ALBUM REVIEW: Skymningsmusik för Dagdrömmare – Henning

HENNING has created a name for himself by penning DIRE STRAITS-esque songs with Swedish lyrics. That was for his first three albums at least, but his fourth album, Skymningsmusik för Dagdrömmare mixes things up a lot by having no lyrics whatsoever. The title translates to ‘dusk music for daydreamers’. The Swedish guitarist and vocalist, who recorded his third studio album Under Träden in his bedroom, has made quite the name for himself in his home country, even playing at a live concert celebrating the annual event Midsummer for his debut TV performance in 2021. With this album boasting, in his own words, “ten songs with titles representing different constellations” – can he maintain his impressive momentum?

Skymningsmusik för Dagdrömmare starts off with an introduction song – a slow, wonderous and eerie piece that even has a trumpet in it. It has a mellow, pleasant sounding tempo to it that does not affect the overall pacing of the album. Of course, the issue of having an album that has no lyrics is it is quite easy to let your mind wander as you listen. However, HENNING has said that this album is intended to be used to mediate to, so letting your mind wander is a good thing. Unfortunately, if you don’t concentrate on the album, you will miss the gorgeous guitar on Bildhuggaren, which picks the pacing up a bit. HENNING really lets his talent shine on this song.

Målaren is a very slow song, however the drums which are added here give it more of a backbone that the previous songs have not had. The album itself is still at a nice, slow pace. Unfortunately, whilst some people might enjoy it, others won’t. Of course, not every song has to be upbeat. However, some slightly more fast-paced songs might help even things out a bit. Orion has an almost country-esque sound which mixes things up a bit, but this still doesn’t do much to hold people’s attention.

Thankfully, Lilla lejonet puts the pacing back on track. It isn’t a very exciting song, but there is something there that feels a lot cheerier. Maybe it’s the drums that are helping the song; however, it is one of the better songs on the album. Kompassen is another song that is a highlight, this time due to the beautiful acoustic guitar that carries the song along. The production on the song is also a highlight, as it makes all the instruments clearer to hear. The steady drum beat mixes well with the guitar, resulting in something genuinely quite beautiful.

In conclusion, Skymningsmusik för Dagdrömmare is like marmite; people are either going to love it or they’ll hate it. The album does meander through, and that is part of the problem. There is no variation of sound. Of course, HENNING was not aiming for that on this album, because he set out to make an album for relaxation. He definitely succeeded there, and that is an accomplishment because it is hard to create a beautiful album for relaxation. However, for others who wanted to check out his music, it would probably be better to start with one of his other records.

Rating: 5/10

Skymningsmusik för Dagdrömmare is set for release on April 8th via Gaphals.

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