{"id":8117,"date":"2021-08-18T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/?p=8117"},"modified":"2021-09-16T21:07:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T19:07:04","slug":"kristoffer-gildenlow-let-me-be-a-ghost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/cd-recensie\/kristoffer-gildenlow-let-me-be-a-ghost\/","title":{"rendered":"Kristoffer Gildenl\u00f6w – Let Me Be A Ghost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Singer\/multi-instrumentalist Kristoffer Gildenl\u00f6w is Kayak’s bass player, but we know him from his days with Pain of Salvation. He is a much in demand session bassist, both live and in the studio, his name is listed on more than 50 albums. Kristoffer has released three successful soloalbums. His newest, darkest album is called ‘Let Me Be A Ghost’, and will be released on 3 September. With his own way of singing, he talks about giving up or carrying on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Let Me Be A Ghost pt. I’ has a very soft, mysterious start. Kristoffer sings in his own low, slow way. His deep, soft singing suits the minimalist music. The music gets even more faint, with some very soft whispering. Slowly, the music becomes stronger and then slowly dies away. Then one more word from Kristoffer, after which this captivating opening track ends.
The sound of the keys is high and light in ‘The Wind’. This is a duet with Ronja Gildenl\u00f6w, the voices form a beautiful blend. The turn to drums and guitar, among others, is surprising, yet the impact of this sensitive track is preserved. Soon, this flows back to a subdued instrumental piece, which fades out beautifully. The acoustic guitar forms a beautiful combination with the bass in ‘Blame It All On Me’. You can clearly hear the influences of Leonard Cohen in this melancholic track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The small played intro of ‘Falling, Floating, Sinking’ immediately gets under my skin.
Kristoffer’s vocals are sombre and slow, the stacked vocals are only there from time to time, but it increases the intensity. There are nuances in the volume, but the whole remains appropriately slow. The details of the keys are minimal but complement each other nicely, and suddenly there is more pace and volume. The sound is a bit dull, but that fits in with the whole. The repetitions in the rhythm slow down step by step, then there is a beautiful, slow fade out. The whole is subdued and emotional, yet every song is different. In ‘Don’t’, for example, you can hear Spanish influences, not only through the guitar playing, but also through the rhythm of the clapping. ‘Lean On Me’ has few ‘ingredients’ but the mixture is very tasteful, that goes for the pinch of rocking guitar play too. \u2018Let Me Be A Ghost pt. II’ has a mysterious mix of sombre and lighter sounds. At times, this beautiful instrumental track feels surreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vocals and\/or music often touch me, the words Kristoffer sings in ‘Still Enough’ are definitely among them. At some points, the music in ‘Let Me Be A Ghost pt. III’ is extremely soft, it’s a pity that there are some small, creaking sounds to be heard. The sound in the lightly rocking piece is a bit grubby at times, one will appreciate that, the other might find it a shame. The end is beautifully sung and fragile. Not everything in ‘Look At Me Now’ is easy to understand, but the emotion is \u2018touchable\u2019. So little music, so few words and yet Kristoffer knows how to convey emotion like no other, even in this last song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristoffer has the ultimate mastery and application of less is more. Even if you don’t understand a word of English, you will still be touched by the emotion in his voice. The combination with the soundscapes and the (mostly) minimalist music is brilliant.
With ‘Let Me Be A Ghost’, you can cringe into your own world with headphones on. But it is also nice to listen to this album through the speakers, with the volume turned up quite a bit. Whatever you choose, choose a moment for yourself to be alone with the music.

(84\/100) (New Joke Music)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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