I don’t know about you but every autumn I start longing for a new Christian Kjellvander album. Some years it happens……….some years it doesn’t. When it does everything falls into place. It’s obvious that you expect me to tell you how great this album is………and since you all know that I only release albums by artists I love more than life itself………..this is exactly what you’ll get.
In my book Christian is among the great songwriters of this world. Each album completely satisfies my musical needs. If I tell you that this is his best album so far………….will you believe me? No reason not to. I signed Christian Kjellvander to Startracks in 1996. Well…………I actually signed Loosegoats but Christian was included in the package. He was a great songwriter back then and it’s been great seeing him grow as years went by. After releasing several Loosegoats albums and the great Songs of Soil album Christian released hit breakthrough debut “Songs From A Two-Room Chapel” in 2002. In 2005 “Faya” was released and then Christian has been touring ever since with the occasional break. Now “I Saw Her From Here/I Saw Here From Her is done. This album proves my point. He gets better and better every time.
A few years ago he told me the story about Townes Van Zandt recording an album produced by Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth). The beautiful Townes-songs wrapped in a dark production. That never happened. Townes Van Zandt died before that album was ever recorded. Being a major Townes fan Christian told me that he would love to record an album like that…………an album that would sound like Townes being recorded by Steve Shelley. He never mentioned this again but when I received this new album I started thinking. Was this what he had in mind? I asked him and he answered………..”I have no idea what you’re talking about. Did I really say that?”. No matter what………..I listen to this album with that story in mind and songs like “Two Souls”, “While Our Birches” and “No Heaven” makes me believe that I am right.
The band besides Christian:
Andreas Ejnarsson on bass and Per Nordmark on drums. A few friends dropped by: Karla-Therese Kjellvander on vocals, Tias Carlson on guitar, Daniel Frank on vocals and guitar, Dan Englund played a little pedal steel and Goran Kajfes played some cornet and trumpet.
The album was recorded on 24-track tape in an old mission hall out in the middle of nowhere in southern Sweden. Andreas Ejnarsson recorded. Christian Kjellvander produced.
Pelle Gunnerfeldt mixed at Studio Gröndal. Bjorn Engelman mastered at the Cutting Room.
Tracks:
1. Poppies and peonis
2. When the mourning comes
3. Somewhere else
4. Two souls
5. Big black sky
6. Son of the coast
7. While the birches weep
8. The road
9. No Heaven
10. Need to worry
This is as good as it gets people. I hope you like it!