Tobias Froberg - 'Somewhere In The City' (Poptones) Released 04/09/06

Tobias Froberg’s second album ‘Somewhere In The City’ is the culmination of over 1 ½ year’s work with friend and co-producer Linus Larsson and can only be described from the start as pure genius on a simple yet complex scale. Sounding something like a Swedish Simon and Garfunkel remixed by the Polyphonic Spree this is a must have. At it’s core are traditional singer songwriter qualities but these guys have a razor sharp edge that appears to come so naturally to them fusing country, folk, gospel and pop so perfectly it might very well take your breath away. ‘Somewhere In The City’ is everything you could want from a best friend and more.

‘When The Night Turns Cold’ kicks the album off with it’s fast dance-floor gospel pace courtesy of some fantastic bongo playing. Sound familiar? It’s currently doing the rounds on the new Panasonic Lumix camera television advert. Perfect for the summer and guaranteed to put a smile on even the most sullen of faces. But the mood changes, as it does throughout the entire album, with the beautiful and hypnotic ‘Love And Misery’. Guest vocals come from Ane Brun and are the ideal lingering compliment to Tobias’ soft and secure voice.

Simple, striking and melancholy ‘For Elizabeth Wherever You Are’ and ‘The Features Of A Human Face’ could quite possibly stop you dead in your tracks and bring tears to your eyes and you’d never know why. But that’s nothing to be ashamed of. These are songs that quite easily touch the very depths of your inner self; “She had the voice of god, she touched my very soul.” The latter was recorded live outside; listen carefully and you can hear birds, crickets, the rustling of trees and an aeroplane flying overhead.

But it’s all OK and safe to dry those welling eyes. ‘Somewhere In The City’ is a happy contemplative song and could be the backing music for a road trip in a vintage convertible through the Deep South. Upbeat with a country feel and building jazz piano it’s a fantastic introduction to the next track ‘What A Day’. And what a song. Carefree and confident with unfaltering drums and a deep piano that seems to grow and build in tandem with the smile that should be on the face of anyone that is fortunate to hear it.

‘Oh My Love (Here She Comes Again)’ and ‘Someone’ once more change the tone of the album and take it to a spiritual level creating a haunting lullaby effect through the fantastic use of mini moog and vibraphone respectively. Again, you’re almost certain to stop whatever you’re doing and if not already devote your full attention to what your ears are demanding you pay attention to.

‘Somewhere In The City’ ends with the inspired ‘Forever Is Just A Word In A Lovesong’. For starters what a title and if there has to be another reason it’s just a damn good song and in the words of Tobias himself “It’s a good song to close the album with. You can almost see the credits rolling in front of you, like a movie.” Its quite simply beautiful closure, the perfect summation of the ten preceding tracks. Listening to ‘Somewhere In The City’ is a privilege and but not one to be taken lightly. There’s a celebration to be had thanks to Tobias Froberg and Linus Larsson everyone’s invited, just be sure to accept and enjoy it for everything it is.