The Tarantula Waltz is Stockholm-based folk musician Markus Svensson. After releasing three albums , Svensson has teamed up with the newly formed label Woah Dad! to put out a new EP, Lynx.
Recorded at the home studio of Kristian Matsson (AKA The Tallest Man on Earth), Lynx is a four-track release of uplifting folk songs. The trailer for the EP caught my attention a few months back, and goes a good way to capturing the essence of the songs. Watch below:
The EP opens with the title track, an upbeat, affirming song that falls somewhere between Gregory Alan Isakov and Great Lake Swimmers. Apparently written to his son, ‘Lynx’ speaks of perseverance and hope:
“But if you made it up to now,
you can make it one more time.Life will burn your curls
and life will bleach your blue eyes
you must remember, child
that the storm will always abate.”
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/199724846″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
‘Carvaggio’s Hand’ is more restrained, a slower folk track along the same lines as Jose Gonzalez and Small Houses, while ‘Northern Nights’ sees the atmospheric rock return, with piano and percussion not dissimilar to that of Field Report supporting Svensson’s haunting, impassioned vocals.
“Oh baby you’re my rock bottom riser,
Gibraltar steady stands our love.
We fall together from the northern heights.
We burn together in the northern night.”
‘The Leaning Apple Tree’ see the tempo swing back to slow, a gentle country song concerning Svensson’s father (“I’m only passing your blood onto my child”). Again the vocals are front and centre, filled with energy and grace, elevating the track from a serene stroll into something profound and touching.
With Lynx, The Tarantula Waltz reminds us that no matter how hard, life holds pockets of goodness and wonder, providing moments of fierce, bright joy which light up the dark, like the four incandescent trees in a snow storm.
The EP will be released on the 20th May, when you will be able to get it via Woah Dad.
P.S. Svensson will be opening for Tallest Man on Earth on his European tour. I’d imagine the tickets are scarce but if you manage to get one then be sure to turn up early to see Svensson’s set.
23 June Koko, London (UK) *SOLD OUT*
24 June Openlucht Theater, Antwerp (BE)
25 June Divan du Monde, Paris (FR)
28 June Göta Lejon, Stockholm (SE)
29 June Göta Lejon, Stockholm (SE)
30 June Rockefeller, Oslo (NO)
02 July Pustervik, Goteborg (SE)