The comparisons to Bob Dylan have been plentiful throughout his career, but Kristian Matsson has always been more than just a voice, a guitar and a cheap facsimile.
The Swedish songwriter’s fourth album may not revolutionise his sound, but there is much to admire, nevertheless.
His acoustic ballads are good, but Matsson is at his best when sidestepping folk tradition and drawing on a bigger, fuller sound, as heard on the jittery Americana of Slow Dance, the bright-eyed, upbeat shuffle of Sagres and the rich strum of Darkness of the Dream.
A feeling of dolefulness is prominent on his lyric sheet, but with songs like the unpredictable and uplifting Timothy in his canon, there is no time to dwell on sadness.
