Loney. Dear: 'Dear John'

Like his fellow Swede Jens Lekman, Emil Svanangen (aka Loney, Dear) was serendipitously discovered by venerable indie label Sub Pop through his self-released CD-R compilations.

'Dear John', his second album proper after 2007's 'Loney, Noir', is still an idiosyncratic piece of bedroom wizardry at heart, despite the increased budget, guided by a very singular vision. Inevitably sleeker than the first record, this sophomore effort is another slice of enchanting atmospheric electronic pop in the service of Svanangen’s beautifully tremulous, fragile vocals (Jason Lytle is a touchstone here), which is by turns eerie and unsettling in the mould of Thom Yorke’s solo material and bucolic and uplifting in the way Grandaddy were.

'Airport Surroundings' effectively suggests the numbness and pleasant alienation of air travel, whilst remaining captivatingly propulsive. 'Everything Turns To You' is a gothic-tinged synth and strings piece, whereas 'I Was Only Going Out' is a lilting, caressing ballad which climaxes with some ecstatic whistling, and 'Summer' is exuberantly euphoric electro-pop. 'Harsh Words' is the type of transcendent, stirring soundscape you can imagine soundtracking images of earth as seen from space.

'Dear John' is a record without ego or bombast; its subtle pleasures all the more deeply felt for having to be teased out. This is an album that will repay repeated listens.



Released on 9th March 2009 by Regal.

Written by Sam Monk.