Night Falls Over Kortedala (CD - 2007)

Personnel: El Perro del Mar, Magnus Carlsson, Michael Leonhart (vocals); Clare Canzoneri (harp); Elsa Wikstrom (violin); Ida Rosen (viola); Kristin Lidell (accordion, trumpet); Frida Thurfjell (saxophone); Kristin Lidell (trumpet); Karim Krantz (trombone); Tammy Karlsson (drums, bongos); Frida Hyvönen, Ulrika Mild, Emma Bates (vocals); Ellen Hjalmarsson (violin, strings); Mikaela Robsahm (cello); Björn Almgren (saxophone); Stefan Sporsén (brass); Lars Erik Grimelund (drums, kettle drum); Markus Görsch (drums); Ben Swanson (hand claps); Viktor Sjoberg.

Audio Mixers: Mattias Glavå; Johan Forsman.

Recording information: Candyland Studios, New York, NY; Kortedala Beauty Center; Monsterstudion.

In addition to being one of the best albums of 2005, the Secretly Canadian compilation OH YOU'RE SO SILENT JENS proved Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman to be an artist of unusual talent, wit, poignancy, and charm. Those qualities continue to flourish on Lekman's 2007's studio effort NIGHT FALLS OVER KORTEDALA.

NIGHT FALLS is less lo-fi than the artist's previous work; in fact, the production is downright lush, featuring full-bodied arrangements that drip pop sunshine a la Burt Bacharach. But the central focus is Lekman's songs, which are as quaint, moving, pitch-perfect, and beautifully crafted as anything he's done. minimize