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I’m Kingfisher is the name which Swedish folk artist Thomas Denver Jonsson has chosen to release his new material under. After a decade of releasing albums under the name of Thomas Denver Jonsson the time felt right for a change of stage names. Arctic is the debut release under the name I’m Kingfisher, and what a way to kick off a new name with an album that is over flowing with enticing, sublime and captivating songs which are a pleasure to listen to. Arctic has the sound of a warm, intimate album, full of emotions, recorded with a unique voice and spell binding instrumentation. The production and arrangement on this album is as close to perfection as you could get. This is an album which will instantly appeal to fans of Neil Young, Bon Iver, Iron and Wine, Bright Eyes, The National, Gillian Welch and M Ward.
The album opens with ‘Willing Night Plants’ which instantly draws you in with its haunting vocals to the majesty that lies ahead within the album. The album has many highlights including the heartbreaking ‘Feline Funeral’, the dreamy ‘Deer Theatre’, the beautiful ‘Continent’ “I miss you even when you’re around”.
This album succeeds where many fail in keeping the listener interested throughout, the album steps up a notch when you reach the mid point with track 7 ‘Smile With Your 1000 Teeth’ which could be Neil Young at his best, this song would not sound out of place on the Harvest Album. ‘Expedition’ grabs hold of the listener with its intensity. ‘The Whale Hunt’ is a peaceful ending to a majestic album. This is an album that is instant on first listen and then keeps getting better with each listen. Arctic is an album that you will keep listening to on repeat and before you know it a day has passed without you even realising.
There are a lot of singer songwriters in the music industry at present, with Arctic, I’m Kingfisher has raised the bar and set the standard to the next level for the others to attempt to follow.
Rating: 9/10
Steve Tay
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