From the opening notes of “Arvet,” Sweden’s Sunnan transport you somewhere mystical. Somewhere ancient. This instrumental intro to their latest album Spaghetti Soul has such a gorgeous atmosphere to it, you’ll feel like you’re beginning a journey somewhere far, far away from the life you know. And what follow through the album is a meeting of worlds and eras that collide in fantastic fashion.
The gentle, elegiac vocals on “Longing to Miss You” transport you to an English countryside, conjuring images of a 70’s folk singer strumming an acoustic guitar next to a flowing pond. Yet while immersed in this greenery, a dusty, Western wind blows out of a Sergio Leon film, as an Ennio Morricone whistling drifts through. This builds and builds, incorporating orchestral flourishes, with an emotional ending, as the singer repeats “I’m longing to miss you” with increasing yearning.
From baroque folk, the album shifts into indie psychedelia on “Illuminous.” With vocals akin to a stoned Eddie Vedder, the track balances moody haze with atonal counter-melodies that call to mind Radiohead. While not as gorgeous as the previous song, the song acts almost as an emotional palette cleanser, before shifting gears back into bluesy folk rock on the feel-good jam “Blue.” Filled with jangly guitars and spacious harmonies, the song lifts you up with lyrics like “Taking my time with my heart and my soul.” The track superbly evolves, with a descending bass line bringing in a classic rock groove, before balancing out with a dimming and haunting outro.
Sunnan are at their most engaging with “Sail,” a mix of classic soul and 60’s Stones guitar rhythms. Lyrically and vocally, the song feels like a lost nugget from Britrock’s golden era, as faded-out vocals pay tribute to “Love’s lady in waiting” who is a “heartbreaker at heart.” The production perfectly captures that era, while also making it feel like something that could play along side modern groups like Fleet Foxes on a playlist.
The band’s influences all fuse together seamlessly. Whether they’re drawing on Neil Young-style folk rock (“Take Me Back”) or haunting lounge singers (“Echoes in Time”), the band’s songcraft sounds pristinely organic. Their knack for harmonizing and intricate rhythms make the songs inviting to mainstream listeners, while still including poetic touches (I loved the lyric “I need you to be honest in the hour before the dawn” on “I Need You”). And the album closes with a lovely, sparse instrumental, acting as a perfect bookend.
This albums feels like a sleeper hit; one that’s going to gain an audience outside of Sweden through word of mouth and growing buzz if they make it to the states to play (which I hope they do). This is definitely one to dive into this fall, as the weather cools down and the buzz of summer dies down. Spaghetti Soul will provide the mental escape you need.
The album is out everywhere on Friday, October 9th. Listen to the pre-released tracks here.
