After breaking a leg at 13, Jesper Lindell from Ludvika in Sweden decided to give up his passion for soccer to focus on music.
In a stop start career he has fronted a handful of rock bands one of which was revealingly named ‘King Harvest’ after the song by The Band. This musical connection was also confirmed when Amy Helm. the daughter of Levon Helm, sang on the title track of his 2022 album, ‘Twilights’ a cover of a Band song.
On this, Lindell’s third album, the classic Americana influence remains very strong and there’s no trace of a Swedish accent.
On this showing the Celtic soul of Van Morrison and easy listening croon of Marc Cohn are also probable inspirations.
Horn arrangements plus prominent organ and piano parts mean that this is anything but a stripped down solo work. A Strange Goodbye features a duet wth Kassi Valazza.
There’s an old school flavour that will please lovers of traditional blues/soul orientated rock but the slickness is both a strength and weakness.
Stylistically it is impressive but the gloss also means that it lacks any individual character or emotional weight.
