Jens Lekman Night Falls Over Kortedala www.jenslekman.com Review: Malcolm Phillipps Released: 09/10/07

Who the hell is Jens Lekman?

You could be forgiven for looking a little blank in response to that question. So let me give you some quick facts for use as party conversation starters;

• Jens Lekman is a Swedish indie pop star, whose debut album made it to #6 in the Swedish charts
• He has a flair for the orchestral, with a definite ‘more is more’ philosophy
• He has played double bills with Sweden’s other favourite son, Jose Gonzalez
• He has just released his second album, Night Falls Over Kortedala

OK, now you are all caught up...

And so the album... I must admit, the first time I heard Jens Lekman I was confused. I thought I had stumbled upon some sort of schmaltzy lounge singer with a sense of humour – but gradually the album’s twelve tracks began to win me over.

The guy has a sense of humour that is dry as a desert. You need only listen to the breezy pop of ‘A Postcard to Nina’ to understand that. On this track Lekman describes in infinite detail the time he had to help out a friend, by fooling her father into thinking he was her boyfriend (she’s a lesbian). The story is so ridiculous, you can’t help but laugh.

The stand-out track for me though is ‘The Opposite of Hallelujah’. Its' jaunty tune, baritone vocals and string arrangements are classic Lekman – all you need to know about the artist is contained in this one track. Download it, give it a try and if you like it... there’s plenty more where that came from.


Essential Tracks
The Opposite of Hallelujah
A Postcard to Nina
I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You

Full Track Listing
1. And I Remember Every Kiss (2:59)
2. Sipping On the Sweet Water (4:12)
3. The Opposite of Hallelujah (4:22)
4. A Postcard to Nina (5:01)
5. Into Eternity (3:45)
6. I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You (3:48)
7. If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This) (3:24)
8. Your Arms Around Me (5:03)
9. Shirin (3:57)
10. It Was a Strange Time In My Life (5:09)
11. Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig (4:44)
12. Friday Night At the Drive-In Bingo (4:16)