Sofia Karlsson "Söder om kärleken" (2009)

Söder om kärleken
release date: Mar. 4, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Gustaf Ljunggren, Sofia Karlsson
label: Playground Music Scandinavia - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Du var där" (4 / 5) (live session) - 3. "Smält mig till glöd" (live) - 6. "Dina händer (Göteborg)" - 8. "Visa från Kåkbrinken" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 12. "Imma på fönstret" - 13. "Alltid dig nära" (4 / 5) (solo live)

4th studio album by Sofia Karlsson and her first album on the Playground label is her so far most apparent folk pop-shaped album comparing with her first three albums, the debut Folk Songs (2002), Svarta ballader (2005) and Visor från vinden (2007). All of these have more traditional folklore music incorporated and all were based on older lyrical sources, whereas this is her first to have more compositions with an uptempo and chorus-based music, and they also represent her first collection of songs written and composed for an album.
Karlsson has a nice beautiful singing voice with the qualities of Lisa Ekdahl only with more strength. It's a warm and very fine album. Unfortunately, she doesn't release music very often, although, she has featured as guest artist on a number of albums. Following this, she released the live album Levande in 2011 and it was not until 2014 before she presented her fifth studio album Regnet faller utan oss.

Sofia Karlsson "Visor från vinden" (2007)

Visor från vinden
release date: Apr. 11, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Göran Petersson, Sofia Karlsson, Jan Borges
label: Amigo Musik - nationality: Sweden

3rd studio album by Sofia Karlsson following two years after her acclaimed sophomore album Svarta ballader is her last studio album on the Amigo Musik label owned by Bonnier Music Group. The album follows closely the same recipe as her previous album, although, this has lyrics by various composers, and several of the selected songs are familiar Swedish folk songs interpreted by many other artists. It's also very much the same studio musicians as on the 2005 album; however, many of the songs here are live recordings at various locations.
The album fared even better than Svarta ballader and reached number #2 on the national albums chart list, though music critics generally were less positive in their reception. However, both album and Karlsson won several prizes after the release.
In my mind, this is even better than her 2005 album. There's a nice combo of more uptempo songs and quiet ballads, and perhaps other artists have made more than memorable interpretations of some of the songs (Cornelis Vreeswijk, Mikael Wiehe, Eva Dahlgren Joakim Thåström), but I really like the idea of the various lyrical sources and the musical skills and the artistic creativeness that have been put into the engagement of arranging these songs in such a way that it all makes one coherent whole. Don't (always) believe the critics - make your own choices.
This is a recommendable listen.

Sofia Karlsson "Svarta ballader (Sjunger Dan Andersson)" (2005)

Svarta ballader (Sjunger Dan Andersson)
release date: Feb. 12, 2005
format: cd (AMCD 756)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Göran Petersson, Sigge Krantz & Sofia Karlsson
label: Amigo Musik - nationality: Sweden

2nd studio album by Swedish folk artist Sofia Karlsson is the collection of poems by Swedish poet Dan Andersson (1888-1920) - except track #10, written by Charles Baudelaire and translated by Andersson. All songs have musical arrangements by Karlsson.
The album falls close to her debut album with its older lyrical matter, although, the music seems more contemporary folk-founded.
Svarta ballader was Karlsson national breakthrough album - peaking at number #6 on the Swedish album charts list, which is a quite high position for a rather quiet folk-oriented release, and the album was met by critical acclaim and Karlsson was nominated and also won several prizes with the album.
Despite its quiet and rather simple compositions and arrangements, the album is a warm and fine release of traditional Swedish folk.

Sofia Karlsson "Folk Songs" (2002)

Folk Songs [debut]
release date: 2002
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,82]
producer: Göran Peterson, Sofia Karlsson
label: Amigo Musik - nationality: Sweden

Studio album debut by Swedish Nordic folk and folklore singer Sofia Karlsson who took part in the two Swedish folk bands Eter (on its only album from '98) and the music collective Groupa (from 1998-2002).
The music on Folk Songs seem much alike the music she has been engaged in with her two bands. Except from one song, they are all traditional Nordic folk music compositions re-arranged for the album with the use of traditional instrumentation.
It's mostly rather quiet music and they don't reflect a huge variety. The strongest asset here is undoubtedly Karlssons warm and beautiful singing voice.