Loney Dear – Hall Music

Rating: ★★★½☆

As the story goes, Emil Svanangen returned to Sweden after his last trip to the US, holing up in the country with various orchestral and chamber groups.  One listen to his new album under the Loney Dear moniker and you’ll see the grand effect the entire venture had on his writing, leading to a record with lush arrangements and careful touches, the like we haven’t quite heard from Emil.

If you’re reading carefully, you can skip beyond album opener, “Name,” as it really is more of a carry-over from early Loney Dear work.  But, “My Heart” gives birth to a fuller sound.  Accompaniment trickles, but as the song continues forward, you can here bits of electronic bass gurgling beneath, waiting to be unleashed.  It never quite jumps out, but the presence in the background adds a greater density to the track, which is much the case for the entirety of Hall Music.

But, with all the attention to detail, would the music really alter that much in the long run?  It’s a simple answer, no.  You see, the highlight of the group has always been Emil’s voice, a very distinct delivery like that of Justin Vernon, where you realize right away you’re listening to a Loney Dear album. “Loney Blues,” for instance, definitely sounds more complete than many of the songs from Dear John.  There’s a general swell in the construction of the song, allowing the melody to sweep you away in a much more powerful manner than in past outings.  Svanangen’s voice truly carries your listen, especially when you come to tracks like “D Major,” which might just be the best song he’s written to date. A gentle guitar opens, serving as ground zero for the whole track, but the vocals have this pitch that just sits perfectly in the foreground of your speakers.  Once the backing vocals join in during the last minute of the track you can’t help but to get emotionally carried away.

Still, the effort put into the craftsmanship on Hall Music shows that Emil’s really reaching to find a larger sound, one that harkens back to his initial return to Sweden.  “Durmoll” uses horns and string accompaniment to create a song that’s both grandiose and simple, but it works.  Or take a listen to “Maria, Is That You,” which appears as more of a spoken word piece set to studio tinkering.  We should all applaud the man for refusing to put out the same record time and time again, moving ahead as his heart desires.

For most of us, we’ll take our melodies and our pop appreciation, enjoying our simple pleasures.  But, it’s clear that Loney Dear won’t willing accept the status quo in pop construction, pushing himself to create songs that go beyond the basics.  You get the feeling that while he’s several albums into his career, Hall Music marks a huge leap forward into the pantheon of great modern songwriters. Congrats Emil.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Loney-Dear-My-Heart.mp3]

Download: Loney Dear – My Heart [MP3]

New Music from Loney Dear

There’s always something special about listening to Loney Dear.  On the last effort, Dear John, I found myself drawn into some really spectacularly quiet songs that fit right into where I was emotionally.  Emil’s voice has this memorable pitch to it, and the construction of the songs has always done wonders to give it the most power.  This new track comes from the group’s upcoming record on Polyvinyl Records, Hall Music.  You can hear the song building slowly in your ear, melodies rising all the while, waiting for Emil to unleash his vocals.  There’s definitely a more orchestrated approach to the record based on what we’ve heard so far, and that’s got me looking forward to see what the rest of Hall Music will sound like.  Give this track a good once or twice over.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Loney-Dear-My-Heart.mp3]

Download: Loney Dear – My Heart

Loney, Dear – Dear John

LD8pgCDBookFrBkCvrRating: ★★★½☆

When you first press play upon your record player, you will immediately be transported to the days of yesteryear, listening to Warren G and Nate Dogg.  Opening track, “Airport Surroundings,” off of Loney, Dear’s newest album, Dear John, is drastically similar to a famed song from years back, but in a more electronic folk presentation.  As the album moves forward, Regulators, mount up!

If you could discard the merry tones of Emil Svanangen when listening to this record, you will find that the pleasant acoustic driven album he created last time out with Loney, Noir, has been largely removed with this effort. Sure, the album is pleasantly coated with layer upon layer of various musical elements, but we found that on the last go round. Here, he has immersed himself, and his band, into a darker spectrum.

Electronic sound patchwork beeps throughout, as string instruments carefully accompany  the melodies the band created.  It all comes across a little denser than the previous effort, which one could  be led to attach a darker quality to this album.  But, the one thing you can’t do is erase the quality and tone of Emil’s voice, which is the driving force behind this group.

Sure, at times, his voice is shrouded in layer upon layer, but on songs such as “I Was Only Going Out” you find yourself presented with the favorable voice of this songwriter.  Like Jason Lytle, there is a deeper tone carried with the vocal, but he still manages to sound extremely humble and personal.  Listening, you want to put all your faith in every word that he shares with you, which is perhaps why this record wins you over.

At times, the various elements that present themselves in each song can be a bit overbearing.  It’s a more complete sound, more so than on the band’s debut, but at times that can be a bit daunting for listeners.  In your search to find some sort of sentiment in the mist of music, you find Emil Svanangen singing to you, almost as if he’s not singing to anyone else at all.  Personable voice is one of those rare qualities, but here it will allow you to go through the entirety of the album, even when finishing a song sings like a Herculean task.  You’ll thank him for it in the end.

You can find Emil and his band opening for Andrew Bird all across our great nation, and set to hit home here in Austin on February 12th at the Paramount Theater.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/03-i-was-only-going-out.mp3]

Download: Loney, Dear – I Was Only Going Out [MP3]