Somewhere in the City

• Artist: Tobias Fröberg
• Rating:
• Release Date: August 22, 2006
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

In a set of explanatory notes published on his website and intended to place his songs into perspective, Swedish singer/songwriter Tobias Fröberg often makes a point of stressing the casualness of his writing and recording process. One song, he says, was recorded in the open air on a hot July day, the birds chirping above. Another was recorded on his sofa. Yet another was penned after consuming a couple of bottles of wine and still another in a guitar store. Yet despite the presumably easygoing approach to its creation, and its general minimalism, Somewhere in the City feels neither informal nor tossed off. While simplicity is its hallmark, there are also moments of deceptive complexity: layers of lush choral vocal harmonies, bold instrumental statements, words that require considerable thought. Fröberg's gentle alternative folk-pop has been compared to the likes of Paul Simon and Nick Drake (the former is evident, the latter hardly), and contemporary benchmarks might include Devendra Banhart, Damien Rice, and Bright Eyes. But there's no real reason to play spot the influence here: Fröberg is an original and Somewhere in the City, the artist's second album, is a delicious trifle. Nearly every instrument is played by Fröberg and his co-producer, Linus Larsson, and although a few guests are brought on board (Norway's Ane Brun sings a duet with Fröberg on "Love and Misery"), this is clearly not a group effort. Fröberg's skillful acoustic guitar work (again, as on "God's Highway," reminiscent of Simon's, particularly his early folk style) is smartly placed up front throughout most of the recording, miked closely and used wisely to set the pensive, sometimes melancholy mood. And that's where Fröberg feels most comfortable: in quiet reflection. When the album does, on occasion, raise its volume and venture toward rock, it feels lost, the lone exception being "When the Night Turns Cold," the opening, bongo-driven pop gem that, for some inexplicable reason, was used in a European ad for Panasonic cameras. ~ Jeff Tamarkin, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
When the Night Turns Cold	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(3:04)
Love and Misery	Tobias Fröberg	Ane Brun, Tobias Fröberg	(3:42)
God's Highway (Lyrics)	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(3:04)
For Elisabeth Wherever You Are	Tobias Fröberg	Teitur, Tobias Fröberg	(3:40)
The Features of a Human Face	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(3:59)
Somewhere in the City	Tobias Fröberg, Teitur Lassen	Tobias Fröberg	(2:45)
What a Day	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(3:58)
Oh My Love (Here She Comes Again)	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(3:23)
Someone	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(3:35)
Thank You	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(3:53)
Forever Is Just a Word in a Lovesong	Tobias Fröberg	Tobias Fröberg	(4:02)

Credits

Henrik Jonsson (Mastering), Tobias Fröberg (Producer), Petter Ringbom (Design), Linus Larsson (Engineer), Petter Ringbom (Photography), Tobias Fröberg (Arranger), Tobias Fröberg (?), Tobias Fröberg (Engineer), Linus Larsson (Arranger), Linus Larsson (Producer), Linus Larsson (Mixing)