Sunday, July 22, 2018

TORE BERGER – Mitt hjärtas melodi (MNW, 1976)

Swedish vocals
International relevance: **

First solo album from Blå Tåget key member Tore Berger (although it could probably be argued that everybody in Blå Tåget were key members). Former band fellows Urban Yman and Kjell Westling appears, and front cover picture was taken by Carl Johan de Geer. Tony Thorén and Carla Jonsson from Piska Mig Hårt/Eldkvarn also join in on bass and guitar.

Berger has always had a melancholy feel to his songs, but it's more evident on ”Mitt hjärtas melodi” when Blå Tåget's aura of amateurishness has been stripped away on an album of solely Berger compositions. It's an introspective collection of thoughtful songs, ranging from calm to understated chaos. Some tracks have tense arrangements that provide them with a jittery unease, such as the panic-stricken ”När vi simmar ut...”, and ”Här är ett rum...” with Berger's screeching clarinet cutting through the increasing unrest like a sudden strike of overwhelming anxiety during the darkest hour.

”Mitt hjärtas melodi” is a sometimes achingly beautiful and always touching album, with many of the songs coming to real life between dusk and dawn. Even Blå Tåget backbiters should give this one a try because it doesn't really sound like them – on the contrary, it's a focused, rather singular album that could only have been made by the very one who made it.

Full album playlist

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