Sweden’s Nicolai Dunger brings his unique brand of folk to our pages for the first time with latest album, Melody Rules.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Tina Axelsson

Though new to us, the legendary singer songwriter has 25 albums to his name. He’s worked with the likes of Mercury Rev and Nina Persson, and has been covered by Robert Palmer.

Recorded in three days on the island of Hydra in Greece, his new album Melody Rules dwells mostly on Nicolai’s experience of divorce and the feelings that followed.

The album has three lead singles – To Be Tough, title track Melody Rules, and What You See Is What You Get. To Be Tough kicks the album off in soulful style. We get an instant taste of Nicolai’s expressive vocals during a reflective first verse before things become pleading in the chorus. Its relatable lyrics and big finish make it an early highlight.

Melody Rules provides some philosophical warmth with plenty of layers of acoustic folk rock while What You See Is What You Get rumbles along with folksy melancholy. A bright, unapologetic chorus proves to be another highlight.

Elsewhere the album runs the gamut of the experimental and the traditional. We get bluesy folk in Golden Throne, and stripped-back jazziness in Let Go of Your Heart. Goodbye With A Song closes the album with a heart-breaking yet consolidatory piano-led moment.

With his latest album, Nicolai is showing no signs of slowing down, and his wisdom and expertise as a performer and songwriter are clearly on display. He’s an artist who has always done things his way, and I’m glad to have finally discovered his music.

Melody Rules was recorded in Greece and produced by Jari Haapalainen. It includes contributions from Simon Swärd, Thomas Tjärnqvist, Jessica Billey, Markus Olsson, Sara Isaksson, Sharon Dyall, and Svante Henrysson. The album is out now via Declared Goods and you can give it a listen below.