release date: Feb. 11, 2015
format: digital (9 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,54]
producer: Niklas Hellberg, Ulf Ivarsson, Thåström
label: Razzia Records - nationality: Sweden
Track highlights:
1. "Gräsfläckar" -
4. "Kom med mig" -
5. "Alltid va på väg" -
6. "Slickar i mig det sista" -
8. "Långsamt genom" -
9. "Psalm"
8th studio album by [Joachim] Thåström following Beväpna dig med vingar (2012) is the third consecutive album featuring producer Ivarsson but here he's assisted by Thåström and Niklas Hellberg, who constitute the music project Sällskapet with Pelle Ossler but Hellberg was also exclusive producer on Thåström's acclaimed Skebokvarnsv. 209 (2005). Between this and his 2012 album, Thåström released Nowy Port as the second with Sällskapet in 2013, but this was to be his last with the project as he decided to step out of the trio after the release of Den morronen. Also the third man of Sällskapet, Pelle Ossler contributes here as guitarist. All songs are, however, credited Thåström and Hellberg. Two tracks feature old associate of Imperiet, Per Hägglund as co-composer.
In Hellberg, Thåström seems to have found an almost perfect match as he appears to know how to concentrate the musical focus as someone who understands Thåström's qualities. Compared to Beväpna dig med vingar the album is slightly less dynamic and also lacks truly great tunes without being a lesser release. It still contains fine songs but appears to stay more on a narrow line throughout the album; however, it's also clear that Thåström has found his pen for telling interesting personal stories, which uplifts and creates a fine touch of quality.
Interesting but somehow not truly succesful.
In Dec. 2015 Universal Music released the extensive 10-disc boxset ...Ungefär så här comprising Thåström's solo career. It contains 8 solo studio albums (including this) and two bonus-cds titled "Fuzzbox 1" and "Fuzzbox 2" with demo and live recordings of music spanning 25 years and it includes a 108 pages hardback book - needless say, for die-hard fans, and if you already have or know of his solo albums, you basically 'only' get two bonus cds.
[ 👍Gaffa.dk 4 / 6 stars ]
