If we all lived consistently reminded by the fact that we’re the current manifestation of our ancestry instead of focusing on our ego and the immediacy of our sole legacies, we might stand a chance at veering away from the dystopia we’re currently in. Klas Ehnemark’s Indian is a visceral interruption of self-obsession, an invitation to drench yourself in the bliss of knowing that even though everything is temporary, the roots of ancestry anchor you within a world becoming more and more disconnected. Hailing from the windswept Swedish island of Öland, and only now stepping into public view after years of private songwriting, Ehnemark arrives with the presence of someone who has taken his time for a reason.
Sonically, Indian is a lush landscape of pop, funk, and the pure heat of impassioned soul. Ehnemark’s vocals soar with spellbinding conviction, the emotional range of his delivery almost as impressive as his octave range; rock musicians would kill to carry the same force in their vocal cords, and all his power is primed without overshadowing the catharsis of the production. There are shades of Van Morrison in the spiritual warmth, hints of José González in the intimacy, and the reflective pull of Bon Iver and Nick Drake in the songwriting, yet Indian carries its own pulse of belonging and continuity.
Indian is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast