Sällskapet "Disparition" (2018)

Disparition

release date: Mar. 16, 2018

format: digital

[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,15]

producer: Sällskapet

label: BMG Music - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights 2. "Morgenlicht" - 4. "Westerplatte" - 5. "L'autostrada"

3rd studio album by the Swedish duo-project Sällskapet and its first without founding member Joachim Thåström, who left guitarist Pelle Ossler and multi-instrumentalist Niklas Hellberg in 2015. Here, the two have composed nine new songs with German guest vocalist Andrea Schroeder, who is credited as songwriter of eight songs - track #4 is an instrumental, and Thåström appears as guest musician on two compositions. Scroeder has previously released three solo albums - all with titles and lyrics in English, and she plays a major role on Engle og dæmoner (2012) by Danish band Farmen, and she appears on Thåström's Centralmassivet (2017) with backing vocals on one song.

Musically, it's related to Nowy Port from 2013, although, the soundscape has lost some of the experimental bits and instead focused more on scarse instrumentation and melody-structure, which may be referred to as 'ambient-industrial', and then of course it makes a considerable change having German as vocal side. Schroeder's singing voice actually fits the dark arrangements nicely. Her alto coloured tone echoes the sound of Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich without sharing obvious original qualities but it adds a certain 'pop noir' quality, but the music tends to stay much on the same track throughout most of all 43 minutes, which makes it a bit of a bland experience.

Not all bad, but mostly interesting without breaking musical boundaries.

Sällskapet "Nowy Port" (2013)

Nowy Port
release date: Apr. 10, 2013
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,92]
producer: Sällskapet
label: Razzia Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 4. "Bagatelle" - 9. "Del 2" - 10. "Rött liguriskt vin"

2nd studio album by Swedish trio Sällskapet - here on the new, independent Swedish label Razzia. The album succeeds the debut album Sällskapet with six years but musically, it follows quite closely on a similar path with Joakim Thåström as vocalist, Pelle Ossler on guitar, bass and piano, and with Niklas Hellberg on keyboard, synthesizer and programming.
Where the debut appeared lighter and with more focus on the electronic side, this contains clear experimental pieces and elements of darkwave, which is also underlined by featuring Swedish artist Anna von Hausswolff, who contributes with vocals on track #4. The title track is pointing towards the industrial rock genre, but apart from that the compositions are rather slow progressive works of minimal wave and darkwave.
Where the debut contained original and interesting compositions, I think, this disappoints by its more obscure sound experiments - like music that may fit some artistic video instalments rather than being a musical release only.
Joakim Thåström left the band reduced to a duo in 2015, and he was replaced by guest vocalist Andrea Schroeder on the band's third album Disparition (2018).
Not recommended.

Sällskapet "Sällskapet" (2007)

Sällskapet [debut]
release date: Mar. 28, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Sällskapet
label: Sonet / Universal - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "482 Mhz" - 4. "Nordlicht" - 8. "Järnstaden" - 9. "...den dan"

Studio debut album by the trio, Sällskapet [in English: The Company] founded in 2003 by primary vocalist Joakim Thåström, guitarist Pelle Ossler - also credited for bass and piano - and with keyboardist Niklas Hellberg - also credited for handling synthesizer and programming.
Thåström has been in and out of bands since his first trio, The Haters founded in 1977, and he must really enjoy the [creative] energies that may arise from working in a band or with a project-band. After closing the industrial metal-project Peace, Love & Pittbulls in '97, Thåström released the much-awaited return to a Swedish lyrical foundation with the solo albums Det är ni som e dom konstiga det är jag som e normal in '99, "Mannen som blev en gris" in 2002, and the acclaimed Skebokvarnsv. 209 in 2005 - and he could easily have continued a promising solo career, but it seems he has always been that sort of musician, who thrives on the search of new playgrounds for musical expressions.
And together with Ossler and Hellberg, for once, we find him in what appears to be a three-man project without Thåström in the lead. Yes, he is lead vocalist, but all musical and lyrical compositions as well as production is entirely in the hands of the band. Both Ossler and Hellberg played with Thåström on his latest two solo albums and Hellberg has worked with Thåström ever since the early 90s when they got together in Amsterdam and formed Peace, Love & Pittbulls.
Stylistically, Sällskapet is something else. Or: at least when comparing to what Thåström has been involved in since the 1970s. The music is in the electronic genre - far from what could be related to industrial styles as it may be referred to as minimal synth or minimal wave, and without being great, it's a fairly interesting and quite original release the three have put together.