Jens Lekman

I’ve liked Jens Lekman since a warm summer evening in 2004 when I first played ‘Black Cab’ during one of the Stayfun broadcasts, however, it’s taken until now to properly hear his album When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog. Yes, I still like Lekman. The young Swedish songwriter is truly fascinating. His work can be all over the place though, so I can’t declare a complete love for him just yet.

Check out his Secretly Canadian song repository if you want to see what I mean. Publishing loads of demos, unfinished works, and simply fun things online, you really get an insight into his ideas. Delicate and lovelorn ballads sit beside humorous and quirky songs. You’re just never certain what will happen when you press play.

As it was my birthday this week (yes, I was too old to be cool before, but now it’s official), I came really close to recommending ‘Are Birthdays Happy?’. However, I quickly became enraptured by the warmth and simplicity of Boisa-Bis-O-Boisa instead . Enjoy it. It’s why it exists.

Steven McCarron - 20-01-2005

Photo: Lisa Nilsson

:: back to top ::