Artist : Kristoffer Gildenlöw

Album : Homebound

Release Date : 18-04-2020

Added : 15-06-2020

'Kristoffer Gildenlöw' is the former bassist of the progressive metal band 'Pain Of Salvation' (see their latest album 'In The Passing Light Of Day') and he also participates in the ‘Kayak’ project of which he is the bass player (last opus 'Live 2019' released recently and 'Seventeen' released in 2018) and which already has 2 solo studio recordings to his credit with the magnificent 'The Rain' in 2016 whose theme was Alzheimer's disease. His last baby 'Homebound' is completely acoustic and brings us back to the 80s and can remind some singers of the time like 'Cat Stevens' but also he has this charisma at the vocal and instrumental level which can make think of the atmospheres of the last 'Roger Waters'.

9 songs for a relatively short duration of 35 minutes, it is the menu of 'Homebound' which after the instrumental introduction 'Eternal' which plants a rather dark decor with the Cello of 'Maaike Peterse', starts with a remarkable 'Holy Ground' which highlights Kristoffer's vocal talent with a striking alternation between tension and relaxation, then, 'Like Father Like Son' is much lighter and it is in this kind of compositions and the calm parts that the parallel with 'Cat Stevens' is most blatant. The following continues in this voluptuous atmosphere with 'Infected' and its rhythm section leading the dance, then, 'Snow' takes us on a small cloud with vaporous keyboards and an admirable vocal performance by Kristoffer while restrained and who fills all space in the intense parts, and 'Our Home' comes back to a more playful title which can make one think of 'BJH' and with very beautiful choirs. With 'I Cried Today', with its lighter melody, the vocal arrangements are simply sublime, then the cover of 'Leonard Cohen', 'Chelsea Hotel # 2' is masterful and it is in this title that I find that 'Kristoffer Gildenlöw' approaches the ambiances of 'Roger Waters', and it is with 'You Need Not Stay (Away)' with his melancholic accompaniment on the piano that the album ends with a last sublime singing by Kristoffer.

In summary, as you will have understood, 'Kristoffer Gildenlöw' is releasing a masterful album and in large part due to its vocal performances which takes you into his universe that is always on the knife's edge and if you like atmospheres with constantly this feeling of swaying between tension and relaxation, 'Homebound' is undoubtedly made for you...

Line Up / Musicians

Kristoffer Gildenlöw (Vocal, Bass) + Guests : Dirk Bruinenberg (Drums), Jeroen Molenaar (Drums), Fredrik Hermansson (Piano), Marcel Singor (Guitar), Paul Coenradie (Guitar), Jan Willem Ketelaers (Choirs), Erna auf der Haar (Choirs), Maaike Peterse (Cello), Ola Sjönnerby (Cuivre)