Rating: NNN
Using little more than a guitar, his voice and a handful of abstract, image-rich lyrics, Swedish troubadour Kristian Matsson (aka the Tallest Man on Earth) doesn’t lean on the thrill of the new. Instead, he stays rooted in a folk tradition that stretches back decades and continents. Any flashy moments that arise in his music usually come when his gritty, road-weary voice erupts into triumphant, expressive glory, particularly breathtaking during his live shows.
His third album is likely to disappoint fans and critics listening for those big, emotional climaxes, but Matsson’s career has been defined by his ability to find new ways to paint with a limited palette. The normally multi-tracking-averse solo performer does, however, add touches of electric guitar, pedal steel and warm organ behind his trademark fingerpicked guitar. It’s not much, but it’s enough.
Top track: 1904
