Nicolai Dunger - Tranquil Isolation (Overcoat Recordings, 2003)

Nicolai Dunger
Tranquil Isolation
Overcoat Recordings
2003

Rating: 7 Swedish winters out of 10

The press release for Nicolai Dunger states that "in his early twenties he made the choice between a future as a soccer pro or as a full time musician". Not that this has anything to do with his music or even serves as a witty beginning to the review, I just thought it might be an interesting tidbit of information the reader might like to know. I guess this Swedish folkie picked a good a time as any to try and break into the musical market – given the current "return to rock" and immense popularity of a number of Swedish bands, everything’s coming up roses in the great northern part of Europe. But this ain't garage rock - Dunger’s musical inspiration comes not from the Detroit scene but rather somewhere a bit south of there – Kentucky and the folk music of the Appalachian Mountains to be exact.

Somewhere along the line Dunger made friends with Will Oldham and his posse, and when it came time to record this album he took up residence with this gang of ne’er-do-wells, who occasionally help him out in the production. And the album sounds like it too – it creaks and moans in that timeless fashion like you might expect to hear under one of Oldham’s million monikers (Palace, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, etc). What sets Dunger apart from this crowd is his voice – lots of comparisons to Van Morrison abound when you read reviews, and rightly so; but if you’re looking for something more contemporary to compare him to, he sounds a whole hell of a lot like a less theatrical Rufus Wainright.

This album might be a little long winded in places, but it’s still a good listen. Anyone yearning for that feel of listening to someone who sounds like they’re just sitting on their porch playing to the crickets would do themselves justice to pick this up. And I can’t think of a better way to listen to it – put it on the stereo, aim those speakers out the window, grab a cold beverage, and go relax on the porch and watch the sun set. This is the music for those times.