The link between Scandinavia and all things Americana is historically a strong one, no more so than in a music context. That link is about to be considerably strengthened with the release of the brand new Jesper Lindell album. By just spinning the first couple of tracks associations run riot in the mind, a notion duly confirmed when you start to scan across the first layer of content. All roads head west to a certain iconic and ironically named band, and by the fourth song stars align further when we learn that title track-ish 'Twilight' is lifted from The Band's catalogue with Amy Helm, daughter of Levon, joining Lindell to the extent of getting the 'featuring' credit. At this point an intoxicating soulful rock sound has sealed an enticing deal between artist and listener.
TWILIGHTS is a rousing package of ten exceptionally curated tracks soaked in the evocative vocals of Lindell and a solid band sound excelling in all the right moments. We get the one aforementioned collaboration joined by another with the lesser known Theo Lawrence featuring on 'Dance'. Additionally we learn that Klara Soderberg, one half of fellow Swedish supergroup First Aid Kit, also joins the fray, although wholeheartedly you rarely lose sense of Jesper Lindell not being in total control.
From the spine tingling ballad 'Christmas Card' adding a touch of serenity in the second half to the utterly compelling scene setting classic 'West Coast Rain', visions and echoes of prime road tested bands wooing demanding audiences night after night come to the fore. Whether tossing in some horns or plenty of keys, the sonic landscape shimmers with the complete sound that brings so many organic flavours to Americana music. Lindell forever sows his vocals deep into the essence of each song and you cannot fail to grasp what is accomplished in this view from afar.
The highest compliment you can pay Jesper Lindell is once the initial association sinks in you feel in the presence of someone framing a sound in their own image. At the end of TWILIGHT, apart from the urge of repeating the experience, well-tuned listeners are liable to feel in awe of what Jesper Lindell has curated. He conducts a fully fledged Americana symphony with all the undulating moods and tempos. This is an album bursting with poise, passion and little pretence. Let's cross out pretence as it's the real deal.