The Almighty Oracle

Emil Svanängen is the mastermind behind Loney Dear. Dear John is his fifth album, still recorded all on his own at home.

Airport Surroundings opens up on a good rhythm and is backed-up by Everything Turns To You and their shared feeling of urgency. The rest of the album flows as a juxtaposition of styles (pop, folk, electro…) and sounds from the 80s that happen to work together to build the Loney Dear typical atmosphere. There’s a certain melancholy, a feeling of loss and abandonment haunting the eleven songs as if they were trying to take some weight off the listeners shoulders.

This isn’t exactly a cheerful album but its first person phrasing about some vague you’s make it very personal but incredibly universal at the same time. The lalala choruses, wonderful melodies and overlaying instrumentalisation make it easy to listen to. And despite some other big releases this month, Dear John is my album of the month without any hesitation.

Tracklist :

1. Airport Surroundings

mel :: Jan.25.2009 :: CD Review, Dear John, Emil Svanängen, Loney Dear :: No Comments »

Today’s been a rough day but there’s always a positive side to everything, right? Right. And for me it was the fact that Pitchfork have a new Loney Dear song off the new album streaming.

Airport Surroundings is a typical Loney Dear song, except a little more upbeat than usually. The soft percussions, the bass, the different layers of keys topped with Emil Svanängen’s sweet voice harmonizing with itself. When you know this is the work of just one man, it’s simply amazing. (the band only comes in for live performances)

I remember my first encounter with Loney, Dear (yes, there was a comma, originally)  as they were opening for Vic Chesnutt who was also opening for Andrew Bird back in November 2007 (time flies!). They took the stage while there were a total of 4 people in the venue, Emil decided he didn’t need the microphone for the first song and that was a priviledged moment and a nice way to make a connection with everyone. The set was quite short but a very memorable one (Ignorant Boy, Beautiful Girl was mesmerizing!). At the end of the night, I gave Emil a thumb up (which got me a free button), bought all of the Loney, Dear available albums and had a pleasant chat. I promised him that I wouldn’t miss a chance to see him and the band live whenever they come back around. I just noticed they’re actually playing 3 hours away from here next week when I have some time off but I can’t just drive off to Cologne (or anywhere) spontaneously all the time. But I hate breaking promises.

Visit Loney Dear on myspace.

mel :: Nov.07.2008 :: Airport Surroundings, Dear John, Loney Dear, Song of the Day :: No Comments »