Kristoffer Gildenlöw – “Empty” [New Joke Music]

“Empty” is the new album by this extraordinary Swedish musician, known for having played in Pain Of Salvation as bassist and singer and who has been carrying out this solo project of his for many years now which will surprise many. We are not talking about an immediate album and you will almost never find aggression. You won’t find the boldness of genres like hard rock or metal, but in a certain way, this artist still manages to remain in the territories of rock, or rather, progressive rock which calls into question artists like Marillion, Yes, Genesis, the more twilight Pain Of Salvation and all that current of progressive and psychedelic rock that tries to propose something intimate and that delves into the soul.

The result is an album of about an hour, which can be interpreted as a poem or a set of poems masterfully supported on a sound so refined and delicate that at times it even appears moving. Kristoffer’s voice is also very beautiful: it is warm, personal, always ready to add interesting nuances to songs already excellently composed and played. In this case we must also give a round of applause to all the guests present on the album, who are so many that this project appears almost like an orchestra. Various instruments, including more classical ones such as the violin, viola and more. All designed and nestled in the best possible way in the folds of a decidedly surprising album.

There is no need to name better songs than others, because we believe that this is an album to always listen to from start to finish and that it should be interpreted as if it were a single journey into the soul of those who conceived it, but that at the same time this ” Empty” wants to convey something strong to the listener, a sort of calm induced perhaps by careful introspection and meditation, almost a psychotherapy session where from time to time uncomfortable feelings and memories also emerge and which induce tranquility on the one hand, but also melancholy and desolation.

A great album, nothing else to add, but intended only for those who have a great sensitivity to welcome this very particular proposal.