Lighthouse of Glass by Sofia Härdig
Copyright: Emma Gunnarsson
I have known Sofia's earlier works and it was a great news to say the least to hear that her new album is coming out.
Taking it back to the post-punk, gothic and the essence of rock power combos, Sofia and her ensemble of friends get the best out of those modals and formulas and put some energy in that channel and reinvent it for themselves.
Each track has its own narrative but what you notice right from the start is the craft and theatricality of all of them.
Be it a passionate and cinematic ballad like track 2 - Collision
or the first one ''April'' which is a an enhanced rock'n strings set the high bar in terms of compromise between untamed energy and lyricism that Sofia has.
Talking about lyricism - check out the title track - its mellow and honey-sweet energy is just mesmerizing. The next after this one ''Pale Fire'' is no exception - the power and strength of this only seemingly peaceful track is not only in the well-crafted production but also in how Sofia accentuates and emphasizes her lyrics - it's both subtle and compelling.
''Kingdom Come'' has this energy sort of tamed and sort of untamed - when you hear how much underneath tension there is with subtle bass (this production!) and the brass parts. And then it feels like a change of season with chamber-like orchestrations in ''Thursday morning in bloom'' - it's just a worthwhile extension of the previous track. Not too speedy, not too rushed, makes you want to come back to it again and again.
''Kind of light'' shows how much flexible and different can her voice be - it's the emphatic power of it, something that makes you think of Tindersticks, PJ Harvey but has its own ingenuity and originality right where it should be.
''Crown'' starts like an edgy rock track but through the intricacy of the polyrhythmic percussive mode it is highly sophisticated and very original - check those beats. And still everything is in the right way composed to keep the style of the whole album intact - its narrative and everything else in one perfect mould.
''In Silence'' is probably my favorite track - the vibe and groove of it, Sofia's voice, bass and the whole arrangement just swings up and down, left to right.
''Strange race'' is a great sum up to everything what is good and defines this album - Sofia's evocative voice, the groove, the lyricism, theatricality of the whole album and overall great quality of it.
Definitely one of the albums that carries great craft, great knowledge of music that is used in detail, eloquence and elegance. Well done!
released April 11, 2025
Produced by Sofia Härdig.
Sofia Härdig: Voice, Guitar, Keyboard, Trumpet, Drum programming, arrangements and engineering.
Bebe Risenfors: Keyboard, Guitar, bass, Cümbüz, Cornett, Baryton sax, Accordion, Bass marimba andsuitcase drums
John Essing: guitar 6 ear and support
Robert Johnson: additional guitar 1, 5, 6, 8 and 10
Viktor Brobacke: trombone
Sara Edin: violin
Daniel Ruiz: drums 2,3,5,9
Conny Städe: drums 6,10
Ottilia Säll: drums 7
Jenny Gabrielsson Mare: additional backing Vocals 3
Anne Marte Eggen: Double bass 6
Conny Wall Moog: and additional guitar 3
Nille Perned: mix (all tracks except 7)
Joakim Lindberg: mix 7
Andy Lundgren: mastering
Anna Brånhede: artwork
Jessica Nettelbladt: Photography
Recorded by Sofia Härdig and Bebe Risenfors
A&R John Cloud,
℗&© 2025, Bark At Your Owner issued under license from Sofia Härdig.
All rights reserved
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