Lisa Ekdahl
En Samling Sånger

THE REVIEW

Lisa Ekdahl is Swedish, she is an excellent jazz musician and has a beautiful voice, as clearly stated by the various CDs she has produced, for example, with Peter Nordahl's trio.

However, Ekdahl is also a great interpreter of songs from her homeland, which she showcases in this album that I consider her pièce de résistance. It is not a folk album in the sense of that humble art that spans the entire planet, nor is it the folk songs of Jarbarek, they are very well-sung and highly catchy Swedish songs.

The album is from 2003, and I recommend listening to "Vem Vet," it is one of those tracks one cannot do without for a while, which becomes a daily necessity until time decides you are saturated, or another sound replaces the previous one. It is simply a very well-executed ballad with an incomprehensible text; starting from the title, I have absolutely no idea what it's about, but it is also true that this increases the allure of the meaning that can vary depending on one's mood. Similar but less beautiful is "Benen I Kors," another track that makes its way among the neurons of the listener, as does "Öppna Upp Ditt Fönster."
Class never falters, the arrangements are all extremely elegant and unplugged, no electronics, of course, lots of acoustic guitar, and just enough brass. "Skäl Att Vara Motvalls" could easily be on a samba album if not for the title, while "Två Lyckliga Dårar" is done solely with backing vocals and harmonica.

A subtle melancholic vein runs through the entire CD, yet it does not depress; rather, it uplifts, caressing, the spirit.