Taken By Trees

Taken By Trees
Open Field
Rough Trade
Compared with Victoria Bergsman’s work with The Concretes, her first solo record is a strikingly minimalist recording. Save for the lush string arrangements of “Lost and Found,” its songs, like “Sunshine Lady,” with its twee melody over top of a solo ukulele, and “Too Young,” which uses only metalophone, snare drum and piano, are exquisite in their restraint. Bergsman’s voice, the best part of The Concretes, is thankfully left bare in all its naked beauty. Much of Open Field’s success comes from collaborations with Björn Yttling and John Eriksson (of Peter, Bjorn and John), who lend the songs unique sensitivities and superb beats.
Dave Hayden