I promise I'm eventually going to stop writing about Sweden. If they didn't consistently release great music I would have an easier time of it. This weeks Album of the Week comes courtesy of Korallreven, who's stunning full length debut flies in the face of expectations. Amusingly titled An Album by Korallreven, the set of songs comes a full two years after it's first single was released, the charming, upbeat "Loved Up". If you're looking at that single as an indication for how the rest of the album plays out, you'll be surprised at just how much variety is on display. That doesn't keep the work from feeling cohesive, but the unpredictability of how the album unfolds make it one of the freshest albums of the year.
Opening track "As Young As Yesterday" seeps in with lush pads and flutes before opening up with acoustic guitars and ultra reverberated vocals repeating the song title. Light piano melodies drip in and out of the mix as if you're overhearing a song in another room, and the beat has more breakbeat characteristics than I was expecting from the balearic atmospherics laid over it. Right from the get go you're made aware that you're listening to something different. The entire album has this calming effect, making it optimum pass out music, but the rhythmic work on display keeps it consistently engaging, never devolving into new age blandness.
If there is a pop song to be found here, the closest the album has to offer is the reggae tinged downtempo number "Honey Mine" (which was remixed by Memoryhouse), the track would feel at home on an early Orb album. "A Surf on Endorphins" brings back the melodic line of second single "The Truest Faith", giving the album it's Pink Floyd "concept album moment", before the epic 9 minute "Coming Down" wraps things up. "Coming Down" is a remarkable album closer, building up with circling flute melodies and reverberated toms and then letting you down gently with layers of melodies and rhythms that solidify into a stunningly organic crescendo.
An Album by Korallreven walks a remarkably thin tight rope, balancing atmosphere and melody in a way that never feels uninspired. If there ever was a poster album for ear candy, this would be it.
GRADE: A
LOVED-UP by KORALLREVEN
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