Busy Are the Snowbirds of Sweden
Carmel DeSoto
Posted On November 16, 2015
J. Asling’s remarkable voice was made to blend perfectly with his guitar, but his real gift is understanding that a singer’s role is to tell a story. J. Asling Roots & Friends album The Stockholm Sessions (Do Music Records) utilizes Asling’s impressive song writing skills, vocal coloring and range to create vignettes that investigate subterranean emotions of the human experience.
Selections like “Jesus in the Cockpit” and “Mama Used to Say (A Love Song) is a high spot of relaxed full-bodied, soulful tone. “Please Tell Me” is a touching lament about unrequited love with a relaxed feel that finds Asling’s lyrics and guitar in top form. Asling’s guitar work also excels on two instrumentals “After Bedtime” and “Blues for Tarantino,” the latter is finds him portraying the joyous emotional torment brought on by the blues and a touch of surf guitar and the “Tarantino” vibe. Lundekvist spins out a fine organ solo too.
“Paps is a Good Friend” showcases Asling as a compelling blues singer and acoustic guitar player. Asling digs into the slow groove and produces vocal growls and inflections that can only call forth the hues of blue. Zetterberg guests on the track and blows a fine harmonica. A soaring tempo on both “Swedish Stomp” and “She Whispered Sweetly,” with drummer Tollbom and bassist Elofsso keep things steady and tight in the pocket. Again, even at faster tempos Asling’s vocal style and guitar playing is top shelf.
“Down at the Wicked Pick,” and “Done Lost All My Good Things,” find the singer asserting all the fine qualities of a great song writer and singing with power and heavy doses of human emotion. “Will There be Peace Tomorrow” gets two versions. The first feature seems to be a longer version with Asling’s swirling guitar work taking center stage for both versions, but the first version seems to have an extra verse in it, while the second cuts the last verse for a shorter running time for radio. Both incorporate a full bodied sound of Asling’s splendid vocal and guitar performances.
Without question, Asling has joined the ranks of those who continue to set a high standard for contemporary soul-blues and The Stockholm Sessions is a highly recommended recording.
