JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
Against The Dying Of The Light (City Slang)
Five albums in 23 years distinguishes José González as a less-than-prolific artist, yet he remains in people’s hearts thanks to his evergreen cover of Heartbeats by fellow Swedes The Knife; collabs with Zero 7 on The Garden; and a reissue campaign for his older solo albums and Junip, his more expansive (and excellent) electronica project.
A half-decade on from Local Valley, González whittles his sound even further back, relying on his classical guitar to drive songs delivered in English, Swedish and Spanish, with some multitracking and minimal percussion in the occasional form of handclaps.
In a 6 Music interview, González acknowledged that some listen to him as background music, and it is the intense folk of A Perfect Storm and Losing Game (Sick) which are more indelible. When existential risk and human nature are conveyed in such a gentle way, you’re more likely to let the fingerpicking goodness comfort you than rage against the dying of the light. José don’t mind either way.
words CHRIS SEAL
