The Tallest Man on Earth: Shallow Grave [DEAD OCEANS]

Why you'll love it

This Dead Oceans LP brings back the album first issued on Sweden's Gravitation label. Matsson wrote, performed and recorded every note himself, and "The Gardener" was its first single.

This edition

• Cut at 45 RPM

About the album

Shallow Grave sounds like something pulled from an old American songbook, until you remember it was written in Sweden. Kristian Matsson borrowed heavily from American folk music, its stories and its antique turns of phrase, and saw it all through a Northern European lens.

It's just a voice and a fast, finger-picked guitar, recorded close and plain. "I Won't Be Found" opens at a rush, "Honey Won't You Let Me In" and the title song lean into old-time blues, "Where Do My Bluebird Fly" and "The Sparrow And The Medicine" keep the bird count high, "The Blizzard's Never Seen The Desert Sands" is a fine bit of storytelling, and "This Wind" closes on a quieter note.

It launched a long career under the name, and it still feels like a record made in one room by one person with plenty to say. One man, one guitar and a wonderfully tall claim; two out of three are easily verified.

Also at Kops: more The Tallest Man on Earth on vinyl · browse Folk

Tracklist

Listen

On Dead Oceans (cat# gra028), a reissue of the 2008 album.