Swedish artist Emma NORDENSTAM made her debut back in 2004, and along with her second album from 2006 was quickly established with a classical singer/songwriter reputation. Following a few years break as a recording artist Nordenstam returned with “Response to the Birddream” in 2013, released through Transubstans Records sublabel Sakuntala.
After inspecting Nordenstam’s third release, it seems crystal clear that the singer/songwriter reputation will be even more firmly secured with this album. True enough she doesn’t direct every of her compositions along that line, but the greater majority of them are fairly typical if the tradition: Gently resonating acoustic guitars supplementing a female lead vocalist frail or passionate in expression, depending on the mood explored. Subtle additions in the form of piano, strings and accordion does add some effective atmospheric details to the proceedings, but doesn’t really alter the style as such. Thankfullt Nordenstam is skilled at creating strong moods, and only the most mellow and tender of these excursions appears to lack an emotional drive as such.
Still, it’s some of the exceptions to this previously described main style that comes across as the more fascinating of these compositions for me. The elongated instrumental outro on final track The Opening Within, complete with bass, drums, piano and what might be an occasional cello, supplementing a lap steel and Mellotron solo. This latter constellation an intriguing enough construction in itself. But the most intriguing creations for me personally were the folk oriented dream pop of I’m in the Shadow and the more purebred dream pop creation The Room, both of them well made compositions with plenty of subtle details to enjoy.
I’ll also complement Nordenstam’s lead vocals. She’s got a good and clear voice equally at home as sleepy and distanced as it is up front and emotional, and her choice of layered vocals in certain songs another inspired choice. That they at times are partially asynchron strengthening the impression of multiple vocalists present.
I’d suspect that those fond of classic singer/songwriter material of the gentle, frail and tender category will be something of a key audience for this album. Those amongst them with a taste for the occasional dreamladen folk and pop-oriented escapade in particular.
My rating: 83/100
