God bless Matthew William Kohnle. Kohnle is The Swede. While I'm not sure if the name is a reference to his nationality (or if he is in fact a root vegetable), this project is solely his. With the exception of some bass clarinet by Todd Knapp and some vocals by Mrs. Kohnle, all songs are written, performed, and even recorded by Matthew.
Kicking off with "The First Song on This Record" we get a six-minute slice of acoustic-led balladry. Don't mistake this album for a 'singer/songwriter' vanity project: while Kohnle runs the ship, it's certainly not limited to one genre. We hear Pink Floyd synths, elegant keys, and laid back vocals that know just when to drop out and let the music take over. It's a nice balance.
Indeed, part of the appeal of And the Swede is the use of silence. Long pauses between the opening chords of "They Hate This Where I'm From" give it depth and sustain that make the eventual transition into a free-jazz jamfest all the more rewarding, discordant brass section and all. As Kohnle notes on his website, much of the recording was just done with a relaxed vibe where the listener can feel the "recorded at 3am in slippers" vibe, and this is certainly true. While this record is unlikely to make you jump out of your seat and dance without a care in your living room, it's perfect for those contemplative late nights, perhaps driving around deserted roads, or wandering the city at night with your headphones.
That said, it's not background music. "F U My Friends" adds a Bright Eyes-esque country saloon feel. With a chorus of "fuck you, my friends," this one perhaps breaks the mould of something you could play to your family. Despite the message, it's a melancholy and haunting track with some nice backing vocals from Andrea Kohnle. "Birds Around Yr. Head" has an Iron and Wine feel to it, but without feeling derivative.
Closer "The Last Song on This Record" (see what he did there?) has a crashy, almost epic outro bemoaning the "middle-aged wasteland / in a middle-aged waistband." It's evocative and beautiful with a melodic woodwind sound lilting through the synths and drums.
The Swede's blend of folksy Americana mixed with alt.country acoustic wanderings give the record a variety of sounds and a demonstration of the talent behind the buttons. Production is good, with restraint shown in the nine songs present here. When considered in its self-produced context, And the Swede becomes even more impressive an achievement. A meandering, personal and varied look into the world of someone else, this is definitely worth a listen.
See also
Ester Drang, Bright Eyes, Iron And Wine, Sufjan Stevens
