, such as the epic "I Forgive Nothing," Bolander called upon old companions and friends, all of whom hail from his hometown of Vänersborg. As a result, not only does the greatest lap steel guitarist on that side of the Atlantic appear on the album -- Johan Björklund of Holmes -- but so does his brother, drummer Michael Björklund, best known from the Swedish punk band Affordable Hybrid. "I forgive nothing" is a paraphrase from Samuel Beckett's 1951 novel Malone Dies, a book that serves as a major inspiration for Kristoffer Bolander. Beckett's lyrical tone runs through the 12 tracks on the album like a red thread. In combination with the musical setting it brings an extraordinary depth and overwhelming atmosphere that is truly unparalleled.
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