''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' is the second studio album by Swedish
indie pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...
musician
Jens Lekman
Jens Martin Lekman (; born 6 February 1981) is a Swedish musician. His music is guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings, with lyrics that are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. His work is heavily influenced by Jonathan Ric ...
. Described as "a collection of recordings 2004–2007" on Lekman's website and in the album's liner notes, ''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' was released in Scandinavia on the label
Service on 5 September 2007 and worldwide on 9 October 2007 through
Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Secretly Canadian is a label included in Secretly Group, which ...
.
The subject matter includes Lekman's first kiss—supposedly at age 19 ("And I Remember Every Kiss")—and being introduced as the
boyfriend of his lesbian friend to her parents ("A Postcard to Nina"), as well as songs about "sublime haircuts, out-of-office replies, avocado-related mishaps and asthma inhalers", as described in a ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'' write-up on the album.
Release
On 25 July 2007, ''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' was announced with a release date of 5 September through Lekman's Swedish label
Service. Pre-orders for the Swedish release also include a digital bonus EP, ''
Kalendervägen 113.D
''Kalendervägen 113.D'' is a bonus EP included with the initial pre-order copies of Jens Lekman's 2007 album Night Falls Over Kortedala. It is a stripped-down 7-track medley of songs from ''Night Falls...'' as well as a Paul Simon cover from Gra ...
'', a one track acoustic medley which, according to Lekman, includes "two unreleased songs on it 'The Rain Has Got to Fall' and 'Our Last Swim in the Ocean' as well as a couple of songs from ''Night Falls...'' and a
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...
song from ''
Graceland
Graceland is a mansion on a estate in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, which was once owned by rock and roll icon Elvis Presley. His daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited Graceland after his death in 1977. Graceland is located at 3764 Elv ...
'' I thought was suitable. It's me, a guitar and a loop pedal, nothing else. For those of you who prefer it more au naturale."
Prior to the album's release, the song "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo" was released as a limited edition
7-inch single
In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...
on 14 July 2007 and as a digital single on 31 July. "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" was released as a digital single featuring remixes of the track on 15 June 2008.
Discontinued album
On March 15, 2022, Jens Lekman announced that he will be discontinuing the album. An announcement gives no reason for the album's deletion, and simply states that it will no longer be available in any digital or physical formats after March 21, 2022. According to the press release from label Secretly Canadian, "Jens Lekman's Night Falls Over Kortedala is leaving this life and heading into eternity. Purchase the record, download the digital album, and stream it for the very last time by March 21st."
On March 21, Secretly Canadian hosted a final listening party on its YouTube channel at 11 a.m. ET.
On April 27, Lekman announced that he would reissue ''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' under the title ''The Linden Trees Are Still In Blossom'', for a digital release on May 4 and a physical release on June 3.
Critical reception
''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' received widespread acclaim from music critics. At
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, which assigns a
normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an
average
In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, ...
score of 80, based on 27 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".
Mark Richardson of ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'' felt that the album's "vinyl-crackling arrangements" and "wry, sometimes melancholic observations" make for "Lekman's best record, one likely to captivate even those who were skeptical of his previous releases".
Tim Sendra of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
hailed ''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' as Lekman's best album to date, calling it "witty, pretty, silly, and wise; and filled with instantly memorable melodies, thrilling moments of surprise in the arrangements, and laugh-out-loud lyrics".
''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''s Betty Clarke praised the album as "audacious and beautiful", concluding that "pop is rarely as genuinely affecting, joyful or good as this."
Robert Christgau
Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
, writing for ''
MSN Music
''MSN Music'' was a part of MSN's web services. It delivered music news, music videos, spotlights on new music, artist information, and live performances of artists. The website also served as a digital music store from 2004 to 2008.
History
I ...
'', said of Lekman: "Loaded with talent, heart and personality, he's an eccentric who still thinks the world is his friend, and one more sweet argument for the civilized compromises of
democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a Left-wing politics, left-wing political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self- ...
."
Ryan Dombal of ''
Blender
A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen appliance, kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsion, emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender ...
'' wrote that Lekman "uses his tender touch to brilliantly tease out the bumbling awkwardness that defines modern love" and described him as "a hopeless romantic unafraid to poke fun at his own hopelessness",
while Adrian Begrand of ''
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
'' called him "a first-rate songwriter and the best lyricist this side of
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker (born 19 September 1963) is an English musician and radio presenter. As the founder, frontman, lyricist and only consistent member of the band Pulp, he became a figurehead of the Britpop genre of the mid-1990s. Following P ...
and
Craig Finn
Craig Finn (born August 22, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the frontman of the American indie rock band The Hold Steady, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums. Prior to forming The Hold Steady, Fi ...
".
''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' critic Leah Grenblatt praised the album's sound as "a swirl of sparkly '60s orchestration and horns – an achievement worth a thousand days of ''Night''."
''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
''s Keith Phipps was more reserved in his praise, writing that Lekman's "straight from the heart" approach is "frequently endearing and occasionally embarrassing, or sometimes both at once."
''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' placed at number 23 on ''
The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...
