The Tallest Man On Earth - Henry St. (Album Review)
Thursday, 20 April 2023
Written by Craig Howieson
Photo: Stephan Vanfleteren
Be it his rapid fire finger picking, loquacious vocal delivery or restless stage presence, Kristian Matsson, better known as The Tallest Man On Earth, has always given the impression of someone striding at considerable pace into the future.
Since his debut in 2010 his ascent can be traced through the consistent beauty of his records, arriving now at his sixth outing ‘Henry St.’ It is here, though, that he seems content to pause and take stock, evaluating a career that has taken him around the world many times over.
The record came to fruition when Matsson was once again able to tour following a period of isolation on his farm in Sweden, which was as much self-enforced as it was COVID-19 related.
As the tour bus roared back into life so too did his writing, but the resulting set of songs, more so than any others in his discography, display the sound of contentedness. Focusing on light that pierces the shadows ‘Henry St.’ doesnt slam on the brakes, but it does shift down a gear to appreciate the scenery buzzing past the window.
Matsson is now as inseparable from America as he is his homeland. Having lived in New York for some time, his dreams of the big city are now his reality and the bustle of his home from home permeates his music as much as pastoral Scandinavian expanses.
On Major League, as he reminisces about a Randy Newman song playing over the opening credits of a beloved movie, the wide-eyed wonder of his younger self is exposed over plucked banjo. The joyful In Your Garden Still expands upon the feel good factor and its syncopated rhythms and a lilting vocal find Matsson at his most uplifting.
Matsson can still shine light on dark corners though, and on both Slowly Rivers Turn and New Religion he makes exquisite use of his enviable backing band as his alt-folk brushes against Americana. The latter, in particular, feels like a widescreen epiphany when electric guitars and strings swell to punctuate the refrain of, “The world is a wonder and here you lie.”
On ‘Henry St.’ The Tallest Man On Earth is optimistic about what comes next but also settled in the here and now. As he sings on closer Foothills, “And someday I’ll be just that singer / But singing is alright.” He displays happiness with his lot in life, and plans to celebrate it while he can.
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