From time to time it’s hard to be a resident of Sweden. At least when you’re a globally minded anti-nationalist like me. Because from time to time there arrives Swedish artists that make such impressing music that a deeply hidden nationalistic pride can’t stop itself from bubbling up to the surface. With his second album, En Hand I Himlen, Jonathan Johansson emits exactly this awkward feeling in me. The music itself however, gives me a warm and 80’s-epic feeling that Mauro Scocco made into his during that age.

En Hand I Himlen, the title track and lead single, was released together with Innan Vi Faller, the second track on the album, as the b-side last Autumn and became Johansson’s definite breakthrough. Although not a big mainstream hit, it made him known to those alternative indie circles that appreciate this sort of pop music. And even though he sings in Swedish, with a Scanian accent to be precise, his music’s loaded atmosphere and the shoegazingly melodic production has been renowned on blogs and online magazines.

Alla Vill Ha Hela Världen is one of my favourites from the album because of its evergoing majestic drum comp and its fantastically restrained chorus that releases just enough bliss and passionate emotion to keep me in for a listen over and over again. The other one is the rather traditionally written but wonderfully executed Säg Vad Ni Vill. Once again, the chorus is slightly restrained, as Johansson’s exciting music is just about all the time for that matter. Do I need to say, regardless of what language you speak, that you oughta check out one of The Lemur’s favourite albums so far in 2009? Buy it digitally here!

Jonathan Johansson - All Vill Ha Hela Världen (zshare)
Jonathan Johansson - All Vill Ha Hela Världen (ysi)

Jonathan Johansson - Säg Vad Ni Vill (zshare)
Jonathan Johansson - Säg Vad Ni Vill (ysi)

P.S. #1: I think the artwork is brilliant in its simplicity! The photo was taken by Anders Widlund and I love how he payed attention to the zipper when pulling the jacket up abnormally high and had the raw brown/grey features of Johansson in consideration to fit the sound.

P.S. #2: I just got the idea that I should translate Johansson’s lyrics for publication here! I have no idea why more music interested people translate more of their native music for display online. Jonathan Johansson’s lyrics translated into English coming up later this week!