Swedish artist Kristian Matsson returns with “Just Beyond Endless Mountain”, his eighth album as The Tallest Man on Earth. Matsson’s folk sensibilities still loom large on this LP, but they lean more on his Swedish heritage than his previous interest in Americana. The Nordic tradition of the polska runs through this album like a vein, livening even the slower songs with a zip of rhythm and layers of strings. Matsson’s voice is familiar as ever, charmingly coarse and rough, sweetened by musical patterns of great urgency (“Colors”) or soothing balladry (“The Village”).
On “Overboda” he is joined by fellow Swede Sofia HK for a duet of charming tenderness. The excellent “Deliver Me From Trying” has the dark urgency of a prayer, thickened beautifully with guitar arpeggios and fiddle. “Just Beyond Endless Mountain” is a great turn from Matsson; brooding without being boring, gentle without being twee.
