Alex Runo – Living & Breathing
First thing’s first – Alex Runo has some pipes. Some journalists from his native Sweden even (allegedly) call him the best singer in Sweden… One listen through his latest offering Living & Breathing (L&B) will have you feeling the same way – a five-song collection (plus a bonus live track) of previously unreleased Runo material that showcases what the man can really do… *sing* his heart out, to clarify.
Runo’s emotional tenor is the highlight of this LP – that becomes evident right away. “No Good Gone” finds Runo belting in a powerful wail while effortlessly switching into airy falsetto moments later. There’s a retro rock flavor to “No Good Gone” that brings to mind efforts from Maroon 5 or even a SexyBack era Justin Timberlake track – Runo’s stuff would certainly fit comfortably on a shelf next to either of them. “White Flag” falls into this camp as well – a little more soulful this time around, especially the live version tucked onto the end of the album… You just can’t argue with that super tight horn section.
Runo’s just as at home in more easy-going balladry, and while “I Am More Than This” and it’s jazzy horn accompaniment slaps, and “Paper Love” has some incredible R&B runs, our favorite goes to the title track. “Living And Breathing” is a stunning pop song built around Runo’s heartbroken timbre, a catchy piano refrain, and super relatable lyrics. If your heart has been recently trodden upon, watch out – this one will get you misty eyed.
You can hear Living & Breathing on Spotify – you can follow the YouTube widget below to check it out on YouTube as well.
Categorised in: Album Reviews
This post was written by Nick Sessanna