He had gratified us with a very beautiful album in April 2020 with 'Homebound' and 'Kristoffer Gildenlöw' continues his way with a new studio recording, 'Let Me Be a Ghost', released in early September 2021 in which we find all the emotional strength that we already knew from the Dutchman who once again offers us compositions to be savoured quietly by embarking on an intense musical journey.
The eponymous song, which is composed of 3 parts, begins the album in a refined atmosphere, with a slight crescendo that falls to rise again in final taking, then, 'The Wind' is a beautiful melancholic ballad that gradually grows with a beautiful piano accompaniment and a beautiful duet of Kristoffer with his daughter Ronja. In the same gentle manner, 'Blame It All on Me' unfolds an endearing melody in a three-beat waltz tempo over which Kristoffer lays down a deep voice with intense emotional power, then, 'Falling, Floating, Sinking' (see video above) continues with a sparse first part that brings out poignant vocals and has a powerful finale in the same slow, oppressive tempo and, as for 'Fleeting Thought' (see video here) which follows, it gives a strange feeling of floating in the air in a nonchalant atmosphere with a beautiful 'Gilmourian' guitar solo. With 'Fade Away', the journey continues with a ballad whose beautiful melody in the form of a refrain never leaves you, then, 'Don't' is a soft acoustic piano/vocal that takes us to Spain with a beautiful final crescendo. Next is 'Lean on Me', still very spare, a vocally strong song with 'Erna auf der Haar' forming a beautiful duet with Kristoffer and the second half of 'Let Me Be a Ghost', entirely instrumental, is a remarkable composition combining light piano with a heavy atmospheric mood. We then embark on the lullaby 'Still Enough' which, accompanied by a music box, lulls us calmly to the sound of a moving melody in the atmosphere of a merry-go-round that spins indefinitely and in which we feel warm and cozy. Where I Ought to Be', after another serene and restful introduction, then offers a lighter face with a crescendo in a western atmosphere, then, the third part of the title track is cut in three with a very quiet first section, a second crescendo rising for an intense minute and a finale returning to the softness of the beginning. And it is again with a remarkable stripped back song, 'Look at Me Now' that the album ends, much as 'Roger Waters' did with 'Ouside The Wall' in the finale of 'The Wall'.
In short, it's still a very emotional album that 'Kristoffer Gildenlöw' offers us with 'Let Me Be a Ghost', which takes us on a very beautiful and intense journey that can be savoured quietly with headphones on and from which we come out completely relaxed, having completely forgotten all our daily problems... | |
