Simeon Kirkegaard – “*”

I can’t remember the last time an album left me impressed as Simeon Kirkegaard’s “*”, the production is crystal clear, every instrument is placed with precision that makes it seem like sound was sculpted with tweezers.

When the album starts, you get that familiar Kirkegaard sound, but there is something new here. The album, which took a decade in the making, has a certain maturity that can only come from careful work in Ireland’s best studios. There are subtle signs of the co-producers Gavin Glass and Alwyn Walker all over the album.

The musical styles range from full orchestral (by Fiachra Trench, who composed the music for “Fairytale of New York”) to guitar-driven tracks that keep you guessing. Whether you’re into the introspective lyrics of Radiohead, the cocky attitude of Oasis, or the harmonies of The Beach Boys, there’s something here that’ll grab you. What is most striking is the lyrics, sometimes hopeful, sometimes heartbreaking – co-written with collaborators Feileacan McCormick and Gavin Glass. Kirkegaard doesn’t shy away from digging into love and loss, and there are so many lines that you will want to listen to the songs over and over again to catch them all.

This album marks Simeon as one of the most promising artists to come out of the Nordic countries at the moment, and you should follow him on all social media platforms to see where this musical journey is going and play this entire record on repeat because once it gets stuck in your head, you’ll be glad it’s there.