Peter Dolving - Thieves and Liars (2012)

Swedish composer and musician Peter DOLVING is probably best known as a member of Swedish band The Haunted, where he provided lead vocals for a brief period when they started out, and then returned in 2003 for a nine year long haul in the same capacity. A relationship that came to an end in  2012. "Thieves and Liars" is Dolving's first solo album following his break with his former band, and was initially self released in the fall of 2012, with an official release through Deadlight Entertainment following in January 2013.

On the 11 tracks that makes up this disc Dolving will leave the majority of his listeners more than a bit mystified, as this isn't a production that sports to many details binding everything together. An overall closed in sound due to mix and production is perhaps the strongest identity detail at hand, with Dolving's often partially spoken lead vocals another details that to some extent can be described as uniform throughout. Apart from that this CD is the musical equivalent of an improvised stew, a lot of bits and pieces of more or less dubious origins cooked together, served on a plate while the chef hopes that the various ingredients in  the gravy actually works in combination.

By and large my opinion is that the end result is worthwhile on this occasion. There are plenty of subtly twisted effects throughout, details from psychedelic rock and post rock are applied with the same ease as indie rock and alternative meta. Occasional post metal tendencies pop up on regular occasion too, and there's even a nod or two in the direction of krautrock and punk. With lead vocals delivered in a manner one might suspect a hypothetical child of Alice Cooper and Tom Waits may have developed, possibly while having a joint hangover and anxiety attack.

The important detail that makes this all tick rather than assembling into a chaotic mess is the solid rhythms foundation everything else is applied on top of. Compelling bass lines, more often than not of the heavy variety, and the quirky and at times fairly intricate drum patterns courtesy of Per Möller Jensen. A solid rhythm department have been the saving for a number of productions in vastly different styles over the years, and Dolving's "Thieves and Liars" is another testimony to just how much this basic feature can elevate individual songs as well as an album as a whole.

Dolving has made himself a fairly challenging creation with this disc, and the myriad of styles explored as well as the twisted details applied throughout results in an album that won't have a broad appeal. But those looking for innovative musical fare and don't mind healthy servings of angst and anger, the latter in particular, might well find this chaotic and mixed journey to be a compelling one.

My rating: 71/100Track list:
1. Meinhof
2. Song For You
3. Hands On
4. One Sweet Moment
5. Ordinary Folk
6. Sunday Mornings
7. Cocksucker Blues
8. My Will To Die
9. No Solicitors
10. So Sick
11. All This Beauty