Groove 040829
ENGLISH TRANSLATION THOMAS DENVER JONSSON First in line EP (Kite) CD-EP
(7/7)
PERFECTION
Thomas Denver Jonsson was brought a lot of attention with his debut
album "Hope to Her" (2003) when he proved he was one of Europe's best
songwriters. Now he's back with an EP full of goodies that's going to
keep us company while we waits for his next album. This EP is more
or less a perfect release, we got 18 minutes music served, without a
weak moment. We got some new songs, some old one and a fenomenal live
cut that alone would be worth the price. Denver is maybe not starting
a musical revolution but he does what de does in a such honest and well-
meaning way that very few are able to. Like on Hope to Her Thomas dresses
his songs in a half acoustic, timeless country-suit. Neil Young's Harvest
or Dylan's John Wesley Harding are good references to how his music sounds
like.
The title track First in line are featured in two versions the first one
is taken from the album and the second is recorded live together with Rosie
Thomas and Damien Jurado. The live version is transformed from a stumbling
country rocker to a tender and beautiful piano ballad. Rosie plays the piano
and sings and Damien plays the harmonica. Denver's and Rosie's voices are matching
perfectly together, and there's such a harmony here and it's something of the
most beautiful I have ever heard! "I love you Rosie", Thomas says before they
starts to play and I have to admit I do too.
"It's hard to live and it's hard to die and it's hard to give your heart away and oh,
pretty girl it's hard to steal"
The City and the Outside world is the first new song on the EP and Thomas continues
to prove his talent here. With his tender but secure voice he sings calm and playful
while the piano is playing, the pedal steel is playing soft in the background. Thomas
Denver and The September Sunrise doesn't play country that paint images of
highways, neon lights or lonely places. No, this is music that reminds me of autumn
and fields under a rainwet sky. Percect Autumn melancholy it is.
"Sometimes you have got to rest along the flowers, to know the city and the outside world"
Stranger at Ease is the second new song and I don't if this is an outtake from Hope
to her or a pretaste from the next full length album. However, this is a song that's
really stands out. I must present Denver's pedal steel player Fredrik Wilde a little closer.
His handycraft has a timeless and beautiful quality, I'm sure the recordings hadn't been
the same without him.
Last on the EP is another cut from Hope to her and that's 24 seven, in my opinion some
of the best he's done this far. Jessica Magnusson (keep an eye out for her!) contributes
with harmony vocals and it's so beatiful that you're sitting with goose bumps from top to
bottom. You also notice Denvers songwriting talent here, he writes personal and poetical
lyrics worthy Neil Young!
"Do you realize it rips my heart out, fade to black and fade to home. She sees me with the devil's eyes, but I can't see why".
I dont know how common it is to give an EP the highest rating, but in its format,
First in Line is a perfect release, it only contains songs out of top quality.
I'm sure many will say that this music is too "common", but this is timeless and
honest music where good lyrics and nice melodies are the most important matter, and
you really notice those elements here. To be honest, I can't find anything to complain
about here. This is the perfect way to meet the autumn and a good place to start if you
isn't already known to Thomas Denver Jonsson's music. I'm looking forward to his next
album.
Knut André Dale