It's not that I'm a fan of most Swedish artists because they take on American genres I find favor with, but more so how they approach them. I feel that sometimes for such a decidedly American creation as folk and its long association as being music for the thinking man, there is more pressure as an American to create something that lives up to the sound of its predecessors and that sentiment can be all too obvious to the listener at times. That feeling doesn't come across when listening to Sofia Talvik's latest album, The Owls Are Not What They Seem. There is an effortless emphasis on melody that is influenced by the past, but never indebted to it. On "Everybody's Favorite Concubine," Talvik delicately glides along in a sparse setting that throws a few nods to the 60s and is relaxed in the way in it conveys emotion. Once the background vocals softly come in, everything's extra creamy.
"Everyone's Favorite Concubine"
Sofia will be on my show, Noteworthy, on UIC Radio this evening at 5:30 CST to talk about her latest album and the upcoming shows she has in the Chicago area:
Jul. 23: Elbo Room
Jul. 26: Swedish American Museum
Jul. 27: Cornucopia Coffee Company (Valparaiso, IN)
Jul. 28: Uncommon Ground on Devon
Click here to buy The Owls Are Not What They Seem.
