Dedicated to his home, his daughter and the serene Swedish countryside, This Place is the new acoustic five track EP from Björn Tengman.

By Graeme Smith

Björn Tengman has released four previous albums, yet it’s only through this EP that he’s hitting our radar for the first time. This Place follows 2012’s debut Lonely Shadow, 2014’s Time, 2017’s Just a Memory and 2020’s A Little Glow.

His new EP is perhaps his most intimate collection to date. It invites us into his world, painting a bright and nostalgic picture thanks to its combination of acoustic folk and lyrical warmth. It’s all rendered with emotion through his soulful vocals and expressive playing.

Title track This Place welcomes us through the door, giving us plenty of imagery and storytelling in its lyrics and country sensibilities in its instrumental. It speaks of rebirth and finding a home. Old Picture is full of longing and throwback folk. A sweeping, pleading chorus is a highlight.

Each track blends nicely into each other across the EP, creating a cohesive yet nuanced whole. Indigo gives us plodding, harmonica-rich Americana and plenty of natural and emotive imagery. Björn’s vocals are at their most passionate in the chorus. Under Starry Skies is a lively, cathartic moment before Dreamy Days closes the collection with a suitably laidback number rich with delicate, finger-picked guitar and a scene of thoughtful relaxation.

With this new EP, Björn is not only keeping folk and country traditions alive, but progressing them. Perhaps more importantly, he has given us plenty of himself on this record while not getting too lost in introspection. There’s a wider, hopeful message for the listener, and plenty of vivid scenes in which to get lost.

This Place was recorded with Stefan Jonsson as engineer with Anders Rane on mixing and mastering. It’s out now and you can listen to it below.