Album: Talking With The Dead
Release date: 03.05.2013
Label: Eino Records
Tracklist:
1. Bells of Liberty
2. Last Summer
3. Highway Hallelujah
4. It Felt Like Life
5. Line of Fathers
6. I’m Ready
7. Small Town Boys
8. Sleep Like a Child
9. Talking with the Dead
It is the middle of summer. I walk in the street on a warm sunny sunday. The last song from Antero Lindgrens album Talking With The Dead is playing in my headphones. As I walk and people walk by I hear Antero singing about how easy it would be to just talk to people who are dead. Children skate by me and smile to each other. The last 2 minutes of the song starts and the soaring harmonica plays on top of the brilliant band of Mr. Lindgren. The wind blows to my face and I close my eyes and let the music take me away. As the song ends I look at the sky and smile a little. I take my player and start the record again.
Antero Lindgren is the artist that has been recalled as the next huge thing when his debut album Mother came out. The dark folk/blues songs of the album where perfect for the cold autumn nights and mornings. The personal lyrics gave the fragile and honest look in the life of a normal father of two and a loving husband.
On his new album Talking With The Dead Antero was in a merge of not knowing what to write about. He had to think about moments in the future where there would be nothing. This gave the concept for the album. The stories of losing something you try to hold on.
While Mother was more about Anteros voice, Talking With The Dead gives attention to the band behind Mr. Lindgren also. The connection with every player on the album is warm and soothing. It is very nice to listen to a band that seems to like to play alongside each other.
Mother was the fall album of the year. Talking With The Dead is definitely the positive brother of the record. There is no mistake when people are talking that Antero Lindgren is the Bruce Springsteen of Finland. These songs of heartbreak and driving to the sunset (Highway Hallelujah) and the memories from past sitting at the slope passing the stairs (Felt Like Life) are the songs which makes you believe that the songs mean something very important to the artist.
For me this record gave hope in Finnish songwriting and that is why I thank Lindgren for the songs he has composed with hard work. He has done a masterpiece that can only make people want more and more from his music.
4,5/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ephylj5D4iY
Niklas Aaltio/Scratching the Surface
