Swedish act Backstrom is gearing up to release their latest batch of songs – The Carousel, due out January 18th, 2024. The Carousel is a potent mix of folk, rock, and country tunes composed by songwriter/project mastermind Backstrom and sung by vocalist Bart Topher. A seasoned storyteller and veteran musician through and through, Backstrom has crafted a collection of dark and mysterious compositions that aim to transcend the “cheesiness” of sing-song songwriting to mine a deeper vein of untouched potential. The result is a nonet of cohesive and thoughtful songs that paint literary portraits of life and its many complexities.
Album opener “Train Wreck Coming” is a bluesy bounce that introduces us to the hallmarks of Backstrom’s sound. Nimble guitar picking is the star of the show here, fingers bobbing and weaving across the fretboard to form a rock-solid backbone for this song. Backstrom layers the song thick with folksy instrumentation, including impassioned and soulful background vocals, a spirited horn section, and a uniquely gravely voice that suits the ultra-sincere songcraft. “Train Wreck Coming” sounds like it would be just at home on a dive bar stage as it would at your next backyard summer bash – this delightfully twangy folk flavor is also found on track eight, “The Journey.” These songs are a proverbial ray of sunshine as you listen through The Carousel, a blast of feel-good energy among the deeper intellectual poetry found within.
Song two, “It’s Too Late” finds Backstrom dialing it back a bit, playing with somber slide guitars and a minor key. It’s a nice juxtaposition against the more upbeat bounce of “Train Wreck Coming,” and shows that Backstrom has depth as a songwriting vehicle. Spaghetti-western guitars thump along with purpose while Topher’s dark baritone voice evokes the legendary Johnny Cash.
“Animal” is yet another creative flex, propelled mainly by guitars, but layered lush with strings. The honeyed harmonies here and bare bones percussion reminded me of 2008’s Razia’s Shadow: A Musical by Forgive Durden – it’s a rare treat when an act can write a song that feels so musical (for lack of a better word). Here, Backstrom leans heavy into a strong narrative while notably never straying into the aforementioned sing-along/sing-songy territory. These songs feel fresh and poignant with a sense of gravitas that comes along without relying too strongly on an A/B/A/B rhyme scheme. He continues this same energy on title track The Carousel, which touches on the relentless rate at which the world comes at you. The plunking bongos here are a nice touch.
In case you were curious, Backstrom describes the “musical” songs on The Carousel here:
“In Sweden we call the “musical” songs “visa,” kind of a “tale” or “storytell [sic]” niche in the folk music”
The musical side of the album continues strongly with songs like the cello-laced “Winter Moon,” the trotting-tempo of “The Traveler,” and the gentle female vocals found on LP closer, “Darkness.” With an album with such a deep narrative, we obviously recommend listening for yourself. You can find The Carousel on all streaming services including Spotify and YouTube – be sure to check out one of our favorites, “The Journey,” below via YouTube.