REVIEWS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On "Songs About Living"
The Cumbersome Compendium #3, Aaron de la south, 2003
"A warm and welcoming introduction is given from this Swedish ensemble
and the welcome is sustained throughout yr entire visit to the homeland...
Truly beautiful, truly ambient approach to a traditional indie sound,
even during the rockier moments, this cd is produced with a nice solid
bottom end that gives body to the soundtrack at all times whilst conveying
the sentiment of being there... composed entirely by Mikael Carlsson,
the release- and apparently the band- has seen a long string of accompanying
players; given the eleven that contributed to the album, I think it's
safe to say that Mikael has a pretty clear idea on the sound he wants
and who he needs to achieve it. One of my favorite lyrics that just squirms
into your skin and demands relaxation, "the rain cuts its way through
and keeps us inside you... blasting in its arm the freeway to france".
I'm not 100% sure the word arm is correct, but I sure as hell hope it
is cause it just works in completely bizarre ways... it's probably a Collingwood
thing... The perfect summer soundtrack from now and until the end of time.
Mikael's
extra-annunciated English adds a touch of magic making me feel like we
really don't enjoy our language enough... and the pangs of jealousy kick
in that most Europeans speak three languages as a birthright, giving them
a cultural maturity that we as English descendents have to work on independently
for many, many years (if at all). This cd works as background music for
pubs to keep warm on a rainy day, or at keeping your full attention, staring
at the music as it leaves the speakers for 46 straight minutes and not
wavering for a second... appealing to the love of ambient Smashing Pumpkins
without the Speilberg-esque need of massive production or the congestion
of Corgan. Just plain sailing from here to eternity."
Benno, #4, Per Weise, 2000
“The musical climate in Sweden appears to be better than in quite
a while. The first outing from Malmö based Grace Recordings is local
one-man band Homeland, consisting of Mikael Carlsson, a talented songwriter
who has recorded his debut album with the help of some of his friends.
“Songs About Living” is an impressive and professional debut
somewhere between Red House Painters and Elliott Smith, a singer/songwriter
equivalent to Trembling Blue Stars. Homeland’s strength clearly
lies in the ability to create warm, beautiful, melancholy and sensitive
songs with an acoustic sensibility, but what makes the album so good is
Mikael’s sensitive singing. The records’ definite highlights
is Love Lies Lost, a soft, caressing acoustic ballad that really seizes
the listener. Homeland’s debut is a very good album, recommendable
to all fans of the singer/songwriter idiom. If you’re ever able
to catch Homeland live, by all means do, because strange as it may sound,
one-man band Homeland sounds even better live than recorded.”
Ett Noll Ett, #32, Nicke Boström, 2000
“An appealing debut from a completely unknown young man by the name
of Mikael Carlsson. He has brought along some good friends, but lyrically
and melodically, Homeland consists of the one and only Mikael. I cant
help it but drop references to foreign bands Low, Palace and Sparklehorse.
An anonymous selfproduced debut cd on an equally anonymous small Swedish
label. Admirable-Gifted-Good.”
Rockin’on, #3, Mariko Sakamoto, 2000
“North Europe are cold countries for sure?
At first this album by Swedish singer/songwriter gave me a little hesitation
to put it into my cd-player because I couldn’t wipe out the impression
that there are only high-powered catchy guitar bands in Sweden, like the
Cardigans, Wannadies and so on. But it changed. My eyes opened fantastically.
Quiet and reflective acoustic sound and so grace ensemble with the band
spin his eternal emotions that reminds me of Smog, Songs:Ohia and other
American bands. The melodies embrace you for sure with a blanket softly
and gently. Must album for this season!” (translated by Yumiko Yokoo)
Edith Frost, Drag City artist
”Really well recorded, lovely songs and harmonies and instrumental
parts.“
----------------------------------------------------------------------