There's No Leaving Now
For Kristian Matsson, a.k.a. The Tallest Man on Earth, *There\'s No Leaving Now* is a radical departure from his previous output, though there have been hints along the way. The music here isn\'t radical—but for a man who\'s released a number of sparse, acoustic guitar and banjo albums that were compared to early Bob Dylan, the sound is fuller, with additional instrumentation making the case for his continued development. There\'s nothing glossy about the results. The core of the music is still Matsson\'s earnest voice and his unerring sense of melody. \"To Just Grow Away\" is an immediate charmer, with a jaunty groove that caresses his cavalier phrasing, where words disappear into the wonder of it all. His fingerwork on the album\'s two stripped-down tunes, \"Leading Me Now\" and \"On Every Page\", illuminate how the simplest touches change the outcome. \"Bright Lanterns\" adds a luminous lap steel guitar. \"There\'s No Leaving Now\" shifts to the piano for its high lonesome feel. It\'s an alluring mix of simplicity and smart musical touches.
'There’s No Leaving Now', the newest record from Kristian Matsson’s aptly titled moniker, The Tallest Man On Earth, finds the Swedish troubadour trading in the sense of urgency that fueled his first two records for a confidently relaxed approach. The results are paralyzing. The songwriting is every bit as detailed and captivating as his previous work, but this time around, Matsson is showing a few more cards. The music of the Tallest Man on Earth has traditionally centered around the power of performance and has served as a reminder that directness is the best course of action. However, as Matsson adds layers of arrangement to these songs they reveal a sense of character not previously featured in past recordings. This record solidifies the beginning of an incredible journey told through stories of hope and defeat, loss and love. Matsson has us right where he wants us. There's no leaving now. - Brad Cook
The Swedish folkie's third album is the first to feature multi-tracking. He's still driven by his wandering spirit, but these songs have the feel of someone exploring a nature trail in his own backyard.
After three full-lengths and two EPs as The Tallest Man On Earth, Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson has become the AC/DC of indie-folk. His simple, straight-ahead formula is rooted in full-throated, caustic vocals and furiously strummed guitars, and he hardly ever wavers from it. Thus far, he hasn’t needed…
Kristian Matsson deals largely in the abstract, but for a concrete idea of what There’s No Leaving Now sounds like, imagine…
The Tallest Man on Earth has carved out his own little niche of winsome and slightly raspy folk-indie-pop over the years of the 21st century, so little wonder that There's No Leaving Now continues that approach well enough.
Is there any more rightly despised genre of music than singer/songwriter?
While Kristian Matsson’s music is never that interesting, it at least remains solidly propulsive and catchy.
The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now review: His consistency is becoming a little frightening.