Written by Emilio Gimenez Bahl from Argentina:
Besides Per Gessle undoubtedly Christoffer Lundquist is my favorite artist from Sweden. I started to know more about him from the latter days of Brainpool when he assumed a more active role in the band from Lund. Actually “Junk a Rock Opera” became my favorite and the best album they made, ever.
One day, wasting some precious time on the iTunes Store, I got a beauty surprise – “A Christoffer Lundquist EP“. There were only four songs, so I asked myself why not to give it a try? The album was released under the extinct Junk Music AB in 2005 an it’s called “Major & Minor Songs EP”. Let’s see.
The opening track is “Happy new year”. Maybe the song matches the most the Brainpool sound but until 1:40 when you start to listen a very familiar sound – Christoffer’s guitar. Then you start to listen to synths like in “Mazarin” and beautiful guitar sounds as in the outro of “Late, later on”.
The first impression was strange, because the EP doesn’t have the sound I was expecting to listen, I mean… like “God bless free Radio” or “Designer dreams” from Brainpool and “Happy new year” has the sound and atmosphere of … “Son of a Plumber”, yes! Sort of acoustic and organic music with a very 70s sound.
“I would fain fly” has to most “up to date” sound of the EP. It’s an amazing story of love with all the tips that I used to enjoy in a good pop song. Simple lyrics, harmonical vocals and a sweet guitar melody – when you have this music’s algorithm, you have a hit. And “I would fain fly” is it!
The track #3 “Let’s Talk” follows the same plot, an extraordinary acoustic and simple pop love song “…so let’s talk you and I till the wondering sky kiss the night goodbye…” Sometimes it reminds me the voice of Peter Hammill, when he sings “Refugees”.
The ending track is “Take out for one”, a sweet American ballad like “Since I don’t have you”, with Christoffer singing in a higher tone and with a very 50’s piano rhythm.
I really enjoyed this EP and “I would fain fly” in particular. Christoffer has finished to record his first full length solo album right now and as he said “it is ready and waiting to be released”. So I do hope to see it on the shelves very soon.
You can listen the EP here: Christoffer Lundquist – Major & Minor Songs >
Spotify (album:0IRoJNaY655DcuCK1Zf2Lm) or buy it here iTunes
In a newsletter sent yesterday the German NOTP organization announced that a music channel called Deluxe Music will broadcast NOTP during autumn and winter. Starting in November, Deluxe Music presents the Nokia Night of the Proms 2006-2008. On December 20th and 27th Deluxe Music continues the special with shows called “best of early years”.