The Tallest Man on Earth dusted off his folk to create a work, Henry St.which stands out from his previous fabulous albums and makes him shine.
It may not be the best album among the six that Swedish Kristian Matsson has offered us since Shallow Grave in 2008. But almost. If we disregard the nostalgic attachment that the artist’s admirers (like us) might have for his first projects, it is clear that Henry St. is a welcome development in the journey of The Tallest Man on Earth, which returns to us after four years (if you don’t count a cover album, in 2022).
Something has changed: we’ve given much more body to the folk sounds on this new record. For the first time, Matsson surrounded himself with a group of musicians. An example : In Your Garden Stillwhich, in all that it is, has a lot of potential to hook listeners, but also that of surprising (positively) regulars of The Tallest Man.
Other things have remained the same: the pen of Matsson, a fabulous storyteller, leads us into captivating epics. The melodies are wonderful. Some pieces have this refined side that we love about the artist. They coexist well with those who have had the right to a varnish that distances them from alternative music, makes them more accessible – the music of The Tallest Man on Earth is not usually difficult to approach, but stays away from popular standards .
Rooms Slowly Rivers Turnwith the perfect chorus, Good-bye, tinged with blues, as well as the title track, where the piano is enchanting, are among our favorites. They perfectly depict the extent of what Kristian Matsson can achieve, musically and in terms of his superb lyrics as well.
The Tallest Man on Earth is still and always one of the most talented folk artists of his generation, Henry St. is another proof. Maybe one day we will stop comparing him to Bob Dylan. This work is a step in that direction. The vocal style is still similar to that of his idol, we still hear this folk tradition that Matsson carried until our era. But The Tallest Man on Earth has long been an artist in his own right, whom we like to see evolve.
folklore
Henry St.
The Tallest Man on Earth
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