Small Feet - From Far Enough Away Everything Sounds Like the Ocean

by Malcolm Carter

published: 25 / 9 / 2015

Small Feet - From Far Enough Away Everything Sounds Like the Ocean

Label: Barsuk Records
Format: CD

Excellent debut album from Swedish trio Small Feet which reveals that there is far more to their music than the Americana/folk tag they have been saddled with

Review

It is strange how such an unpopulated country as Sweden has developed a strain of ‘Americana’ that even most American acts can’t improve upon. There are the success stories of those like First Aid Kit, earlier this year Sofia Talvik released an album with 'Big Sky Country' that more or less defined the sound and now Stockholm’s Small Feet let us into their little corner of the world to discover what they have brought to the genre. To be fair, it’s about time we stopped calling this hybrid of music that the Scandinavians create Americana, or to label them with the folk tag that Small Feet seem to have attracted. That certain artists from Scandinavia have developed their own take on these genres is undeniable, but right now the music that the trio of musicians who make up Small Feet and which they display through the ten original songs on ‘From Far Away Everything is Like the Ocean’ create is unique and more than a little special. For all the comparisons that have been levelled at the trio the only one that really sticks is that of Neil Young and that’s only because at times, and there are not so many of those scattered throughout this album, vocalist and main man Simon Stålhamre bears a passing resemblance to Young vocally. The sound that Small Feet create could only be made where it was, on a small island in Stockholm. The trio has captured all that is beautiful about the area where they made this music. Small Feet have shown through their songs that there is beauty even in the bleakest, coldest places. Simon Stålhamre’s uncle had a contract for an 18th century cabin, part of a group of cabins that the Swedish government leased to artists which he passed on to Stålhamre who converted the basic cabin into a recording studio to record the songs he had been stockpiling with friends Jacob Snavely (an American living in Sweden) and drummer Christopher Cantillo. The surroundings and Stålhamre’s love and obvious appreciation of being able to create his music in such an unusual setting has influenced this music greatly. It’s difficult to imagine such affecting, beautiful music being made anywhere else. One thing that immediately comes to mind when hearing the opening track 'Gold' is that you must check out what this trio has released before, and then you suddenly remember that it’s their debut. It’s such an accomplished sound it’s impossible to think that these guys haven’t been playing together for years, and in Stålhamre it’s amazing that a talent this strong hasn’t been discovered before. It’s not often that an album comes along that simply trashes most of the competition. This has been an exceptional year for albums across all genres but few can touch ‘From Far Enough Away Everything Sounds Like the Ocean’ for sheer beauty. Listening to this album for the first time is akin to hearing Joy Division or the Cocteau Twins for the very first time. It has that kind of unsettling beauty, like stepping into a darkened cave longing to discover what lies within but in reality feeling just a little scared at what might lurk there. It doesn’t start so scarily. ‘Gold’ immediately draws the listener in but nothing will prepare you for Stålhamre’s quavering tenor; even before that emerges the fullness of the accompanying guitars and percussion (there are only two musicians involved in the wall of sound of this opening track, Stålhamre on vocals and guitars and Cantillo on drums and percussion) will win you over. When Stålhamre comes in with “When I was a boy we never talked about the dark/And of what the dark might bring” it’s a heart stopping moment. All you can do is sit and be mesmerised by the sound emerging from the speakers. The following song ‘Rivers’ adds Snavely to flesh out the guitars but by now, just two tracks in, you’re hypnotised by this strange yet inviting sound that just three musicians are making. The space and atmosphere these guys have created in their songs in a remote studio is remarkable. And spine-chilling in its beauty. There are lighter moments though, ‘All and Everyone’ features Stålhamre whistling and while, despite some dark lyrics in some of the songs including this one, his melodies are always accessible and appealing this track is one of the most stirring on the album. The addition of Rebekka Karijord’s background vocals adds further texture to ‘Lead Us Through the Night’ but hearts had already been won over by Stålhamre’s guitar long before they make an appearance. Karijord also makes her presence felt on ‘Backwards Falconer’ on which she arranged the backing vocals. ‘Bend Towards the Light’ features another Scandinavian singer, Ane Brun, on vocals and again it was an inspired move to add female vocals. Stålhamre’s songs and arrangements are ideal for these duel male/female vocals. With ‘From Far Enough Away Everything Sounds Like the Ocean ’ Stålhamre can claim to be one of his country’s most innovative and inspiring singer/songwriters who has already developed his own sound. It’s a remarkable debut from an artist we will surely hear more from.

Track Listing:-

1 Gold
2 Rivers
3 All and Everyone
4 Lead Us Through the Night
5 Trenches
6 Palm Trees
7 The Backwards Falconer
8 Bend Towards the Light
9 And Repeat
10 Here´s To Violence
11 From Far Enough Away Everyth