Linus Alberg

Recently, I’ve been going through my older posts, circa 2009 or so, re-reading my thoughts on the music of yesteryear. It is slightly self-indulgent, I’ll admit, but this _is_ indeed a blog of mine, and this was its purpose all along—to capture a moment in time with words and music. It’s interesting to note how my tastes evolved, how familiarity with the artists I covered, and my experience in music production have coloured my perception of these sounds. I can tell you that mostly they have stayed the same. And as the genres evolve and musicians move on, others fill in the void with the sounds that allure me in my particular corner of the universe. For example, I see that Nils has announced yet another live album, seizing the energy he brings to the stage with the performance. Although I appreciate documenting these events, I seem to always return to his early studio albums. Meanwhile, Augsburg-based composer Linus Alberg captures my heart with his unique essence of modern classical warmth and sensibility. While I cannot deny the influence of giants in his music (I hear Jóhann Jóhannsson, I hear Max Richter… of course, I hear Frahm), there is indeed sentimentality that is uniquely him. This is only his second release for the beloved Moderna label, with the debut, Elements, premiering here in 2023. It gently drifts from the upright piano, inviting strings, Wurlitzer, Harmonium and synths to carry you along. There are only five pieces on this 23-minute EP, and yet it perfectly conveys an intimate moment that Alberg cares to share. That’s all I ever want… that’s all I ever ask of music…