Quite the ambient odyssey from “a revered figure of the aural murk“. On his new LP Civilistjävel! explores the ambient shadows without forgetting a torch, buoying spirits with some dub techno flirtations, inter-galactic minimalism and choice collaborations. Thank me later, it’s a mesmerising listen.
What The Release Notes Say
Civilistjävel! returns with Brödföda, the successor to 2022’s Järnnätter and his fourth release for FELT. The record features collaborations with Laila Sakini, Mayssa Jallad, Thommy Wahlström, ELDON, and Withdrawn.
Tomas Bodén is a revered figure of the aural murk, known primarily for his work as Civilistjävel. It’s an alias that has spawned a catalogue of self-released peculiarities, featuring music that scorns traditional form, instead opting for unfussed symphonies of ice-hued minimalism; soft murmurs that emanate from his studio in the High Coast of Sweden.
On Brödföda, his latest album for Fergus Jones’s FELT imprint, subtle new developments in mood prevail. Across its 75 minutes, Civilistjävel! unveils a breadth of emotions that on previous releases seemed distant. He also invites collaborators on record for the first time: Beirut-based singer Mayssa Jallad mournfully croons on “IV”, “VIII” hosts Coldlight’s ELDON & Withdrawn for an abstracted session of dub-hop murk, Laila Sakini offers a hallucinogenic monologue amidst melodica, sticks & bells playing on “IX”, and Thommy Wahlström floats scant acid dub stylings on “VI”. These additions and developments bring a forlorn intimacy to the music, and suggest an ambition that few artists of his ilk strive for.
FELT’s (un)reliable cast of audio ghouls routinely summon the odd, with Civilistjävel! often its primary culprit; Brödföda gently modifies this path to pursue some of his and the label’s most quaintly beautiful music yet.
Credits
All by Civilistjävel! except
IV: Lyrics and vocals by Mayssa Jallad
V: Trumpet by Peter Jackson and soprano saxophone by Thommy Wahlström
VI: Soprano saxophone by Thommy Wahlström
VIII: Lyrics and vocals by ELDON and Withdrawn
IX: Lyrics, vocals, production and instruments by Laila Sakini
Artwork by Rebecka Holmström.
Mastered by Noel Summerville
Words by Nevan Jio
Distributed by Rubadub.
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