Robert Dahlqvist
Solo
Despotz Records
2013
Having rocked the town with The Hellacopters for about a decade and later with Dundertåget (a.k.a. Thunder Express), Robert decided that now is the perfect time for him to release his first solo work, simply entitled “Solo”.
Robert’s first solo album ain’t different from what he used to play in Dundertåget or The Hellacopters. The blending of garage rock, rock, rock & roll, & punk-rock works quite well, even though there’s an emotional background and the “songs have a very personal and fragile sense of themselves” as Robert explains. The album was recorded, mixed and produced by Bjorn Olsson (Union Carbide Productions, The Soundtrack of our Lives) in a two-year overall process. The sound is a bit “dirty” & rather rockin’.
Robert Dahlqvist puts a more personal touch to the music he always loved to play & listen to, while he has his smoother & softer moments which are very well-made at large. Unluckily, the language barrier (all lyrics are in Swedish) didn’t let me get into the album that much. I cannot tell why Robert has chosen to do so, but it’s like he’s addressing his countrymen mostly. There are a handful of strong tracks (like “Redo Nån Gång”, “Det E Hon”, “Ej Met Flit”) which, if they had been sung in English, could have easily got some air (web) play worldwide. “Ingrid Isabel” is also a very beautiful instrumental. Generally, the album has a short duration (about 33 minutes) and most of the tracks are short as well. I guess that’s how the whole “solo thing” works for every musician… to be actually free and follow their heart.
Robert’s first solo album ain’t different from what he used to play in Dundertåget or The Hellacopters. The blending of garage rock, rock, rock & roll, & punk-rock works quite well, even though there’s an emotional background and the “songs have a very personal and fragile sense of themselves” as Robert explains. The album was recorded, mixed and produced by Bjorn Olsson (Union Carbide Productions, The Soundtrack of our Lives) in a two-year overall process. The sound is a bit “dirty” & rather rockin’.
Robert Dahlqvist puts a more personal touch to the music he always loved to play & listen to, while he has his smoother & softer moments which are very well-made at large. Unluckily, the language barrier (all lyrics are in Swedish) didn’t let me get into the album that much. I cannot tell why Robert has chosen to do so, but it’s like he’s addressing his countrymen mostly. There are a handful of strong tracks (like “Redo Nån Gång”, “Det E Hon”, “Ej Met Flit”) which, if they had been sung in English, could have easily got some air (web) play worldwide. “Ingrid Isabel” is also a very beautiful instrumental. Generally, the album has a short duration (about 33 minutes) and most of the tracks are short as well. I guess that’s how the whole “solo thing” works for every musician… to be actually free and follow their heart.