Born 53 – Turnpike
This 11-track set was produced & arranged by Stockholm drummer/percussionist Alar Suurna who also plays (piano/glockenspiel/birds/cello) with Born 53. The CD includes a full-color 8-page stitched lyric insert for Turnpike (Drops Feb. 28/Paraply Records/Hemifran/34:28). The colorful package is pretty slick & laminated. The band has been together since 2005 & this showcase is the band’s 6th LP.
Rooted in the British ‘60s folk era with some true & pure Americana the songs get off to a rousing start with the title cut “Turnpike.” Tight performances, thudding drums & interplay that is gutsy with a melodic vocal that drives forward with an impulsive expressiveness.
Born 53 has the skill to keep their music seriously anchored while delivering pop-conscious brilliance. “Half-American Blues #2,” with its banjo leans into a novelty-oriented lyrical environment but the vocals are not silly or contrived. The songs have a rich catchy nostalgic ring to them that is carried along with respectability in every note (including “Song of Hope”).
Anders Lindh has a warm rural voice that is perfectly suited to these types of songs & Asa Kaillen-Lindh’s vocal is hauntingly beautiful on “The Line.” Together, they mine a unique vision of storytelling songs with old-world musical threads. With a swipe at some early rock n’ roll chords, they reinvent the wheel on “Tryin’ To Look Good (on a Sunday Morning),” which has all the moves with ardent guitars & percussion. This is how to resurrect old structures into new buildings.
I think Anders’ voice works well throughout because he does not sound like every vintage C&W, Americana vocalist, or folk singer who’s trekked across the prairie roads with a guitar over their shoulder. He does not sound European either, but he has a confident simmering voice that has dust & wind in it. The band & its singers understand the genre thoroughly.
The most commercially viable entry is “Nowhere” with its jangling guitars, driving beat & ebullient vocals. It’s all radio-friendly. And just when you think they’d run out of gas they add a reggae-light “Running For My Life” — not as coarse as many reggae-oriented tunes can be since they often dive into politics but a well-cushioned melodically catchy tune.
The band also understands the posturing required to bring the songs to life. “The News” is another pop-folky fanciful mixture that uses Asa’s backup voice to good advantage while Anders’ Guy Clark-Bill Morrissey rustic voice – is authentic.
A superb LP from Sweden for the American South.
Highlights – “Turnpike,” “Half-American Blues #2,” “The Line,” “Tryin’ To Look Good (on a Sunday Morning),” “Nowhere,” “Running For My Life,” “The News” & “Song of Hope.”
Musicians – Anders Lindh (lead vocal/electric guitars/harmonica/bgv), Hans Birkholz (electric, acoustic, baritone & lap steel guitars/Weissenborn/banjo/charango/ukelele/f-strings), Robert Fekete (Hammond/Wurlitzer/Rhodes keyboards), Asa Kaillen-Lindh (lead vocal/mandolin/bgv), Kati Raitinnen (cello) & Lars-Gunnar Larsson (bass).
Color image courtesy of Born 53’s Facebook. CD at https://www.hemifran.com/news/detail/p/1830/Born%2053/Turnpike/