Lonely Dear: Hall Music

Loney, Dear
Hall Music
Sub PoP

Loney, Dear’s Emil Svanängen is an orchestral composer of phenomenal talent. With a voice that breaks your heart before you understand what he’s saying, these songs begin with a simple guitar or voice before swelling precipitously into sweet, crashing melodies that are effervescent and heartfelt. Blooming like time lapse photography, slowly unfolding with rich detail as bright glimmering notes merge with shadowy textures, Emil places each fragment of sound upon another, using eclectic instrumentation and a palette of harmonized vocal effects (à la Jónsi) that highlight and balance all the discrete symphonic elements. Beginning with the aching “Name” that swirls into being with fluttering glossy bells, wordless vocalizations that evoke Sigur Ros and Emil’s plea of “I want your name next to mine,” the sound is quintessentially Scandinavian. The uplifting lyrics and comforting tone of “Calm Down” feature a more upbeat tone with its culminating vibraphone solo, which is a smooth and happy change of pace after the heartbreaking confessional of “My Heart.” Though his voice is reedy and soothing, the lyrics cut and sear with rejection and rage, feeling the palpable hurt of relationships past as explored in “Young Heart.” An album highlight is the snare-driven and wistful “Largo,” with its spacey organ and lonely vocalizations regretfully muttering “It had to be you.” If you like your indie Baroqe and your pop orchestral, buy this album when it drops October 4th. Fans of Andrew Bird or Belle and Sebastian will appreciate.
Evelyn Wallace

Tags: Emil, hall music, lonely dear, Sigur Ros, sub pop