PROS: effective use of minimalist composition | original soundtrack style

CONS: less folk-influence than previous work | could use elaboration

Chances are you have never heard of Erik Enocksson, and it is a downright shame.  The reason is most likely due to limited promotion, as well as the fact that much of Enocksson’s work is available only as digital downloads or limited edition physical copies.  Enocksson, who hails from Stockholm, Sweden, is a minimalist composer and folk artist.  To date, Enocksson has released four discs: two soundtracks, one 7”, and a concept album.  His latest release, Man tänker sitt (translated roughly as One’s Own Thoughts or Man’s Thoughts*), is the soundtrack to Henrik Hellström and Fredrik Wenzel’s film of the same name (which also goes by the English name Burrowing).  Though Years For Beards has not gotten its hands on a copy of the film, a Norwegian promotional text about Man tanker sitt by Fairplay Entertainment says that Enocksson’s soundtrack is an “extraterrestrial musical experience that follows the film’s low-key story about Swedish suburban lives.”

It can be difficult to tell someone what exactly Erik Enocksson’s music is.  It simultaneously falls into the genres of ambient, folk, rock and minimalist.  But one thing is certain, and that is to say that Enocksson’s sounds are organic, pure and coherent.  Enocksson never uses more than he needs to get his point across, utilizing light acoustic guitars, choral layers, organ tones and perhaps a bit of percussion.  Man tänker sitt is perhaps his most minimalist release yet, relying on choral, almost Gregorian, Latin verses.

The tone is set for the entire album with the piece “Prologue: Somnio”.  The track opens with Enocksson’s layer voices chanting in Latin “Somnio/ Hic non serenitas/ Hic qui virem reigit”.  The Latin verse, which talks about turbulent dreams, consists of nothing but Enocksson’s one-man choir.  The piece is followed by the track “I. Nox Eqoque Soli”, which builds on its lyrical and musical themes, adding piano to the simple vocals.    With its one-key-at-a-time piano line, Enocksson does not take anything for granted.

Fans of Enocksson’s previous work, especially the concept album With Its Dark Tail Curled ‘round the Garage, will find the track “Non Strigis” of particular interest.  The track’s minimal piano is balanced well with Enocksson’s lone voice.  The piece grows to its climax as Enocksson’s layered chorus joins late in the song.  This “Non Strigis” sounds the most Enocksson-like, and is likely the most accessible song on Man tanker sitt.  Fans may also enjoy “III. Nox Egoque Soli” and “IV. Non Ursae”, which successfully blend Enocksson’s soundtrack-style work – like that used his other soundtrack, Farväl Falkenberg – with the minimalist-folk feel of With Its Dark Tail Curled ‘round the Garage.

Enocksson finishes his suite with the absolutely heartbreaking “Finale: Ange, Nocte Nudapecta”.  Erik Enocksson’s voice for the beginning two-thirds of this piece is replaced by a solo, unaccompanied boy’s voice.  With a voice that is so lonesome and innocent, it is easy to picture the boy standing alone in a cathedral, singing to the empty room.  Once again, Enocksson uses no more than is necessary to portray his emotional composition.  The boy’s voice, beautiful in all its imperfections, is given a boost when Enocksson’s chorus of voices joins in for the final third of the song.

Though Enocksson’s music is clearly and decidedly minimalist, there are times when the listener could use a bit of embellishment, and the album does not quite live up to With Its Dark Tail Curled ‘round the Garage.  That being said, it is important to note that this release is a soundtrack first, and as such, it serves a very different purpose than last year’s concept album.  For a soundtrack, Erik Enocksson’s Man tanker sitt is original and pure, and one can only hope that the film is just as good.

Man tänker sitt is available now from Kning Disk, on limited edition CD (399 copies) and vinyl (499 copies), both with hand made packaging.  As an added bonus, visit the film’s site here for free Erik Enocksson sheet music, and look below for the film’s trailer, featuring two songs from this disc.

(4.5 out of 5 beards)

*EDITOR’S NOTE: All Swedish and Latin in this review was translated by the author.  If you have a better translation for any of the names or phrases used in this review, please comment below.

Track Listing

01. Prologue: Somnio
02. I. Nox Egoque Soli
03. II. Non Lupi
04. Non Strigis
05. Haec Silva Odi
06. III. Nox Egoque Soli
07. IV. Non Ursae
08. Finale: Ange, Nocte Nudapecta
09. Untitled