Emil Svanängen, Loney, Dear

Review by Dave Anastasi

Multi-instrumentalist Emil Svanängen grew up writing and recording music for himself in his native Sweden, where he self-released his first four albums. While fame and fortune are a bit foreign to Emil, the momentum generated by his first U.S. release, Loney, Noir, suggests that his new-found success will not be short-lived.

The music that Emil produces sounds fresh and spontaneous to my ears. It's easy to imagine him bouncing around his Stockholm apartment gathering instruments together when inspiration strikes... committing acoustic guitar and vocals to tape... and his smile widening and his heart beating faster after each overdub-- clarinet, flute, handclaps, why not? Before long, the masterpiece is complete.

So when I heard that Loney, Dear would be embarking on their first major tour in the U.S. opening for indie-popsters Of Montreal, I knew I couldn't miss it. I couldn't help but wonder what the material would sound like with instruments in the hands of musicians other than Svanängen.

Overall, the backing band did a good job, though I was a bit disappointed that there were no woodwinds to be found on stage. They play such an important role throughout Loney, Noir, and the colors and sounds they produce are irreplaceable. I almost feel compelled to drive to my parents' house and rescue the clarinet that I haven't touched since my sophomore year of high school, buy a few fresh reeds, and attempt to ride Emil's coattails for the remainder of his tour dates.

Among the evening's highlights was the exhilarating "I Am John." The band sprung to life as Emil launched into his impeccable falsetto, making the song a definite standout in the primarily mid-tempo set. The emphatic 6/8 anthem "I Could Stay" was also particularly strong, with its deliberate cadence and unforgettable melody.

But the main focus of the set was Emil's unique voice. He delivered his lyrics in a very personal and intimate manner, as if he was still sitting in that Stockholm apartment, and we were all invited over for tea, and to hear his latest creations.