Jens Lekman is the most honest of the lovesick, ribbed-beanie, 00s singer-songwriters. Bon Iver isn’t far behind, while Damien Rice’s awkward whines are always best ignored. ‘Night Falls Over Kortedala’ is as full of individuality as Sun Kil Moon’s ‘Benji.’ Though sentimentality drips from the music, Lekman used his instrumentation for flourishes, not sulks. The baroque backing could only work with his lyricism – ambitious, but soft. He wallows, too much for some, but few songwriters can wallow with such unusual literary coherence. It’s a chic rom-com with the lyrical posture of Morrissey and the humour of Father John Misty. I’ll stop all the comparisons: Jens’ is a singular voice.
26/30
A favourite: ‘A Postcard to Nina’
This album was taken down from streaming services after Jens Lekman ‘laid it to rest’ last year. If, like us, you still want it in your life, you can find it here.
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