Sambassadeur
European

Can't stand the yellowing of the leaves on the trees as a prelude to colds, rows of scarves wrapped around your neck, your breath forming small clouds of mist, the succession of consumerism-driven holidays? Just dive into the third album by the Swedes Sambassadeur to turn the calendar to April. Pure, straightforward pop, magically simple, will lift you to the sky light as swallows if you have the courage to embrace it.

How can you not awaken from hibernation to the sound of the vibrant violins in “Days”, impossible to avoid swaying to the bass-piano duo in “Stranded”. It’s only a taste, “I Can Try” is the spring of the soul, “Forward is All” merges elegance with nostalgia while the subsequent enchanting “Albatross” teaches young swallows to reach the clouds. “High and Low” and “A Remote View” are textbook acoustic pieces, pure and intense. With “Sandy Dunes”, the arboreal buds fully blossom and violins triumph once again, while the final “Small Parade” delivers the coup de grâce, showing us how to create great music from a handful of chords. Anna Persson's detached voice, never intrusive, as if she is lulling you with a fairy tale, the rhythmic foundation ever-present and pulsating, the orchestra emerging shyly without ever invading at the right moments all further enrich the joyful landscapes of this album.

The Sambassadeur have made a remarkable leap in quality, and as suggested by the magnificent cover, they have set sail for unspoiled pop territories, happy islands where time loses importance and one savors the taste of seawater mixed with that of illusions.