I have been waiting for a long time to tell you about this wonderful, wonderful album. I received my review-copy of Fredrik‘s new album “Trilogi” a long time ago, but the release was for some reason moved to a later date, and my post had to be moved too. Now, finally, the release date is soon here. I saw the digital version of the album on emusic yesterday, but if you want the cd, you will probably have to wait until the release date on January 26.
When I first heard this album, I was completely struck by it’s beauty and complexity, – and I was just sitting there listening and listening and listening. This is still the way I listen to this album. It’s that good. I am tempted to use words like “masterpiece”, “timeless” and “a classic”.
So who is Fredrik and what is Trilogi? Some of our readers probably know a Swedish band called The Lovekevins, – a band who later changed their name into The LK, and who participated on our “Summer’s here” compilation… It’s basically the same band, but also very, very different. Both bands have Fredrik Hultin and Lindefelt as their core members, but I have a feeling that The LK was Lindefelt’s main project and Fredrik is …eh, well, – Fredrik’s project. (I’ve seen somewhere that Fredrik has 6 members, but in the recent biographies I have seen, only Fredrik and Lindefelt are listed as members of the band).
- Why is it called “Trilogi”? It’s in fact put together by 3 parts and was originally released as 3 very limited 3″ cd ep’s:
“HOLM” is the first section’s 4 songs, “AVA” is the mid-section with 4 songs and “NER” is the last 5 songs.
While The LK has a quite electronic pop-sound with acoustic elements, Fredrik’s sound is acoustic with electronic elements. The songs have a variety of instruments, – strings, horns, guitars, piano, bells, music boxes, humming, howling and quite subtle electronics, – and it gives me a feeling of a folk-album instead of an electronic album. On top of this is Fredrik Hultin’s smooth and soothing vocals, and a lot of beauty.
“Trilogi” is not an easy album, – it demands the listeners attention, – but it doesn’t feel complex or difficult. It’s very melodic and full of warm harmonies, but there’s so much to discover here, and to get the most out of the album, you just HAVE to listen. The lyrics are in English, but most of the titles are Swedish.
Trilogi is Fredrik’s second album. Their first one, NaNaNi, is in many ways the link between The LK and Trilogi, carrying elements of both. My recommendation: Get everything Fredrik and Lindefelt has ever put their hands into.
One of Fredrik’s friends run a netlabel called HEARTPHONE, and they have released a free single there, with “Holm” from Trilogi and an exclusive instrumental track called “Maran”. You can download it for free here:
http://heartphone.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/hrtph006-fredrik-holm-single/
The Trilogi-album will be released on CD by The Kora Records January 26th 2010 and on double-vinyl by the swedish Biograf label. Both versions come on charcoal cardboard with corbeau greens and matte silver highlights. The vinyl release also features a DRM-free digital download of the album as well as the exclusive, hidden EP Post.
Here’s a video from Trilogi, the beautiful first track, “Vinterbarn”, which means “winter child”.
Fredrik – Vinterbarn from The Kora Records on Vimeo.
