Sometime in 2009 Swedish composer and musician Bobby SANT started his career as a recording artist. An initial spell of disillusion resulting in a number of songs written, and later an album deal with Transubstans Records who released Sant's debut album on their Sakuntala sublabel in 2012. Just one year later Sant returns with his sophomore production "My Dead Town", issued on the same label as his debut album.
Bobby Sant explores a musical tradition that has a long, solid history behind it: One man, one instrument, and lyrics that tends to revolve around the more challenging aspects of life. He states Townes van Zandt as an influence himself, but this sparsely arranged kind of singer/songwriter material can most likely be extended back in time to the likes of Woody Guthrie as well, and probably others before him again. Sant's take on this has more of a foundation in country however, and one might arguably state that his material isn't that far removed from Americana either.
The main instrument on this album is Sant's voice. Gentle acoustic guitar is something of a permanent feature, delicate piano notes almost as important as a supplemental detail mostly but also on a few standalone occasions. A frail, slow mood-based violin detail more of an infrequent but effective feature, as are a supplemental female vocalist. These are merely supplemental details though, as this is an album about the vocals first and foremost.
Sant has a powerful voice. Even when finely controlled it is the dominating factor, and personally I found his material most intriguing when the lyrical topics are ones closer to misery than joy, combined with Sant utilizing the higher reaches of his register in a certain manner: Using vibrato and cutting of the final parts or resonances of a word short. The combination of tone and this specific delivery that makes the lead vocals sound as powerful and massive as concrete, yet as frail and delicate ac Chinese porcelain, at least to my ears. The sound of someone looking down a bottomless ravine of despair, trying to convert the mental anguish into vocal beauty while falling - if that allegory makes any sense at all. The sparse, gentle instrumentation emphasizing the frail nature of the landscapes explored.
If you tend to enjoy high quality vocals by default, then Sant's second album should be well worth a visit. But if you have a special interest in sparse singer/songwriter material, roots music and country this album should appeal strongly also on a musical level. And if you can subscribe to all of the above, "My Dead Town" represents just over half an hour of music that should provide you with high quality entertainment through and through.
My rating: 90/100
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