Date review added: Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Reviewer: David Cowling
Spend time with this and develop Stockholm syndrome
"From the fact that this is mostly a solo endeavor, that the songs are prickly
entitled ‘They Hate This Where I Come From’ or ‘FU My Friends’ you might
think that you are about to tuck into a banquet of misanthropy or a dinner of
disparagement, at the very least a side-order of cynicism. Think again, this is food
of a very different kind; it is food for the brain and the heart, intelligent and
beautiful with a hint of bitterness that is salved by the sauce of tenderness. A
particular favorite is ‘They Hate This Where I’m From’ starts as slow and
sketchily as the slowest slo-core with just some slo-mo chimes of math rock guitar
and whispered downbeat vocals, the guitars build a little complexity whilst
essentially remaining plucked string strums where each string resonates on its own,
a bass clarinet and saxophone slowly dance across the song weaving more complex
patterns honking, the effect is like migrating geese with a malfunctioning sat-nav.
Contrast that with the almost straightforward pop of ‘No Hurry’ or the even
more melodious ‘No Loud Crash’ and you begin to build a watertight case for
comparing this with Todd Rundgren. If you are struck by beauty then ‘Birds
Around Yr Head’ will do it for you, simple acoustic strum, gentle vocals are all
that is needed and by the time you get to the end of the song any preconceptions of
misanthropy have completely disappeared. "
and The Swede
Shoddy Merchandise
9 song CD
"And The Swede is the chosen moniker of solo artist Matthew William Kohnle,
who wrote, recorded and performed the songs on the disc by himself. His style is
sedate and subdued, found somewhere between the quiet depression of Joe Pernice
and the understated other-worldliness of Pink Floyd.
The album finds its power in solitude, a feeling gently pushed along by
half-whispered vocals and a sparse musical landscape. It's an emptiness which is
close and personal, not distant, adding weight with each musical passage. Yes, it
is bitter, but at the same time brilliant. "
MISH MASH Mandate: The Bitterest Pill
The Swede — And the Swede
"EDITOR'S PICK"
"Alternative pop-rock with indie rock intentions and gentle harmonies, the Swede
is Matthew William Kohnle (yes he’s the Swede). Utilizing his past as an
improv noise collage artist in Connecticut, Kohnle paints a portrait of melodies
and fitting arrangements throughout this neatly textured album. While not quite
chamber pop, it almost feels as elegant with lavish use of bridges and choruses
amid semi-chaotic avant garde jazz structures. It’s witty, divergent, and never
altruistic which I blame for the downfall of many experimental indie pop and
alternative pop acts failure."
- J-Sin
The Swede
And the Swede
September 5th 2007
God bless Matthew William Kohnle. Kohnle is The Swede. While I'm not sure if the name is a reference to his nationality (or if he is in fact a root vegetable), this project is solely his. With the exception of some bass clarinet by Todd Knapp and some vocals by Mrs. Kohnle, all songs are written, performed, and even recorded by Matthew.
Kicking off with "The First Song on This Record" we get a six-minute slice of acoustic-led balladry. Don't mistake this album for a 'singer/songwriter' vanity project: while Kohnle runs the ship, it's certainly not limited to one genre. We hear Pink Floyd synths, elegant keys, and laid back vocals that know just when to drop out and let the music take over. It's a nice balance.
Indeed, part of the appeal of And the Swede is the use of silence. Long pauses between the opening chords of "They Hate This Where I'm From" give it depth and sustain that make the eventual transition into a free-jazz jamfest all the more rewarding, discordant brass section and all. As Kohnle notes on his website, much of the recording was just done with a relaxed vibe where the listener can feel the "recorded at 3am in slippers" vibe, and this is certainly true. While this record is unlikely to make you jump out of your seat and dance without a care in your living room, it's perfect for those contemplative late nights, perhaps driving around deserted roads, or wandering the city at night with your headphones.
That said, it's not background music. "F U My Friends" adds a Bright Eyes-esque country saloon feel. With a chorus of "fuck you, my friends," this one perhaps breaks the mould of something you could play to your family. Despite the message, it's a melancholy and haunting track with some nice backing vocals from Andrea Kohnle. "Birds Around Yr. Head" has an Iron and Wine feel to it, but without feeling derivative.
Closer "The Last Song on This Record" (see what he did there?) has a crashy, almost epic outro bemoaning the "middle-aged wasteland / in a middle-aged waistband." It's evocative and beautiful with a melodic woodwind sound lilting through the synths and drums.
The Swede's blend of folksy Americana mixed with alt.country acoustic wanderings give the record a variety of sounds and a demonstration of the talent behind the buttons. Production is good, with restraint shown in the nine songs present here. When considered in its self-produced context, And the Swede becomes even more impressive an achievement. A meandering, personal and varied look into the world of someone else, this is definitely worth a listen.
Kicking off with "The First Song on This Record" we get a six-minute slice of acoustic-led balladry. Don't mistake this album for a 'singer/songwriter' vanity project: while Kohnle runs the ship, it's certainly not limited to one genre. We hear Pink Floyd synths, elegant keys, and laid back vocals that know just when to drop out and let the music take over. It's a nice balance.
Indeed, part of the appeal of And the Swede is the use of silence. Long pauses between the opening chords of "They Hate This Where I'm From" give it depth and sustain that make the eventual transition into a free-jazz jamfest all the more rewarding, discordant brass section and all. As Kohnle notes on his website, much of the recording was just done with a relaxed vibe where the listener can feel the "recorded at 3am in slippers" vibe, and this is certainly true. While this record is unlikely to make you jump out of your seat and dance without a care in your living room, it's perfect for those contemplative late nights, perhaps driving around deserted roads, or wandering the city at night with your headphones.
That said, it's not background music. "F U My Friends" adds a Bright Eyes-esque country saloon feel. With a chorus of "fuck you, my friends," this one perhaps breaks the mould of something you could play to your family. Despite the message, it's a melancholy and haunting track with some nice backing vocals from Andrea Kohnle. "Birds Around Yr. Head" has an Iron and Wine feel to it, but without feeling derivative.
Closer "The Last Song on This Record" (see what he did there?) has a crashy, almost epic outro bemoaning the "middle-aged wasteland / in a middle-aged waistband." It's evocative and beautiful with a melodic woodwind sound lilting through the synths and drums.
The Swede's blend of folksy Americana mixed with alt.country acoustic wanderings give the record a variety of sounds and a demonstration of the talent behind the buttons. Production is good, with restraint shown in the nine songs present here. When considered in its self-produced context, And the Swede becomes even more impressive an achievement. A meandering, personal and varied look into the world of someone else, this is definitely worth a listen.
ScenePointBlank.com review