''s
Pazz & Jop
Pazz & Jop was an annual poll of top musical releases, compiled by American newspaper ''The Village Voice'' and created by music critic Robert Christgau. It published lists of the year's top releases for 1971 and, after Christgau's two-year abse ...
critics' poll. ''Pitchfork'' placed it at number 153 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.
The album also made ''
Paste''s 50 Best Albums of the 2000s, entering the list at number 43. In 2019, the album was ranked 60th on ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
s 100 Best Albums of the 21st Century list.
Track listing
;Sample credits
*"And I Remember Every Kiss" contains samples of "Theme from ''The Sand Pebbles''", written by
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse OBE (; 29 January 1931 – 19 October 2021) was a British composer, lyricist, and playwright who worked on theatre musicals and wrote theme music for films. He was best known for writing the music and lyrics for the films ''Do ...
and
Jerry Goldsmith
Jerrald King Goldsmith (February 10, 1929July 21, 2004) was an American composer and conductor known for his work in film and television scoring. He composed scores for five films in the ''Star Trek'' franchise and three in the Rambo (franchise) ...
and performed by
Enoch Light
Enoch Henry Light (August 18, 1907 – July 31, 1978) was an American classically trained violinist, danceband leader, and recording engineer. As the leader of various dance bands that recorded as early as March 1927 and continuing through at le ...
.
*"Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" contains samples of "
By the Time I Get to Phoenix
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is a song written by Jimmy Webb. Originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, it was covered by American country music singer Glen Campbell on his album of the same name. Released on Capitol Records in 1967, Camp ...
", written by
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He has written numerous platinum-selling songs, including " Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "MacArthur Park", "Wichita Lineman", "Worst ...
and performed by
Willie Rosario, and "Dai Ndiri Shiri", performed by Patrick Mkwamba & the Four Brothers.
*"Into Eternity" contains samples of "Hambu Hodo", written and performed by
Renaldo and the Loaf
Renaldo and the Loaf are an English musical duo formed in 1977 consisting of David "Ted the Loaf" Janssen and Brian "Renaldo Malpractice" Poole. The two released six full-length albums, one live album, and three self-produced demos.
Sound
Re ...
.
*"I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You" contains samples of "Take No Heroes", written and performed by
The Tough Alliance
The Tough Alliance, or ''TTA'', was an electronic pop music duo from Gothenburg, Sweden. The duo first came together in 2003 and consisted of childhood friends Henning Fürst and Eric Berglund. Previously on Swedish record label Service, in 2006, ...
.
*"It Was a Strange Time in My Life" contains samples of a home recording of Lekman as a child, recorded by Lars-Eric Lindskog.
Personnel
Credits for ''Night Falls Over Kortedala'' adapted from liner notes.
* Jens Lekman – writing, performance,
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
, recording
;Additional personnel
*Björn Almgren – saxophone
*Emma Bates – backing vocals
*Clare Canzoneri –
harp
The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing or sitting, and in orche ...
*Magnus Carlson – backing vocals
*
El Perro Del Mar
El Perro Del Mar (literally "The Dog of the Sea" in Spanish) is a musical project that was founded in December 2003 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The sole member of El Perro Del Mar, Sarah Assbring(born 1977/1978), initially started as an MP3/CD-R artis ...
– backing vocals
*Stefan Fält – artwork and design
*
Johan Forsman
Johan Forsman or Johan Forsman Löwenström (born 15 June 1968) is a Swedish musician, singer, record producer, songwriter, music arranger and engineer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was a member krautrock band Hübrizine in the late eighti ...
–
mastering,
mixing
*Markus Görsch – drums
*Lars-Erik Grimelund – drums
*Ellen Hjalmarsson – violin,
strings
String or strings may refer to:
*String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
*
Frida Hyvönen
Frida Hyvönen (born Anna Frida Amanda Hyvönen; 30 December 1977) is a Swedish singer-songwriter.
Personal life
Hyvönen grew up in Robertsfors, located outside Umeå in the north of Sweden (which is also the hometown of her cousin Josephine ...
– backing vocals
*Tammy Karlsson – drums,
bongos
Bongos ( es, bongó) are an Afro-Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of small open bottomed hand drums of different sizes. They are struck with both hands, most commonly in an eight-stroke pattern called ''martillo'' (hammer). The ...
, photography
*Karin Krantz –
trombone
The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...
*Michael Leonhart – backing vocals
*Kristin Lidell – trumpet,
accordion
Accordions (from 19th-century German ''Akkordeon'', from ''Akkord''—"musical chord, concord of sounds") are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type (producing sound as air flows past a reed ...
*Ulrika Mild – backing vocals
*Mikaela Robsahm – cello
*Ida Rosén –
viola
The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...
*Viktor Sjöberg –
handclap
A clap is the percussive sound made by striking together two flat surfaces, as in the body parts of humans or animals. Humans clap with the palms of their hands, often quickly and repeatedly to express appreciation or approval (see applause), b ...
s
*Stefan Sporsén –
brass
Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other with ...
*Ben Swanson – handclaps
*Frida Thurfjell – saxophone
*Elsa Wikström – violin
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
External links
Jens Lekman's homepage
{{Authority control
2007 albums
Jens Lekman albums
Secretly Canadian albums
Service (record label) albums