Su Andersson – “Zanzibar Stone Town” & “Reclaim The Fascination”
I don’t usually review singles, but I made an exception for this Swedish release. Apologies. I still don’t do singles. There are too many & time is at a premium. However, Su Andersson is one of Sweden’s great singers. She possesses an incredible voice; her tonality, style & vocal application on “Zanzibar Stone Town” — warm with prickly chorale accentuations. It’s like not getting the language in a strange town, but you understand the music. The arrangements on both songs are pristine & what single-sets like this produce is curiosity enough to want to hear an entire album. Especially in the case of Ms. Andersson, whose voice is too compelling & sultry to be satisfied with just two selections.
The double-sided single “Zanzibar Stone Town” & “Reclaim The Fascination” (Drops April 14/Firma Su Records/7:51) was recorded in Valencia at Rio Bravo Studios & Klangverket, Gothenburg, Sweden, & arranged by Axel Olsson (keyboards/piano/Fender Rhodes/choir) & Su Andersson (vocals/guitar).
More pensive in a Mary Gauthier style is “Reclaim The Fascination,” with a storyline about the feeling you get when you come back to a place. It has a peculiar air with the male vocal injections. However, what makes it soulful is that it’s miles from mainstream fodder yet possesses the ability to procure a habitual listen like good chocolate makes the mouth salivate. There is a commercial value to these performances. Easily likable. It’s Su’s intonation, her timbre that, like a good jazz singer (Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, Bird York), knows how to get their hypnotic musical endeavor across to engage a listener.
Su does not have a reedy voice like Joan Baez. She has a rich, warm tone – somewhere between June Tabor, Susan Osborne (“Lay Down Your Burden”), Linda Thompson & Christine Collister. Yes, somewhere between those excellent voices. Both songs on this single are meant to whet the appetite. Satisfaction will only come with an entire album that can lay out an entire chapter of tracks of various themes & offer a hint to Su’s distinctive singing ability & storytelling talent. This is not a mere pop singer, not a ballad songstress, or a jazz chanteuse. Sweden’s Su Andersson possesses a unique tone that can only be described as a vocalist who paints her songs in more than one vibrant color, with varied hues, pastels & always with distinction. Looking forward to more.
Musicians – Xema Fuertes (electric guitar/congas/choir), Victor Vila Jovellar (drums/choir) & Cayo Bellveser bass guitar/choir).
Color image courtesy of Su’s website. CD @ https://www.suandersson.com/ & https://www.hemifran.com/news/detail/p/2276/Su%20Andersson/Double%20A-Sided%20Single/
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Su Andersson “Postcards”